Slideshow 
        Video
        Infrastructure
        Healthcare
        Education
        Local Job Creation
        Funding

continued

Some of the villages will be built on larger plots of agricultural land. This will allow for the training of youth in good agricultural practices such as; principles of irrigation, crop rotation, vegetable production, compost making, post harvest processing, integrated pest management, crop selection and marketing, and record keeping. The crops harvested will be used to make the villages self sustaining and to help support other orphans who are not residing in the villages.

Of primary importance is the goal to help the orphans grow into creative and fulfilled Christian citizens who will return to their villages as strong ambassadors for Jesus Christ. This will be accomplished by instilling in them a strong Biblical foundation and Bible based Christian morals. In addition to a Christian based education, they will receive Bible teaching and modeling of a Christian life style. The Biblical education will be accomplished by the leadership of the village, the Christian volunteers and employees at the village from the local churches in Zambia, and through short-term volunteers visiting the village from their sponsor churches. The modeling of a Christian life style will come through these same sources.

In time, the village will grow most of its own food. This will include grains, corn, soy, winter peas, and other produce. Meat will come from animals raised on the farm. These will include goats, cattle, sheep, and rabbits. Milk for the children will come from the goats and cows. The project will work closely with local tribal and governmental authorities. Children will be screened and referred by tribal or governmental social services sources.

Health Care
A core service need of the children is quality health care. Many AIDS orphans are HIV-positive themselves. AKCLI's experience is that at least 20% of the children are HIV positive. Their immune systems have been compromised, and they often need special care for the opportunistic diseases they contract. The Institute of Human Virology, is a division of the University of Maryland Medical System, and a world-class center of excellence, focusing on chronic viral diseases (HIV) and on malaria. Zambian President Levy P. Mwanawasa visited the Institute in June, 2005 and has contracted with the center to provide treatment for HIV in his country. Dr. Rob Sheneberger, the Senior HIV doctor in Zambia, is the medical advisor to AKCLI.

more