Changing Kids Lives One Word At A Time

As we sit down to write to you today, we have been reflecting on what a year it’s been—and all the good that’s been happening.

We are working on a year end appeal for our reading centers. Over the last five years twenty-five local Zambian reading assistants have been teaching over 2,300 children daily to speak, read and write English in the Luangwa valley of Zambia. Before they were hired and trained by Africa Hope Fund’s Debby Lott and Jenny Waterhouse of Raise a Smile to do this important work, many children dropped out of school by grade four as that is when schools in Zambia began the switch to teaching in English from the local language, Nyanja.

Reading assistants are paid a salary of $1,500 a year and teach in one of six reading centers opened by Jenny Waterhouse in remote village schools. The reading centers have been equipped with books and teaching aids provided in part by Africa Hope Fund.

Because of this program, hundreds of children stay in school and many go on to higher education lifting them and their families out of poverty.

BUT we need your help to keep this valuable program running! The annual budget for salaries and reading supplies is over $35,000. Our primary source of support is through our volunteer program, which happens only twice a year. We currently have enough funding for the next three months, but would like to keep this program ongoing, and therefore need your help in raising the remaining funds. We have a commitment for a match of $10,000 from one of our dedicated donors through year end, so we hope you will consider doubling your money by donating now. We interviewed one of our reading assistants on the importance of these reading centers, see what he has to say HERE!

We host volunteer trips to Zambia twice a year, where you can work with our reading assistants and the kids, in addition to going on safari in your free time! Find out more HERE!

With gratitude,

Carol Van Bruggen CEO