Umwana Kasembe

Umwana Kasembe when translated roughly means, a child is like an axe, you must look after it however much it hurts you.  Umwana Kasembe is the brainchild of Hellen Mpundu, an old friend of Families for Children Zambia.  Hellen had previously worked at Kantolomba when she came to us with a project she wanted to get started in Freedom township, a grim place at Chilanga, just south of Lusaka.

Hellen felt she could help the township by offering a safe place for women and children, a place where mothers and aughters could be empowered and encouraged to be self-supporting, in a township dogged by child abuse.

Over the last five years Hellen has done just that.  Her small house and garden is now a hive of activity, with an array of vegetables benefitting from the borehole that was installed with generous support from Ruthin Rotary.  Previously water had to be bought and carried across a busy road so a garden was out of the question.  The borehole has also meant it is much easier to provide food and a place where women and small children can gather to chat, wash clothes and cook.  It is a help centre and children who have been unable to enter school are given a basic education.

Much time at Umwana Kasembe is spent on 'Games for Life' this is aimed at teenagers and tries to teach them about HIV/AIDS prevention early through football and netball.  Umwana Kasembe is trying hard to give young people a different future. 

Hellen and her son Musonda have made huge strides in the last 12 months to income generate and move towards being self-sufficient.  Thanks to the support of FFCZ through it's donors, Umwana Kasembe now boasts a carpentry workshop and textiles workshop, complete with sewing machines.  They have a long way to go but thanks to the hard work and commitment of Hellen and her team of voluteers they can see a future.

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