The nutrition program commenced in September 2005 with around 40 children receiving one balanced meal a day (6 days a week). This vital program now supports 270 orphans and vulnerable children, providing essential food and nutritional supplements, catering for a wide variety of health needs. It is a joy to see children eating their large plate of food, although harrowing when you realize that for a vast number of these children it will be the only food they receive all day.
A team of 10 dedicated feeding assistants (volunteers from Mwandi village) staff this program from Monday to Saturday. These volunteers are a spectacular example of love and grace to our children, many of whom have never experienced parental care.
Being witness to the daily goings on at the OVC Project is both a privilege and a joy. Children arrive at the drop-in centre, wash their hands, and head inside to say grace together. Feeding time is a frenzy of activity as children eat and receive multivitamins and other individually tailored nutritional supplements depending upon their specific health needs. Children with disabilities, who are largely shunned by the community, sit amongst their brothers and sisters…a family in the truest sense of the word. After lunch they wash their plates and hands, brush their teeth, and then enjoy a variety of social activities.
Stories, singing and devotion time is sometimes chaotic! However, the sense of love and acceptance during these times is palpable. Children also enjoy a wide variety of games and sports together, as well as opportunities to play with toys, which is a new experience for most of them. To see the delight in their faces is reward enough for anyone lucky enough to find themselves as a part of this family.
Children shower weekly at the OVC Project with antibacterial soap and are weighed monthly. HIV testing over the last year has revealed that 27% of the children receiving nutritional support are positive. A number of these children are healthy, and with ongoing nutritional support will live for quite a while without needing medication. However, others would benefit immensely from Anti-Retrovirals (ARV's). HIV/AIDS continues to ravage the mwandi community.
The project now has 4 community volunteers who have been trained in child counseling. The addition of quality counseling has been a valuable tool in aiding children to overcome the burden of loss, abuse and neglect which many of them carry. Counseling sessions are held regularly for all children on the nutrition program (and their families) as well as for other children who are referred by the community.
The nutrition program is a haven of love and support for these vulnerable children. After their time at the centre many head back to school or go home to do chores. Their daily lives are a stark contrast to their time at the ovc centre. However, despite their difficult lives they continue to be an example to us all of true joy in the face of poverty and neglect. They are inspirational.
Sample menu
Monday - rice, meat and vegetables
Tuesday - nshima, beans and vegetables
Wednesday - nshima, kapenta and vegetables
Thursday - rice, vegetables and chicken
Friday - rice, eggs and macaroni
Saturday - rice, beans and vegetables
