Orphan Support Groups

Kelsey surrounded by her heroes -- the CSS

Kelsey Welch is currently in Zambia for 2 weeks serving as a HealthEd Connect intern to mentor the women who volunteered to facilitate support groups for the orphans.  Below is her first report:

.... headed back down to Chipulukusu for day one of the grief support groups for the kids. First group was younger age (grade 1) followed by the older children's group (grade 4). We had about 7-9 children in each group (wonderful number!!). I am leading the first few groups to sort of model how the group works and then will be leaving the CSS [Child Support Specialists] with materials and plans for next 11 group sessions to continue. The kids were so melt-your-heart wonderful! Their eyes are so old for how young they are and seem to have a depth that no little child should have had to seen thus far. But yet, we were able to laugh and smile and be silly together. And I really feel like each of them was able to feel just how incredibly special they are (which is one of the most important things for all of us - to feel loved and to feel special). I hope they all come back tomorrow for our next session.
The second group of older kids was shocking in that the majority of the kids are what they call "double orphans" meaning both parents have died, and in addition also had multiple siblings who had died. Already so much loss at such a very young age. It should not have been as surprising as it was to me when all of the children except one said that they experience nightmares often. I feel like these groups and this support will be able to meet a need that these children so desperately need filled! I am in such awe of the CSS ladies (many of whom are widows and caring for their own children as well as orphans) who volunteer their time to commit to helping these children in their communities. These women are the real heroes in my world. You can see the passion in their faces to help these children. They understand fully the huge scope of the issue and vastness of the children who need to be reached and there is a hunger in their approach to doing what they can to make things better for these kids. I am so humbled and so inspired by their love and their commitment and feel so privileged to be allowed to work alongside them in this capacity.