
Heather & Jesse's Zambia Mission
Donation protected
Dear Family and Friends,
We couldn’t be more excited to announce that we have decided to travel to Livingstone, Zambia and volunteer!
We have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to give back to those in need in a developing country, and take on this adventure together.
We have always wanted to travel to Africa to volunteer, and after a service at Redwood Park Church, we were inspired to use our blessings to help those in need. And with Jesse’s positive experience volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Thailand we knew this was our calling and couldn’t pass up the opportunity! So here we go!
In October 2015, we will be flying half way around the world to Livingstone, Zambia to volunteer with the organization International Volunteer Headquarters (IVHQ).
Why Zambia? Did you know that in Zambia alone, about 68% of the population live below the recognized national poverty line, with rural poverty rates standing at about 78% and urban rates of 53%. Unemployment and underemployment in urban areas are serious problems with over 64% of the population living on less than $1 per day. Extreme rural poverty and high unemployment levels remain significant problems, made worse by a high birth rate, a relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, and by market-distorting agricultural policies.
Jesse will be volunteering on the community development program. Working across a range of different activities with the common goal of supporting the development of local communities in Livingstone. Volunteer work focuses on construction and renovation, agriculture, and providing various forms of assistance to vulnerable children and adults, including the disabled and a support group for women and children with HIV/AIDS. As a volunteer he may also help with income-generating projects to help these vulnerable communities provide for themselves, such as the production of crafts and food products to be sold at local markets.
Heather will be working in the childcare program. Being placed in an orphanage, childcare facilities for underprivileged children, nursery schools, or special needs facility. With a significant portion of children living under the poverty line in Zambia, many of these vulnerable children suffer from poor hygiene, inadequate education, insufficient food and little to no healthcare. Individualized attention and a focus on early development and education are crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty in Zambia. Volunteer work is focused on mentoring, basic informal teaching, helping with homework, giving attention and affection, meals, cleaning, helping with the general running of the home/facility and interacting with the children. So while Jesse is hard at work out in the field, Heather will be singing dancing, and playing games with the kids.
For more information on our programs, check out: https://www.volunteerhq.org/volunteer-in-zambia
Our goal is to raise $6000 or more! This seems like a challenge but through your support we will be able to make this trip a reality and help make a major impact in the lives of those less fortunate in Zambia. Donations of any size will be greatly appreciated by both us, and the families we will be helping in Africa. Donations can easily be made by clicking the donate button on this page.
IVHQ makes volunteering abroad affordable, but unfortunately flight expenses to Livingstone are quite high. Your donations will help with traveling costs, accommodation, project materials and support for local staff. But we don't want to stop there! Any additional funds that we raise will be used for supplies (books, toys, school supplies, sports equipment, health and hygiene products, clothing, etc.) for the childcare facility that Heather will be volunteering at. We will be buying everything over there as this will allow us to give back to the local economy. If you want your donation to go towards anything specific please feel free to let us know and we will ensure the funds are allocated accordingly.
We will be running a few awesome fundraisers throughout the summer so stay tuned for fun ways to get involved! We will also be doing a bottle drive over the summer so if you have any bottles to donate please contact me via facebook, text or email and we would be happy to take them off your hands!
If you would like more information on the cause or to learn more about what our four-week trip will entail, make sure to visit www.volunteerhq.org Also, feel free to contact us personally and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have!
Thank you so much for your support and we couldn’t be more excited to take on this journey with you :)
Jesse Buob & Heather McKercher
Organizer
Jesse Buob
Organizer
Kakabeka Falls, ON