June, 2009
Words from Kari Cope (PeacePassers volunteer):
Every main road in Zambia seems to intersect with innumerable dirt roads winding back into villages filled with thatched roof homes and hundreds of people, many of whom struggle to provide their families with basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. As we followed the roads into many of these villages we almost always came upon kids playing soccer, often with homemade balls fashioned out of tied up plastic bags. It was a thrill to be able to provide the people of many of these communities with PeacePasser balls and soccer equipment!
During our time volunteering with World Hope International we were able to witness and take part in many of the organization’s ministries which celebrate and affirm the dignity of the people served. Some of these projects included working in a community garden, visiting the homes of orphaned and vulnerable children and of those afflicted with AIDS and other illnesses, and helping to host a children’s rally for children sponsored through the Hope for Children program. Two members of our team even got to meet children who they have been sponsoring financially for the past year. We spent one day in the village of Mungule, playing with the kids, eating a traditional Zambian lunch, and visiting homes. We were very excited to discover that the village has youth soccer teams. Because of PeacePassers, and donations from Madison Soccer Club and the Minnesota Thunder Academy, we were able to leave two complete sets of uniforms for these teams! We also left balls with several of the community trusts and churches in the villages we visited and gave jerseys to 11 of the orphaned and vulnerable children who we met on home visits. Several of these kids came to the children’s rally proudly wearing their new jerseys!
In spite of the constant struggle that daily life entails for many Zambians we found the people to be warm, welcoming, joyful, and hopeful. An abundance of joy was certainly evident on the faces of children and adults alike as we passed off the PeacePassers gear! Thank you, Candace and PeacePassers, for allowing us to be the vehicle in getting those bags to Africa. It was a great privilege to be a part of it!
~ K.Cope
Click below to watch video’s from the trip!