In Zambia, children have traditionally been looked at as a gift to be treasured. In traditional societies, every adult felt responsible over any child they came in contact with – to guide it in the right way. As a result, orphans were not really left without parental support, since there was always a home available for them in which they could receive the love and care needed for a better future.

However, with modernisation, has come a breakdown in this social cohesion. Urbanisation has created a society that does not feel obligated to support orphans even from members of the extended family. Consequently, there is a high incidence of child headed homes with some turning to the street to look for a means to survive. Ubumi has joined other like-minded organisations to advocate for the rights of orphans and other vulnerable children so that they grow up in stable environments receiving the needed support from society.

Among the activities being organised are ensuring that society accepts children regardless of who they are. Orphans now carry a stigma, a fact that is being compounded by the HIV/AIDS disease. This has a negative impact on them making it difficult for them to adjust in society and results in a high school drop out and other anti social behaviours. In a bid to mitigate the hostile home environment, Ubumi has set up a transit home to act as an oasis of stability in a child’s turbulent life. It acts as a platform from which families can reconcile with their way ward child so that there is a smooth transition back into the family structure for the child. Further, for the child whose birth parents are deceased, the extended family is encouraged to adopt the child so that it stands a chance to grow up in a family environment but of course with the advantage of financial and educational support offered through the community school Ubumi set up for this purpose.

For children in government run public schools, organisations work through school clubs to discourage orphans being stigmatised. They organise programmes in these clubs that help address this stigma. Other activities include community awareness campaigns, use of media such as community radio and newsletters. The electronic media has proved a very powerful tool because it is far reaching and provides a platform for feedback through phone-in programmes.

With these activities in place, society is turning back towards the traditional approach of caring for the vulnerable children and accepting them as equal members of the society.

  I'm now able to see hope in my life even after the death of my parents. Thanks to Ubumi Project Africa, my school fees and basic needs are being provided to me by the Project. Tumelo Bangwe, 13yrs