Eagles Wings - Zambian Kids - EW Update #1 2007

EW Update #1 2007

Thank You Australia!

After a long, at times tiresome, but mostly exciting journey around Eastern Australia, Lackson is back home in Zambia. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped make this promotional journey a success. Over 70 events were organized to share the ministry of Eagles Wings and many people went out of their way to make the promotional team feel welcome.

Lackson writes of his journey:

‘It is good to be back home from a long trip to Australia where I went to share about Eagles Wings, to raise money for the bus, our programs and office equipment. I thank God for everything that went on that side! I was not sure of what to do when I was there, but I thank God all that we did was fine with the team that I was with. I would like to thank all the churches, schools and small groups for the support that they gave to us during our sharing. I am not a public speaker but thank you for allowing me to stand and share about Eagles Wings.

I would also like to thank those who welcomed me into their homes. Thank you for the nice meals that you gave me and thank you for your support as well.

I was surprised that everywhere we went people were driving, not many people walked in the streets! Now because I was being driven everywhere and I got used to it, when I came back I tried to work or do anything I am getting tired because I was being spoiled by you people driving me everywhere when I am used to walking everyday.

Anyways, the most important thing is to thank God that our trip was successful, we raised the money that was necessary.

I would like to say that we still need your support and your prayers. So please continue with the same spirit. We do not know how we can thank you enough, but we know that the Lord who sees in secret will reward you highly as you continue serving him.

Thank you once more and God Bless.’
Lackson Matolokoshi

To witness poverty is to witness humanity stripped bare. It is witnessing the lengths people will go to in order to survive: lengths that often lead to the suffering of children, especially the girl child.

One of the cruelest aspects of poverty is the child marriage, where ‘child’ is defined by UNICEF as 18 years or younger⁽¹⁾. In African countries child marriages occur at an average rate of 42% of all girls and rising to 78% in West African countries⁽¹⁾. The results of this practice are devastating and contribute to the stagnant nature of development as the bride will often leave school after marriage, leaving her illiterate and destitute to a life of poverty.

Arguments for such practices, such as ‘tradition’ simply cannot hold when the end result is the suffering of children. The extreme case of tradition causing harm to over 100 millions girls is in the practice of Female Genital Mutilation, which still occurs in 28 African countries today⁽²⁾.

Within the shanty compounds that we work we see the connection between poverty and child marriage. In these cases, the child is seen as a commodity for the parents. In times of extreme suffering it becomes easier for the parents to ‘sell’ their child, not only for the wellbeing of the parents, but also for the supposed financial wellbeing of the girl-child. In situations where the motive is simply money young girls can suffer tremendously, being sold to elderly men, or men infected with HIV/AIDS. All for only a few dollars paid to the parents as the ‘bride-price’ for a bride as young as eight or nine years of age.

The consequences of child marriages even include death. Alarmingly, child brides, only 10 to 14 years old, are five times more likely to die either during pregnancy or childbirth. This contributes to Zambia’s infant mortality rate of 182 children under 5 dying per 1000 births, a figure that has not changed for the past 35 years ⁽³⁾.

Within our community traditional teachers are another concern. For a sum of money these ‘teachers’ will teach the ‘matured’ girl what it means to be a ‘woman’. Once the teachings are finished the girl child is placed on display to dance while the whole community watches on, believing she is now a woman, even though she may still be in primary school.

This is one of the challenges that Eagles Wings faces as numerous young girls have left our programs due to early marriages and pregnancies. It takes considerable effort and perseverance as we continue to fight traditions of men for the freeing of their children. If we as Christians are to stand up against injustice then surely this is one challenge that we must continue to fight.

(1, 3) UNICEF. State of the Worlds Children 2007. Women and Children; The Double Dividend of Gender Equality. UNICEF (New York), 2006.

(2) Ras-Work, Berhane. The Impact of Harmful Traditional Practices on the Girl Child. UNICEF Division for the Advancement of Women 2006.

Meet George Ngosa

Seven years ago, when he was 14 years old, George was the first street child who Lackson brought into his home. Dying on the streets and sick with malaria, George needed help. Similar to the story of the ‘Good Samaritan’, Lackson nursed George back to health and George remained with Lackson as part of his already large family.

We celebrate with George as he graduated from his block laying course at MMM International in November 2006. This two year course has equipped George for a future in which he can now take care of himself.

When asked what type of house he would like to build, George replied, “I would like to build a home bigger than Mr. Lackson’s home!” Maybe one day that might be possible, George!

Opportunity to Serve

Applicants for our Camp Program 2007 are now being processed! If you love working with disadvantaged children and long to take part in a short-term mission trip that is as challenging as it is rewarding, then join our Camp Team!

Our Camp Program involves taking 40 disadvantaged children and 20 national and international leaders on an experience of a lifetime to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World – Victoria Falls. Camp is a three week experience that you will never forget!

For information on our Camp Program visit www.zambiankids.com To apply email Janice Collins from International Teams Email – This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Be A Hero

A big thank you to Be a Hero (Australia) for the educational supplies sent to Eagles Wings through their ‘Operation Educate a Child’ Program which empowers organizations with the necessary resources for educating children. The resources sent to Eagles Wings will go a long way this year to help educate over 200 children in our Education Program.

Project Dare

Over the past 18 months we have been following the progress of Project Dare, an organization established to help youth in need by raising funds for various projects and organizations that already work with disadvantaged youth.

While at times even those involved in the ‘Wall of Dreams Challenge’ may have thought they were a little crazy to even attempt such a feat (40 days on the side of a cliff), we continue to support and uplift those who commit to do all that they can for the sake of others.

Stephen Anderton (Logistics Coordinator) writes:

For Kent and myself this was a huge learning experience for both of us, as this was the first of hopefully many big Challenges to come. I’m not sure that we fully understood what it would take to start a new organization and organize one of the biggest expeditions that we had both been on, to a place where nobody has ever heard of, while still trying to keep to God’s direction in this. We both admit that we were completely out of our comfort zone and without God’s amazing networking none of this could have ever been achieved. God always seems to just give you enough people and resources to be successful.

Finances

October - December 2006
Income - $20, 699.50
Expenses - $29, 659.70

Breakdown of Expenses
Programs - 59.92%
Administration - 0.01%
Projects (Stage 2 -
Christian Community School) - 40.07%
Monthly Running Costs - $9000.00

What’s Next for Project Dare?

2007 – Project Dare House We have signed the contract for the house but now it seems the bank will not release the money for the land (which was donated) until 80 percent of the properties are sold in that development. So please pray about this, that we will be able to find a way around these rules that the bank has…so we can give that money away to the organizations that need that money more than the bank!

2008 – The Great Paddle Project Dare will be attempting to paddle a modified surf ski from Pupa- New Guinea to Brisbane. Six people, 3000km, 15 days. Impossible? Maybe, but we will see!

I would like to thank all those who supported us in the first Challenge and believed in what we were trying to do. I truly do hope that we have been able to inspire people to take whatever God-given abilities they have and use them for God in whatever way He calls you.

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