SANFROSSA MANYINDA writes
@SunZambian
DESPITE her struggle to feed and provide shelter for about 85 vulnerable and disabled children, 46-year-old Bernadette Tembo has continued to exhibit great will and determination to go on with the charity work.
Ms Tembo is as determined to provide happiness to children as when she began her project in 2015.
Ms Tembo decided to open a place for disabled children which she named ‘House of Happiness for Children with Disabilities’.
She came up with the initiative after it came to her attention that some children were being denied access to education and the freedom to socialise by being locked up in houses.
One of the challenges the house faced was lack of space.
Not anymore.
The inmates of House of Happiness for Children with Disabilities in George Township in Lusaka has been offered a better place to live in by a well-wisher who has chosen to remain anonymous.
The Sun spoke to the chairperson, Peter Mwansa, who said that the donation was a surprise.
Mr Mwansa said the well-wisher who saw it not fit to have disabled children continue living in a dilapidated place decided to do something to help the children.
“He told us to look for a better place where we and the children could be safe. That was how we found this fully-furnished house here in Matero Township.
“He helped us with transport to shift from George Compound and pays our rent, which is K4,000 per month,” Mr Mwansa said.
He said the children are from Lusaka only.
More children had joined them since the house was bigger and had more space.
Mr Mwansa said the centre only accommodated 40 children in boarding before moving to the new house.
The other 45 children were day scholars.
Mr Mwansa said the number of children in boarding had now increased to more than 40 because the new house had enough space.
“We want to be self-reliant and enroll children even from faraway places. We want to find a bigger place and build a bigger house that will accommodate a lot of children. We want to help as many children as we can,” he said.
He urged well-wishers to help us with anything, including food stuffs, clothing, bedding and building materials.
“This work is not for one person but for everyone because these children we are taking care of today are the leaders of tomorrow,” Mr Mwansa said.
