The life of a girl in Mpulungu, Zambia, is not easy. But OM has found a way to share God’s love with these vulnerable girls.
The life of a young girl in Mpulungu, Zambia, is not easy.
A port city, Mpulungu is a hub for people travelling to and from villages along the four countries bordering Lake Tanganyika. This access provides business opportunities, but not all are positive. Prostitution and child trafficking have become common, and girls are always at risk to becoming involved, voluntarily or not.
Girls as young as 12 years old can be married to older men, which is an acceptable practice in their culture. Families pull the girl out of school and send her off to begin life as a wife. If the girl refuses, she may be kicked out of her family's home.
Thankfully, OM has found a way to share God’s love in practical ways with these vulnerable young girls.
OM teaches girls life skills
The OM-founded Good News School first opened its doors in 2008 to a class of 20 preschool-aged children. Today, that initial group of pupils is in grade six, and the school has grown to include over 100 more children.
As their pupils grew older, the OM Lake Tanganyika team looked at the girls in their school, many of whom are orphaned or have only one living parent, and wondered how to protect them from the pressures of the surrounding community.
The solution: a group just for the girls that would teach them useful skills, as well as help the girls discover their identity in Christ. The girls named the group The Pure Girls.
The past two years, 20 girls from grade three and above have met twice a week. Wednesdays they do Bible study and discuss relevant issues in their lives, like marriage, prayer, love and home situations. Fridays the girls learn sewing, beading and cooking.
“We have seen that many of the girls are not so good with their school work,” explained Lorrin Kasale, who teaches grade six at the Good News School and leads The Pure Girls. “So, if they drop out or finish grade seven, what then? We want them to be skilled so that even if they don’t finish school they will have something to do that will (help prevent) them from going into prostitution.”
The girls learn how to make small bags from chitenges, doormats from old t-shirts and paper beads. Their products are all sold locally, to people visiting the OM base or at the OM Love Africa conference. The profits are pooled and the girls request small items like underwear, socks and lotion that might not otherwise be available to them.
Seeing a difference
In their homes, the girls are expected to act older than their years. However, at Lorrin’s house, where they meet for The Pure Girls, they are encouraged to be themselves. The girls share giggles and smiles as they work together. Lorrin said she has seen girls change through their involvement with The Pure Girls.
One girl, Kachelewa, had lost both her parents. Her father died before she was born, and last year her mother passed away. Kachelewa was devastated.
“It was difficult to help her because she felt like she had lost everything,” said Lorrin. “I took her through the Bible and explained that God is our Father, and He will provide for her. I monitored her every day to find out how she was doing, and to let her know that I was there. Today she is a happy girl.”
Lorrin lost her own father when she was 11 years old, an experience she said allows her to really understand what the girls are going through.
“These girls need love,” Lorrin said. “Someone needs to show them that they care. That is my prayer—that God will send people from here, or elsewhere, who have a heart for these girls.”
When her mother passed away in December 2014, Benike, 12, became the woman of the house. Her duties include caring for her three younger siblings, cleaning the house and fetching water. Sometimes Benike misses school because of her chores and she is behind in her classes. Though school is a struggle, Benike excels at handmade crafts.
“She’s the best with the skills,” said Lorrin. “You show her once, and away she goes. Benike has already finished one yarn doormat while everyone else is not very far. She is just so good at working with her hands.”
Benike said The Pure Girls group is important because it teaches girls, “how to overcome the bad things that happen. When I grow up, I know I have something that I can do.”
Interested in using the gifts God has given you to serve in Zambia? Check out OM’s opportunities to serve here.