On January 22nd, 2024, six Inverness County Cares (ICC) members, Betty Jane Cameron, John Gillies, John MacInnis, Charlotte Rankin, Winnie Rankin and Colleen MacLeod will begin their journey to Zambia. Each member will personally pay for their transportation, accommodations and meals.
The purpose of the trip will be to visit the two Kawambwa Project Schools located in the North of Zambia, close to the Tanzanian and Democratic Republic of Congo borders. We will get to know the people we have worked so closely with for 4 years. The generosity of our supporters from far and near, has transformed the school environments tremendously. We will meet our Zambian friends in person, learn about the working of both schools and contribute our skills in any way that will be helpful.
Chalice (chalice.ca), a charity based in Bedford, NS, partners with ICC to provide an education, shelter and food for children attending the Kawambwa Schools, who are blind or have limited vision. Many of these children have albinism, an inherited disease which is characterized by a lack of melanin. This causes their skin and hair to have no colour and also causes deteriorating vision and blindness. The lack of melanin leaves them at risk for skin cancer and their eyes are very sensitive to light. ICC members are collecting gently used sunglasses and hats which will offer protection from the sun’s damaging rays.
The Kawambwa Project consists of two schools, St Mary and St Odilia both in Northern Zambia. They are administered by the sisters of the Child Jesus, a local Zambian order of sisters who are doing a remarkable job.
The ICC travelers will leave Halifax January 22nd and will arrive three days later in Kawambwa, the site of the first school. After two weeks ICC members will move on to St Odilia School in Mporokoso, 125 km to the North to spend two weeks there.
A blog of our daily experiences will be posted, if the internet available is powerful enough to allow our posts.
The blog address is: https://icczambia.blogspot.com
Gently used hats and sunglasses will be gratefully accepted. Please text or call 902 227 5425 or [email protected]
