A fragile start

Sr. Christabel Kazembe and SCORE-ECD beneficiaries walk in the remotest parts of Chipata during a baseline assessment. (Derrick Silimina)

By Derrick Silimina 

As the morning sun glows over the lush rolling hills of the Chipata district, Sara Mbewe gently sways her baby boy, Raphael Zimbili, on her back after feeding him at her home in Kapata township — 575 km (about 357 miles) east of Zambia's capital, Lusaka.

"My son had a fragile start, [born] prematurely at just seven months, with a low birth weight in April 2022 and had to be placed in an incubator," Mbewe told Global Sisters Report. 

Mbewe was unable to produce breast milk during this critical time, leaving Raphael at risk of severe malnutrition. It was at this moment that the Strengthening the Capacity of Religious Women in Early Childhood Development (SCORE-ECD) project became a turning point for her son. 

Mbewe received vital training on early childhood nutrition, including the importance of locally sourced foods and complementary feeding practices, which significantly improved Raphael's health. She was guided on introducing complementary feeding at six months, including porridge enriched with groundnuts, soy, eggs, beans, pumpkin, and even traditional protein sources like caterpillars.

"By October 2022, my child's weight steadily increased thanks to the ECD's lessons and [their] community health volunteers," she said.

Mbewe learned techniques for breastfeeding low-birthweight babies and supplementing with goat milk as her breastfeeding capacity increased. As a result, Raphael's weight increased by the age of 3, from 1.4 kg to 8.2 kg (about 3 pounds to 18 pounds), and he is now healthy, can walk and interact confidently.

Despite the financial hardships and emotional toll, Raphael's father, David Zimbli, expressed deep gratitude, noting that he had lost hope due to his son's poor health and feeding struggles, but now sees light at the end of the tunnel.

"It was not easy, but the SCORE-ECD project helped us in ways we didn't expect. The community health volunteers gave us strength, knowledge and encouragement. Looking at how far Raphael has come, my boy is able to walk on his own and live a healthy life," Zimbili told GSR. 

Supported by Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, coordinated by Catholic Relief Services, and implemented by the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa, the initiative leverages the trust and influence of religious sisters in rural communities. (The Hilton Foundation is a substantial funder of Global Sisters Report.)

Good Shepherd Sr. Sarah Phiri, the SCORE-ECD project trainer for the Eastern province, is motivated by witnessing how mothers gain confidence and develop parenting skills, and how their children thrive in their physical, emotional and intellectual development. (Derrick Silimina)

Good Shepherd Sr. Sarah Phiri, the project's trainer for the Eastern province, is upbeat that the program has reached some of the most vulnerable people in remote communities. She is motivated by witnessing how mothers gain confidence and develop parenting skills, and how their children thrive in their physical, emotional and intellectual development.

"This project is a powerful avenue to transform [the lives of] parents who lacked basic knowledge on child development but are now champions in their communities. Children once malnourished are now thriving thanks to improved feeding practices and caregiver education," Phiri told GSR.

Phiri said the program is holistic, inclusive and community-centered as it integrates health, nutrition, positive parenting and spiritual support to ensure children under 3 develop to their full potential.

"The project uplifts women and builds stronger families. We have also seen increased male involvement, which is a positive shift in our cultural norms," she said.

Sr. Christabel Kazembe and SCORE-ECD beneficiaries Zione Lungu and Tamara Njovu (Derrick Silimina)

The initiative not only improves early childhood development but also contributes to women's empowerment and strengthens families across four provinces, including Copperbelt (Ndola), Luapula (Samfya), Central province (Kaparu), and Eastern province (Chipata and Kalichero).

Elias Tembo of New Jim, a slum area west of Chipata District, is among 600 children (out of over 3,000 children served) who are direct beneficiaries of the initiative.

The program enabled Tembo's mother, Catherine Mwale, to recognize that he had hypotonic cerebral palsy, impacting his ability to sit and stand properly. "It was a challenging and emotional time for us, as we were worried about our child's future and well-being," Mwale told GSR.

Sr. Christabel Kazembe joins SCORE-ECD beneficiary Alice Soko in the vegetable garden, a source of healthy food for mothers and their children. (Derrick Silimina)

The sisters brought Tembo, 2, to the Cheshire Homes Society of Zambia, operated by the Sisters of St. John the Baptist, who later brought him to Lusaka for a vital medical operation. The successful surgery marked a significant turning point in his development, as he can now sit and stand unaided — milestones that were previously unattainable and highlight the positive impact of early detection, intervention and access to specialized health care provided through the initiative.

"We are deeply grateful to the SCORE-ECD project for linking us to the Cheshire Homes, where Elias got the life-changing help he so desperately needed, a testament to the power of the sisters' humanitarian work amid challenges posed by our child's disability," Mwale said.

Nearly 2,500 non-beneficiaries have benefited indirectly from the project, demonstrating its broader community influence across the four provinces where it is currently being implemented.

Project manager Christabel Kazembe of the Sisters of Mercy in the Mansa Diocese works with the Zambia Association of Sisterhoods, and said the project has improved the capacity of African sisters to provide inclusive, high-quality and nurturing care to children up to age 5, with a particular focus on children in vulnerable situations.

"I've been able to reach some of the most vulnerable people in remote communities," Kazembe said, adding that she finds joy in being part of a project that empowers mothers, adolescent girls, and caregivers with the knowledge and skills needed to care for their children.

Kazembe said her congregation's charism of compassion is the foundation of the project's work, which motivates them to respond to the needs of vulnerable children and mothers with love, dignity and empathy.

"We accompany families, especially in rural and underserved areas, offering not only services but also presence, listening and hope. This has been a powerful avenue through which this charism reflects in practical and impactful ways," she said.

Upholding dignity of Zambia's sick and dying

By Derrick Silimina

Monica Chibuye is in her final moments as she confronts the harsh realities of Alzheimer's, which has stripped her of her memories and connections to loved ones.

Chibuye, 72, has been battling the disease for over two years, and it's taken an emotional and psychological toll on both her family members and caregivers. 

"I struggled financially and couldn't afford home-based care due to high medical bills. I had no option but to seek holistic medical therapy for mum here at Mother of Mercy Hospice due to the facility's quality palliative health care," Chibuye's daughter Lillian told Global Sisters Report.

Located in the lush suburb of the Chilanga District, approximately 20 km (12 miles) south of Zambia's capital Lusaka, the Mother of Mercy Hospice and Health Centre offers solace, comfort and dignity to patients and their families.

Lillian said that before her mother's admission to the facility in early 2024, she felt hopeless after witnessing her deteriorating health condition.

"My mother's condition was characterized by frustration, sadness and fear," she said. "I thank the religious sisters for their timely medical support."

A sign directs patients and visitors to Mother of Mercy Hospice in the lush suburb of the Chilanga District, approximately 20 km (12 miles) south of Zambia’s capital, Lusaka. (Derrick Silimina)

Established in 1997 by the Sisters of Mercy of St. Charles Borromeo Zambia, the Mother of Mercy Hospice became one of Zambia's first hospices for terminally ill patients to improve palliative care for the dying. The southern African country experiences a high rate of HIV infections and lacks quality medical care for the most vulnerable.

Like Chibuye, Rabecca Mpande's experience with pneumonia highlights not only the medical and financial stress associated with living with a chronic health condition but also the profound mental health impact of being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

"After I suffered from severe pneumonia, I was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS during my admission at the Mother of Mercy Hospice. I was immediately put on antiretroviral drugs, and I have been on treatment for 20 years," Mpande said.  

Mpande, 52, is now upbeat that her stress-free access to antiretroviral drugs and food supplements at the hospice has enabled her and her husband (also living with HIV/AIDS) to enjoy a positive, healthy lifestyle. 

After regaining her strength, she said, the sisters helped her financially by hiring her as a community volunteer to motivate others living with the virus to adhere to antiretroviral drug treatment and embrace a positive outlook.   

"Our charism is to serve the poor and neglected, but first of all, the sick. For those in our care that pass on, we ensure they’re cared for even in their last moments," Sr. Jeremia Mrowiec said.

Sr. Jeremia Mrowiec, manager at Mother of Mercy Hospice, chats with the administrator Esther Lungu. Lungu hopes to help expand the hospice's capacity to accommodate more patients. 

"When I first came here from Poland in 2009, I [witnessed] how terminally ill people were admitted here, and through our services, they returned to their normal lives, and that gives me immense joy," Mrowiec said.

That same year, Mrowiec took over as manager of the Mother of Mercy Hospice. Although the facility started in 1997 and focused on HIV/AIDS patients, the sisters now serve a diverse range of people, including cancer and stroke patients and those with other life-limiting illnesses.

"Following the high demand of patients on antiretroviral drugs, we opened a clinic in 2006 and have served over 2,000 poor, outcast and terminally ill patients battling various ailments, especially those who are near the end of their lives," she said.

Mrowiec, 67, said that despite financial challenges that led to the clinic's temporary closure, support from VisionZambia, Churches Health Association of Zambia, the government and others over the years has helped sustain their operations. She added that in 2020, management decided to open an outpatient clinic to extend health services to clients under the National Health Insurance Management Authority, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Mrowiec, a teacher by profession, said the 20-bed hospice serves 600-700 patients monthly at its inpatient and outpatient departments, but struggles due to limited resources despite, "Our mission is to console and bring hope to the hopeless and helpless in society by reflecting the merciful nature of Jesus Christ," she said.

Hospice administrator Esther Lungu said hospice care is vital in supporting individuals nearing the end of life by prioritizing their dignity and comfort.

Lungu echoed Mrowiec’s emphasis on improving the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illnesses through prevention and relief of suffering.

"I have witnessed significant medical success stories since I started working here. Most patients often live in better physical and mental conditions than they came, and those that have passed on die with dignity," Lungu said. She joined the Mother of Mercy Hospice in 2021 as an administrative assistant, working closely with Mrowiec.

Lungu pledged to help expand the hospice's capacity to accommodate more patients in the future as she enjoys working in humanitarian settings and finds fulfillment in transforming lives.

Prudence Moyo, 35, praised the hospice for their help as she recovered from a stroke. The hospice provided free essential care, including food, medications and physical therapy.

The sisters provided Moyo hope when her medical and financial burdens were too heavy to bear alone. She credits rigorous physical therapy at the hospice with enabling her to stand and, eventually, to walk again. 

Schools of hope

By Derrick Silimina

As laughter and singing echo through a community school in Mathare, a slum in the heart of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, the vital role of quality education becomes unmistakably clear. 

“It’s not that dropping out of primary school due to lack of sponsorship didn’t affect me, but I’m hopeful for a brighter future now that I’m back in the classroom,” said Hanif Mwangi, a 12-year-old seventh-grade pupil at the MCEDO Beijing School, in an interview with ChinAfrica. 

On his way home from school, Mwangi navigates a rugged path winding through rows of shacks tightly packed within the sprawling Mathare Township. With a growing number of vulnerable children in Nairobi’s second-largest slum, the rising rate of school dropouts in Mathare compounds the struggles of a community already burdened by widespread illiteracy. 

It is the second-biggest slum in Nairobi after Kibera. Most parents in Mathare can’t afford to provide basic needs like food and shelter.  

Despite significant progress in Africa towards improving access to quality education and ensuring the completion of basic education, disparities remain for children from the poorest backgrounds, particularly those with disabilities. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), many of these children reside in informal settlements. 

In response, the Kenyan government, in collaboration with UNICEF, recently launched a programme called “Operation Come to School.” This initiative targets children aged 6 to 13 in 16 counties and informal settlements where the risk of dropping out is highest. 

Supporting this effort, Transsion Holdings, along with other Chinese companies operating in Kenya, is enhancing the lives of children in Mathare’s slums by providing access to quality education. 

“I became homeless after my parents’ untimely death. I took refuge at an orphanage in Nairobi which made it possible for me to get back to a Chinese-aided school,” Grace Odongo, a pupil at the MCEDO Beijing School told ChinAfrica. 

Odongo believes that schools which support education among young learners in informal settlements are seen as a blessing to help to lift poor people out of poverty. 

  

A blessing for impoverished kids  

In 2012, the Chinese Embassy in Kenya introduced the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA) to the MCEDO Beijing School as a development partner. Thanks to years of financial support, student enrolment at the school has grown from 200 to over 500. 

KCETA, an umbrella organisation of Chinese enterprises operating in Kenya, is bringing hope to young learners attending the MCEDO Beijing School in Mathare.  

Recently, the association donated approximately Sh6.83 million ($52,741) to the institution to support renovations and provide meals for students. 

Benedict Kiage, the school’s director, noted that prior to the institution’s founding in 2001, access to education in Mathare was a significant challenge, leaving many children illiterate. 

“The desire to see children in the slum access basic education motivated us to establish the school. One of the school’s initial goals was to keep Mathare’s children in the classroom,” Kiage explained. 

According to school authorities, the management has implemented a school meals programme that provides each student with two meals daily. This initiative addresses the nutritional needs of students, many of whom only have one meal a day at home, while others often go hungry all day. 

Like many informal settlements plagued by violence, crime, and gang activities, learning centres such as the MCEDO Beijing School are a beacon of hope for the younger generation in Mathare. 

Zhang Zhizhong, deputy chief of mission at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, recently highlighted the longstanding friendship between China and Kenya, noting that the embassy has supported the school’s students for the past 17 years. 

“We will also provide new desks, chairs, and other facilities, and every student will receive a new backpack to support their studies,” Zhang announced after donating over $38,000 for school repairs and renovations following damage caused by heavy rainfall and flash floods. 

MCEDO Beijing School receives a donation from KCETA on 23 June 2023 (XIE SONGXIN) 

 

Indispensable contribution 

Elijah Mungai, basic education director for projects in Kenya’s Ministry of Education, expressed gratitude to China for giving the country’s children the opportunity to return to school. 

Mungai added that Chinese firms have consistently provided essential learning tools, such as desks, chairs, and free meals, since 2019. Powered by the Dream Building Service Association, a non-profit organisation founded by young Chinese volunteers in 2014, the Hanka Education Centre hosts more than 400 young learners. It is one of 15 learning centres established within the sprawling Mathare slum, all of which have benefitted from programmes sponsored by Chinese firms. 

Hanka Education Centre’s Head Teacher Esther Dodo recently emphasised the transformative role played by Transsion Holdings, a Chinese tech company renowned for its smartphone brands, including Tecno, Itel, and Infinix, in improving the lives of children in Mathare. 

Transsion Holdings has implemented several corporate social responsibility initiatives aimed at improving education in Kenya and other countries. Among these is the Educate a Child programme, which seeks to enhance education for African refugee children. Additionally, Transsion’s public welfare projects, such as the Dream Sports Bag and Rural Multi-functional Classroom, aim to improve educational conditions for rural children. 

Parents like Monica Akwino have recognised the positive impact of Chinese-funded learning facilities in Mathare.  

“Chinese grant-aided schools have created a conducive learning environment in our community. My child is not only able to read and write, but is also provided with books and meals during school hours,” said the mother of two.  

Fighting HIV/AIDS, supporting mental health in Zambia

 

By Derrick Silimina

For over 30 years, Sr. Mary Courtney, a member of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa, has provided crucial support to people with HIV/AIDS.

A native of Ireland, Courtney, 84, is a coordinator at the St. Francis Community Integrated Care Programme in the heart of Livingstone. She entered the novitiate in Boston in 1964 and professed her final vows in May 1972. 

She then went to Mater Infirmorum Hospital in Belfast to complete her registered nursing training and Dublin for midwifery training. Her missionary work has taken her to Uganda, Ethiopia and Zambia. 

Zambia has a challenging history with HIV/AIDS, and Courtney's fight against the disease has made a difference in the lives of many. She spoke about the 1990s when patients were bedridden and stigmatized. Today, antiretroviral drugs enable patients to lead normal lives with a significant reduction in stigma and an increase in patient confidence.

Courtney oversees programs for those on antiretroviral drugs, intellectually disabled individuals and adolescents. She also works with patients living with mental health issues, epilepsy, tuberculosis and cancer.

---

GSR: Kindly tell us about your work and ministry.

Courtney: My humanitarian work is driven by prayer, community support, and a desire to show love and service to the most vulnerable in society. I have been in Livingstone since 1994, and my first assignment was working for a home-based care program, which at that time had many HIV/AIDS [patients].

After the introduction of antiretroviral treatment, the needs of the people changed, and the face of home-based care changed as well, from purely home-based care to the inclusion of the economic empowerment aspect. As a result, the organization changed [its] name from St. Francis Home Based Care to St. Francis Community Integrated Care Programme.

Sr. Mary Courtney is pictured with a group of volunteers from the St. Francis Community Integrated Care Programme in Livingstone, Zambia. (Derrick Silimina)

Who inspired you to become a sister?

I was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi. As a young girl, I desired to be a missionary in Africa and to become a Franciscan. My nursing profession aligns well with my missionary work, which entails the Franciscan charism of love, service, honesty, transparency, dignity and respect for creation.

How does your charism align with your missionary work?

Our organization upholds values such as love and service, honesty [transparency] and respect for human dignity, all aimed at promoting peace and justice and strengthening friendship with all creation.

By believing in the philosophy of "working with" rather than "working for" the people, our organization empowers men and women from within the communities who have always been the backbone of our program activities. These "supporters" are the primary contact with the needy and marginalized. They are the ones who identify, assess and enter the clients to receive services.

Sr. Mary Courtney interacts with patients receiving medication from the St. Francis Community Integrated Care Programme in Livingstone, Zambia. (Derrick Silimina)

In response to HIV/AIDS, how did you manage to establish counseling, palliative services and home-based care, as well as behavioral programs?

We built a good rapport with the clients and other stakeholders, including [the] government at [the] district level, and it was and has been easy for the organization to implement home-based care, behavioral programs in schools, economic empowerment through savings and internal lending communities, and mental health programs for adolescents. 

Through lobbying meetings with the district health office, we moved our mental health clinics from under trees where we used to conduct them to the government clinics. Another point is the correct use of resources, especially finances, which enabled the organization to gain donor confidence.

How many patients have benefited from your humanitarian work?

More than 15,000 people have benefited directly from the program, and more than 40,000 indirect beneficiaries through various activities, including radio programs.

Tell us about your recent honor from Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema: the Presidential Insignia for Meritorious Achievement.

It is an honor and reflects tireless and fruitful ministry to vulnerable groups here in Livingstone. I did not attain it alone and owe it to the staff, care supporters, fellow sisters and everyone for supporting the organization from its inception.

What are your key challenges, and how do you address them?

Funding is a challenge. The organization has continued writing proposals to potential donors, especially for expensive psychiatric medication and supplements. The organization continues to hold advocacy meetings with the Ministry of Health so that the government will consider budgeting for medicines for people living with mental health challenges on a larger scale. 

Through the board of management, some fundraising ventures have been held, and profit is put in a fixed deposit account for future use.

I thank all our benefactors, families and friends for the unceasing support the organization has received to help the vulnerable in Livingstone.

Turning on the taps

 

By Derrick Silimina

For years, Hassan Juma has struggled to secure clean water for his family in Dar es Salaam’s southern suburb of Bangulo. Like many in the sprawling coastal city, he has faced persistent water shortages and has been forced to rely on expensive private vendors to meet his household’s basic needs. 

“A 20-litre container [of clean water] costs 600 Kenyan shillings ($0.22), and my family needs several of those each day. It’s hard to understand why something so essential is still out of reach,” Juma told ChinAfrica. 

Across Dar es Salaam, particularly in fast-growing suburbs like Bangulo, residents have long suffered from an unreliable water supply. With no regular public supply, many have been forced to dig shallow wells, often without proper sanitation or testing. This exposes communities to contaminated water and waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea. 

“The water from these wells isn’t clean,” said Juma. “It’s a risk we take because we have no choice, but it’s our children who suffer the most.” 

This crisis persists despite Tanzania’s abundant freshwater resources. Experts point to a combination of rapid urbanisation, outdated infrastructure, and insufficient investment in public utilities as the main factors behind the ongoing water challenges. 

Tanzania is undergoing one of the fastest urban transitions in East Africa. By 2030, more than half of the population is expected to live in cities, up from just 24.4 percent at present. 

Dar es Salaam, already home to over 40 percent of the country’s urban residents, is expected to remain a key destination for internal migration, according to the World Bank. 

For residents like Juma, however, a long-awaited solution has finally arrived. 

More than 450,000 people in south Dar es Salaam, including Bangulo, are now benefitting from a newly completed water supply project. 

Funded by the World Bank and constructed by Power Construction Corp. of China (PowerChina), a state-owned engineering firm, the initiative has brought a steady and affordable supply of clean water to the area for the first time in decades. 

The project marks a turning point for many families, and the impact has been immediate and transformative. 

“I can finally plan my day without the constant worry about where the next container of water will come from. This is more than just a convenience - it brings me peace of mind,” Juma said. 

 

An uninterrupted supply of clean water 

Launched in January 2024 and completed a year later, the Bangulo Water Project has brought reliable access to clean water across several communities in south Dar es Salaam. 

The initiative involved the construction of a pump station, a 10.8-km pipeline, a water storage tank, and a 9,000-cubic-metre reservoir. As a result, seven areas and several remote villages now enjoy continuous access to safe water. 

“In Dar es Salaam, many residents, including women and young girls, still spend considerable time collecting water. This takes away valuable time from education and economic activities essential to improving their livelihoods,” said Bella Bird, former World Bank country director for Tanzania, Burundi, Malawi and Somalia. 

Bird noted that the Bangulo Water Project aims not only to ease the burden on local communities, but also to enhance Dar es Salaam’s competitiveness and productivity as one of Tanzania’s key commercial centres. 

Among the beneficiaries is Rose Upendo, a restaurant owner in Bangulo, who recalled how water scarcity once severely affected her business. Operating her eatery was a challenge due to inconsistent water supply, but that has since changed. 

“This project is a game changer. Thanks to PowerChina, I’m now able to save enough to invest in expanding my business,” said Upendo. “In the past, I had to buy water at exorbitant prices from distant places like Ubungo, Kinyerezi and Pugu.” 

Upendo believes the project has significantly improved livelihoods in the area. Enhanced water accessibility and safety have helped to reduce public health risks and allowed residents to engage more fully in income-generating activities. 

Tanzania’s Minister for Water and Irrigation Jumaa Aweso recently stressed the government’s commitment to expanding water access, in both urban and rural communities. 

“To meet our ambitious targets for water supply by December 2025, we must adopt innovative financing mechanisms similar to the Tanga UWASA initiative,” Aweso said. 

The Tanga UWASA initiative is a successful public-private partnership that has improved water supply in urban Tanzania through innovative financing, efficient management, and infrastructure upgrades. 

Meanwhile, local authorities in Bangulo’s Pugu Station Ward, within Ilala District, have hailed the project as a milestone. The new infrastructure has drastically reduced the frequency of waterborne disease outbreaks, including cholera and dysentery. 

Goodluck Mwele, head of the ward’s local government, highlighted another social benefit: greater household security. “In the past, women had to leave home early in the morning to fetch water and would return late at night. That exposed them to multiple risks,” he said. 

 

Preeminent source of FDI 

Chinese enterprises undoubtedly play a pivotal role in Tanzania’s infrastructure development, serving as engines of regional economic growth and active contributors to China-Africa cooperation. 

Recently, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian revealed that China has become a leading source of foreign direct investment in the country, making an important contribution to its development. 

“We are confident in Tanzania’s future development prospects,” said Chen during the one-day China-Tanzania Investment Forum and China (Jinhua)-Tanzania Trade and Investment Promotion Conference held in Dar es Salaam. 

PowerChina has stressed that the state-of-the-art water system has improved water access and safety for local communities, reducing disease outbreaks and relieving residents of the burden of time-consuming water collection. 

“This project has significantly enhanced water accessibility and safety,” said Yin Zifei, deputy chief engineer of the PowerChina project. 

Yusufu Mtamile, who has worked with the company for over a decade on various water projects, said PowerChina had greatly improved his family’s well-being. 

“My monthly salary enables me to pay school fees for my children and cover food and health care expenses,” said Mtamile, a human resources officer at PowerChina.