Mapenzi's home situation

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Re-integration of baby with family is a time consuming and complex process. But, with the help of Osco, our recent UNZA Social Work graduate maybe the outcomes will be a bit more promising. 

Rural Zambia still has many problems. Mapenzi - is tonga for problems. 

Just a bit of background information: 
Zambia has a large child population. Approximately, 45% of the Zambian population is under 15 years old. (old stats, but for now.....its what is at my finger tips. I'll update when I'm able - this morning, while attempting to do this one blog, electricity has gone off 3 times. We were without internet for 6 days last week! If anyone can send me recent stats I'd be grateful!) 

As far as I can see through the home visits and volunteering in Zambia for the past few years I see no strategic, coherent national action plan to address the many issues of the well being of Zambian children. Although, recently, I've been excited to find "Childline" on the internet, but am unable to connect with them via e-mail....the site won't allow my e-mail address. 

Mapenzi is 14 months old and has been at Kasensa since shortly after her birth. Her mother collapsed and died a week after birthing Mapenzi. Mapenzi is bright, alert, is walking and now talking a few words. She really seems to love Osco! 

Mapenzi comes from an all too typical rural situation. Polygamy family, 7 children under 8 years old, and one boy is 12 years old. Altogether, 3 wives have been involved in the children. One wife, Mapenzi's mom is no longer alive. 

Factors that make reunification a challenge - the age of the parents (all below 35 years), lack of education for all the adults (gr. 9 or less), many young children to care for, somewhat disorganized household, apparent lack of connection with spiritual resources, ? relationship with Mapenzi's side of the family - yet to be investigated (tomorrow!) and in general this family is one of those families of below $2.00 per day - "poverty". 

In Zambia approximately 70% of families are classified as poor. Poverty reduces the household's and community's capacity to care for their young. Increased poverty predisposes children to many vices, which may threaten their survival, development and protection. Some vices: neglect, malnutrition, lack of education, increased exposure to HIV and TB and other potentially fatal diseases. 

As well, one out of 6 babies in Zambia will die before their 5th birthday. This is an under five mortality rate of 168 deaths per 1,000 births. 

And....more than 1/2 of the deaths occur before the first birthday. Mapenzi is only 14 months old. 

And....infant mortality is higher in urban than rural areas. As well, maternal education is strongly correlated with childhood mortality. 

As well, in situations such as Mapenzi - if the child is not the natural child of one of the wives there is potential for reduced care (maybe even not intentionally) in the physical, mental, social, spiritual areas and the outcomes for that could be quite difficult for Mapenzi manifesting in early pregnancy, reduced school attendance...and many psycho-social challenges. 

Factors favoring reunification is that the father has 8 cattle and dad wants Mapenzi to stay with them. They live about 5 km. from the nearest health clinic and not too far from the school and chief's palace. They are a welcoming and hospitable family. 

Osco and I are developing risk factors for releasing the child and this one is rating at a medium risk. We have 2 children that we are rating at high risk, 2 at medium, 1 at a low risk and one, we are not really sure, but will keep doing home visits until we know what is happening. 

Once the risk level is determined, then we are setting plans together with the family to attempt to strengthen the capacity of the family. 

Tomorrow, we will visit the mother's side of the family for their ideas of a safe and as healthy as possible discharge plan. 

As well, we hope to visit another orphan home that is close by as well as a Catholic organizations who care for vulnerables within their own communities. 

You might wonder why we as ZMF-C is doing any of this reunification process at all. 
ZMF-C has been licensed by the Zambian Government to operate Kasensa, a small temporary, emergency facility for orphans. We emphasize working with the families to work towards a speedy and safe reunification process with the philosophy that family is the best place for a child. 

The Kalomo district has 2 social workers and this seems typical to other districts. They do not have the capacity to care for the huge numbers of orphans and vulnerables. The Minimum Standards document for care of children in facilities such as Kasensa states the facility care workers will work (along with Social Welfare) to reunify and connect child and family. 

We meet regularly with Social Welfare and will have a collective meeting along with another orphan home in November sometime (date not yet officially set) to further discuss our roles and our challenges. We will continue to ask for support and direction and we will further plan on interventions that can help, but not take away the government's responsibility to their children. 

Please continue to pray with us for clear direction on ways to support these children and their families and to do it in a way that glorifies our God.