Help for Orphans

Most of the parents have died from HIV/AIDS, but the vast majority of the surviving children are not HIV infected. Many of these children are able to find homes with relatives or friends but this places additional financial strain on those families, who often have children of their own to support.

The Trust gives priority to assisting orphans living in the community to attend primary schools and to receive one nutritious meal a day, when over-burdened families may have difficulty in providing this.

It is hoped that more funds can be raised for these projects because it is so hard for families living below the poverty line on $2.15 a day to adequately support the orphaned children they accept, in addition to their own children.

Chitsime Association, St Lawrence, Misisi Township, Lusaka

This is a community based project assisted by the Catholic parish of Kabwata. It comprises St Lawrence School, St Lawrence Home of Hope, Special Needs School, Home-Based Care Programme, and a Computer Centre.

Pupils from Grade 1 to Grade 9 are provided with free education and the performance of pupils in the Grade 7 and 9 exams is steadily improving. The teachers are now on the government payroll and Trust funds are used to improve the facilities. Recent improvements include rehabilitating the school toilets and showers for disabled children, repairing school desks and library furniture, providing learning materials and book purchases.

The Home of Hope Centre provides accommodation for 110 boys ranging in age from 8 to 14 years. Some boys come into care through the work of the outreach team which find them on the streets of Lusaka, while others are referrals from social welfare and the Police. Some boys attend St Lawrence School but the aim of the centre is to reintegrate the boys with their families. In the last year 100 boys have been reintegrated. A lot of emphasis is placed on the psychological needs of the boys and their families. More care givers are now working with the team including two religious Sisters working as the administrative coordinator and a professional counsellor running individual and group sessions with the boys.


Following receipt of the Trust’s 2024 grant the trust received the following letter from Brother Jacek Rakowski, the Director of the Home:

“Allow me to extend my heartfelt gratitude to The Zambia Society Trust for your unwavering support and generosity. The decision to award a grant of £4,000 to Home of Hope is not just a contribution, but a lifeline that sustains our efforts. As an emergency placement facility for boys in Lusaka, we encounter many challenges in our mission to provide a safe haven for these young lives. Your continued support plays a pivotal role in not just meeting their basic needs of shelter, food, and clothing, but also in providing a stable and nurturing environment where they can heal, grow, and dream. It is in this space that they receive the much-needed psychological support, educational opportunities, and life skills training – all essential components in helping them rebuild their lives.

The grant from The Zambia Society Trust enables us to maintain and enhance our facilities, ensuring that we can offer a place that feels like a real home. It helps us to employ dedicated staff who are not just caregivers but become like family to these boys. Your support also allows us to extend our outreach, identifying children in dire situations and bringing them into a safer environment.”

The Computer Centre is well used by Grade 8 and 9 pupils and members of the local community.

The Home-Based Care Programme is very active and volunteer counsellors provide support to disadvantaged families in the adjacent Misisi Township.

The association runs projects such as cement block-making, maize milling and car parking to generate some income and provide experience for the boys.