It’s December in Zambia—a sweltering summer, middle of the rainy season. If the skies were kinder, we wouldn’t have so many reasons to worry. It hasn’t rained properly in a long time. Climate change is wreaking havoc. Electricity is available for only two hours a day, while food and energy prices continue to rise.
“Not long ago, bread cost 8 kwacha,” says Sister Mariola, “Today it’s already 20, and the prices go up every single day.” The bakery that used to bake bread for us at half price can no longer do so due to the power cuts. We can’t buy enough in stores to feed our children. Here, we go through 600 loaves of bread a week—that’s about 2,000 PLN. And that’s just for bread. We need to ensure a nutritious diet for our children.
The kids don’t realize how serious the situation is, and the Sisters want to shield them because they’ve already endured so much in their lives.
Thanks to the generators, we can cook meals for the children. The generators also power the refrigerators in the treatment room, where we store essential medicines. But the costs are enormous.
Everyone here says the situation will only get worse. That’s why we’ve decided to install solar panels in places where we don’t have them yet, so Kasisi can become energy-independent. This will allow our Sisters to continue their work as they always have and keep the doors of our Home open for every child in need.
A school kit includes notebooks, allowing children to study at home. It also includes a pair of shoes, which, if not for Kasisi, they would have to borrow from their siblings. And finally, a delicious, healthy sandwich in the backpack, which gives them the energy they need for their studies. Just like the sandwich their mother would prepare. You can pack one into their backpack today—from right here, from your own home.