Who We Are:  United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Mwandi Mission Partners is an organization that envisions all citizens of Mwandi having an improved standard of living that enhances their quality of life, maximizes their potential through increased opportunities in education and employment, increases life expectancy, reduces HIV transmission, and provides a safe and sustainable community 

What We Do: Our mission is to bring volunteers into the community to support existing programs and to provide resources to continue programs and develop new opportunities

What We Have Done:

Housing – In February 2011, Hut 50 was finished.  These are traditional termite mound mud houses with iron tin roof sheets.  Over 90% of the village houses are of this construction, but with grass roofs that leak in the first rains; so the houses do not last.  With the iron roofs, they can last for over 10 years with minimum maintenance.  Over 190 orphans have been housed with their elderly caregivers.  A whole generation has been lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the grandparent or other elderly family members must care for the orphans.  These elderly people have no means of support and no homes to care for the children.  Housing is critical as it gives the family some sense of dignity, protects them from the elements and mosquitoes (reducing the chance of Malaria infection), and improves their general health.

Safe water – A bore hole has been drilled to provide safe accessible water to the Mwandi community.

Education – Volunteers assist in various community educational programs.  Paula’s supporters help support children by paying the school fees and paying for their uniforms and school supplies.  The basic schools in Zambia only go to the 9th grade.  High school fees are high here and beyond the reach of most of the parents or grandparents at about US$400.00 a year.  Until last year, the closest high school was 50+ miles away, so students had to be boarded.  There is now a United Church of Zambia High School in Mwandi, so the cost has been reduced to only US$200.00 a year; as the students no longer have to board.  With the help of donors, 6 students have passed through high school.  There are now 8 in high school and 2 in the basic school.  Three have been put through to vocational colleges.

Seniors – Shelter and attention to basic needs is provided to seniors who do not have families to care for them.  They are housed in the Home for the Aged called Kandiyana (means “small village”).  These elders have out-lived most of their family and have no one to care for them, two are blind.  There is always a shortage of food and help to care for them.  Mission Partners helps with food and volunteers help the one caregiver there in cleaning the rooms and helping with the laundry that must all be done by hand.  There are currently 15 elders housed in Kandiyana

 Food Collection & Distribution – Assistance with food for needy families and people is provided.

 Camp development – Volunteers provide physical labor, financial assistance, and professional assistance to the community.  In turn, the camp strives to provide them with a comfortable, safe and secure base to work from.

Supporting the delivery of health care – Volunteer health care professionals provide their expertise to the community.  They work in the hospital, as well as in the outreach programs, going with the medical staff out to the rural villages for the under 5/prenatal clinics, as well as the HIV/AIDS clinics.  When the Mission Partners receive medical supplies, they hand all over to the hospital administrator who distributes them to the most needed areas.  The hospital is funded by Americans from various churches in the USA and by the Government of Zambia.

 What We Want To Do: The desire of the UCZ Mission Partners, Paula and their supporters is to continue with the completion of their mission camp, building homes for the neediest, saving lives, and making a difference in the Mwandi community.

Call Us 877 532 2919  317 614 7343 Skype