Home of Hope
The Home of Hope serves as a refuge for approx. 65 homeless youths who have run away from home and have been living on the streets of Lusaka. Many of the boys have been a witness to or victim of trauma, abuse, drugs and in some cases, prostitution. Whilst residing there, Home of Hope staff make efforts to find the young person’s family and attempts to reintegrate them to their home or to a close relative’s home. This is not a simple process as there may be issues regarding the circumstances in which they ran away which need resolved before they return home.
The Home of Hope offers family therapy and support around resolving these issues. Whilst this work is on-going, the boys reside in the Home of Hope. In circumstances where it is not possible for the young person to return home or where the family cannot be found, then the Home of Hope becomes the person’s home until they are 18 years old.
List of Achievements
Partnership
Project Zambia have partnership agreements with each host community as a way of holding each other accountable, highlight our history together and to create short term and long term goals for the future. Documents are reviewed regularly to ensure all parties are happy with progress and have the same vision going forward. We work as co-equals throughout the development of each project to ensure we progess in the most efficient way possible.
What have we done:
Since we began working with Home of Hope in 2002, the transit centre has grown into an oasis for the boys who are residing there. In the beginning, the Home of Hope consisted of 2 cargo containers which would be used for everything; eating sleeping, socialising. Over the years PZ have:
developed dormitories for the boys to sleep
built counselling rooms and class rooms
invested in a TV room for recreation
completed a designated kitchen and laundry area
created multiple shower and toilet facilities
donated many materials such as clothes, shoes, medication and school supplies.
