Our Kawambwa site in Zambia strives to provide care to the local blind and partially sighted children with no other place to turn to for support. Our site’s Sisters partner with two specialized schools for the blind in Zambia that help children access quality education and life skills in a safe, warm, and loving environment. Blessings, who was born blind, never would have had access to an education without the support of her loving sponsor and the dedicated teachers at her new school.
Blessings is the youngest child in a busy family of five. Her father worked as a bricklayer, while her mother took care of the home. Her parents unfortunately didn’t have the means or knowledge to look after a child living with blindness, and struggled to manage Blessings’ disability.
Since Blessings couldn’t be left to wander and was unable to attend local daycare, her parents would lock her in a room when they would leave the house or were otherwise occupied. They didn’t have any training or knowledge in how to raise a blind child to become self sufficient, so this was the only way they knew how to keep Blessings safe. Her motor skills became delayed, and she fully relied on others for walking and eating.
Blessings was enrolled for sponsorship when her loving father asked the Sisters at our Kawambwa site to help her access an education and a better way of life than he could provide. She was soon chosen by a Chalice sponsor, and was able to attend a specialized boarding school for blind children!
With a lot of support from Sisters, staff, and other children in a caring environment, Blessings has blossomed! She’s now one of the best in her class in mobility, and can read and write in braille. She loves to sing and recite poems, and her teachers sing her praises for being reliable and kind.
Today, Blessings is in grade four. The difference in her demeanor and abilities is incredible. She’s come so far in her studies, and is able to rely on herself for many things! “She’s a kind, reliable, and obedient child at school, and at the site,” says our site director. “Thank you to Blessings’ sponsors and to Chalice for giving her new vision. She sees with her beautiful heart.”
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