THERE ARE OVER ONE MILLION ORPHANED CHILDREN IN ZAMBIA.
While institutions can provide children with life-saving rescue, they cannot replace the love of a secure, permanent family.
Studies show that institutionalized children do not develop the secure attachments needed to form a healthy sense of self and trusting relationships. Instead, institutionalized children face lifelong higher risks of exposure to illness, abuse, and poverty compared with children raised in secure families.
That is why our programs protect families in crisis; restore orphaned children to family; and strengthen communities through economic empowerment and education.
CHILD WELFARE
Since 1998, the House of Moses and Bill and Bette Bryant Crisis Nursery have sheltered over 1,000 babies and children between rescue and family placement.
Our temporary crisis homes are literally the difference between life and death for orphaned and abandoned babies and children. Our response begins the moment a child arrives at our door, with a warm bed, nourishing food, and soft clothing. Babies and children in our care experience safety, consistency, and loving attention.
While ACE Zambia’s response is unique to each circumstance, our goal is the same for every child: through temporary shelter, reintegration or alternative placement, we make sure they are protected and destined for family.
CHILD WELFARE SERVICES
Crisis care
Our staff understand, recognize, and respond to the effects of trauma upon orphaned and abandoned children in crisis care with follow-on case management.
Shelter
Our crisis nurseries give children emotional and physical protection while we focus on identifying permanent and loving families for them.
Reintegration
Whenever possible, we seek to reintegration children with biological family. We create a customized plan to ensure a safe and healthy reintegration process with systemic support to prevent future disruption.
Placement
We recruit, assess, train, and prepare permanent foster and adoptive families within Zambia for children without available biological family. We offer continued support through post-placement visits and family networking opportunities.
LEARN MORE ABOUT FOSTERING OR ADOPTION
FAMILY PRESERVATION AND EMPOWERMENT
We have protected the lives and family bonds of over 3,700 children under age five.
When a mother comes to our crisis nurseries ready to give up her child, it’s not because she lacks the desire to be a mother or doesn’t love her child. She lacks access to food, employment, medical care or housing. She would rather her child survive in an institution than die in her arms.
There is a better response. By strengthening families, we can preserve a mother’s bond with her child and protect them both from the trauma of disruption. Our response guides families from crisis to sustainability through emergency food relief and economic empowerment.
FAMILY PRESERVATION AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM SERVICES
Food relief
Our monthly supply of emergency food relief includes infant formula, maize meal, cooking oil, ground nuts, and nutritional supplements. With food security, mothers and caregivers can focus on the next steps.
Skills training
ACE Zambia partners with international NGOs and local business owners to teach marketable skills like tailoring, rug-making, and goat farming. We also assist participants in finding employment or establishing their own micro-enterprises.
Savings groups
We help families to develop financial resilience within their local communities. ACE Zambia staff leads community savings groups that introduce healthy financial habits and a structure for families to grow their earnings together.
Seed capital
We provide seed capital to cover the initial expenses of launching a micro-enterprise. Participants receiving coaching from our staff as they establish their businesses and prepare for life after graduation.
EDUCATION
Since 2001, our community schools have provided daily lunch and education to over 10,000 children who would otherwise miss out.
The cost of exam fees, uniforms, and textbooks are out of reach for many families struggling to put food on the table—and without a primary education, children remain trapped in a cycle of poverty.
In our seven FaithWorks primary schools, church buildings become classrooms during the week for children in grades 1 through 7. For grades 7 through 12, the Helen DeVos Christian School offers a secondary education that prepares students for university or careers in various trades.
EDUCATION PROGRAM SERVICES
Quality education
On average, our primary school students achieve 20% higher national test scores than students in government schools. Secondary graduates boast a 100% pass rate, double the national average, and are prepared to be competitive in their fields of career or study.
Gender equality
Girls are less likely to complete their primary and secondary education due to domestic responsibilities, early marriage, or pregnancy. We champion gender equality and maintain a 50/50 enrollment ratio of boys and girls.
Role models
Students in our schools see their teachers as educators and trustworthy adult figures. Many are single and double orphans who look to their teachers to guide them through their life challenges and help them reach their goals.
Feeding program
We serve our students a hot lunch, which is often their only meal of the day. Receiving a reliable meal improves attendance, focus, and performance in their studies.
