Community acceptance and approval: Power of Love’s COVID education/Safe Park program has gained in popularity with community leaders and organizations, and we are partnering with several community leaders/organizations. Over the last two years, educational games and COVID workshops are being held in church premises on Saturday mornings. In addition, children spend time in community libraries so they can improve their reading and writing skills. The community likes this program as it provides a safe place for children to play and learn. Education on COVID, HIV and malaria prevention, and PPE are provided resulting in improved physical and mental health for hundreds of children and their families. In addition, this program is integrated with Power of Love’s pediatric HIV care, micro loans, and project mosquito nets, so different family members can benefit from different programs.
Impact: In 2022, 933 children benefitted as compared to 728 in 2021, and 630 in 2020. Second, none of the 200 families who received long lasting insecticide treated nets contracted malaria. Third, 150 women got vaccinated against COVID after attending workshops. Finally, a few women enrolled in our micro loans program and are now running successful businesses.
A testimony: Here is a testimony from one the children who has participated in this program for the past several years and is now running a business started with loan funds she received from our micro loans program.
“I’m a 21-year old girl, when I was 8 years old I got to know my status and every time I think of it, it left me questioning if it was all my fault. I had serious anxiety when I started attending Safe Park the games, song education and the play therapy helped me learn that am not alone and that I can live a healthy life and that it wasn’t my fault. As children often like to be around other kids their age it made me feel the sense of belonging. Power of love foundation has helped me become a warm person again. It helped me want to be social again and recognize me being HIV positive isn’t anyone’s intentions. I am now a grown up girl with a health life I have continued to take my medication well am being motivated to come back and help in Safe Park so that I am able to encourage the children. Thanks to Matero care center for good services that I have received all of this has made me a better person in every way. I’m glad I got help when I needed most’. I have even received all the COVID vaccines and am living a healthy life.
Our plan is to continue to provide a safe environment for children to play and learn and keep communities informed about COVID, malaria, and HIV prevention. In addition, we will continue to build partnerships so that more families can benefit.
Thank you for giving the gift of health and a safe environment to vulnerable children in Zambia.
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Dear Friend: The Power of Love team extends heartfelt thanks for your dedication to keep vulnerable children and families educated about COVID prevention and to provide a safe place for children to learn and play. Your support this year, made it possible for 774 children to attend COVID education workshops and play in a safe environment with their peers. We could not have done this without you.
Our goal is for all families enrolled to learn about disease prevention, stay healthy, and feel connected with the community. Please take a few minutes to watch this short video that shows a teenager leading an educational workshop for younger children.
Sending you and your family a whole lot of love for the holiday season and for 2023.
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Why do Children Participate in this program? Children from different age groups love this program for different reasons. Younger children attend this program for snacks, toys, and opportunities to play with other kids their age. In the words of a young participant, "I learn a lot. I cannot stop coming here, it's a nice and safe place as our child and youth care workers are able to take care of us. We learn about cleanliness and good behavior, so I have learned how to take care of myself. I am learning to read and write so when I start primary school I will be prepared." Older children like Jim, mentor younger children as they want to stay connected with our team. Jim was enrolled in Power of Love’s pediatric HIV care program and “Safe Park” programs. He describes his journey as a member of these programs as “very impactful”. He recently graduated high school, is studying counseling, and plans to be a Nurse.
Need and Beneficiaries: In resource poor neighborhoods, residents do not have access to accurate information regarding COVID, STI’s, treatment for children living with HIV who contract COVID, etc. This has led to uncertainty and the spread of false information.
Impact: With the provision of education on COVID, more families got vaccinated against COVID. And with the provision of malaria bed nets, more families stayed malaria free. The mental and physical health of children improved as they were able to interact and play with other children. In 2022, 774 children benefitted from these workshops (as compared to 728 in 2021), and 200 children received long lasting insecticide treated nets. None of the children who received malaria bed nets contracted malaria.
Our plan is to continue to provide a safe environment for children to play and learn and keep communities informed about COVID, malaria, and HIV prevention. In addition, we will partner with more community organizations so that more families can benefit.
Thank you!
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What is Safe Park? Power of Love’s COVID education/Safe Park program provides a safe place for children to play and learn. Education on COVID, HIV and malaria prevention, and PPE are provided resulting in improved physical and mental health of hundreds of children and their families. Community members are encouraged to get both shots of the COVID vaccine.
Our partners: We are working closely with community organizations such as churches and libraries. For example, church pastors provide space to conduct workshops on COVID education and to paly educational games with children.
Need and Beneficiaries: In resource poor neighborhoods, residents do not have access to accurate information regarding COVID, STI's, treatment for children living with HIV who contract COVID, etc. This has led to uncertainty and the spread of false information. In the first six months of 2022, 660 children and adults benefitted from these workshops (as compared to 728 in 2021), and 200 children received long lasting insecticide treated nets. None of the children who received malaria bed nets contracted malaria.
A testimony: Given below is a testimony from one of the participants:
K (age 16): "I participate in activities at Safe Park where I've received educational activities since I was in grade 4. Thanks to the project I've learned about life skills. I attend Safe Park programs arranged by child and youth care workers. I also take part in entertaining activities like singing, storytelling, dancing, etc. that are educational at the same time. I have never been a rank pupil at school. After I started attending Safe Park, I became one of the promising pupils in my class. However, it is not only me who helped improve my school performance. There are many others such as the child and youth care workers who help us with schoolwork during Safe Park to thank. Now I feel self-confident that I will become a doctor."
Our plan is to continue to provide a safe environment for children to play and learn and keep communities informed about COVID, malaria, and HIV prevention. In addition, we will work with new community organizations so that more families can benefit.
Thank you for providing a safe environment for hundreds of children to learn and play.
Links:
Power of Love’s COVID education/Safe Park program provides a safe place for children to play and learn. Education on COVID, HIV and malaria prevention, PPE, a safe place for children to learn/share are provided resulting in improved physical and mental health of hundreds of children and their families.
Need for SP/COVID workshops: In resource poor neighborhoods, residents do not have access to accurate information regarding COVID, safety of the COVID vaccine, treatment for children living with HIV who contract COVID, etc. This has led to uncertainty and the spread of false information.
Our response: Since last year, our team at the request of several pastors, has been holding workshops for the benefit of their congregations. Education on the COVID vaccine, proper hygiene, and PPE are provided at these meetings. Community members are encouraged to get both shots of the COVID vaccine. In the first three months of 2022, 307 children benefitted from these workshops. In addition, 200 children received long lasting insecticide treated nets so that they can stay safe from malaria. Finally, we are partnering with community libraries so that children can access books from the library with the goal of improving their reading and writing skills.
Our plan is to continue to provide a safe environment for children to play and learn and keep communities informed about COVID, malaria, and HIV prevention. This program activities go a long way in keeping families healthy and children in school.
Thank you!
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