Lesley Changwe

Name:  Lesley Changwe
Gender:  Boy
Reported birthdate:  July 17, 2013 (6 years old)
Favorite food:  Nshima (a staple food in Zambia), rice, and chicken
Favorite activity:  Playing ball games
Child is happy when...  He is playing with friends
Child wants to be a...  Pilot
Home information:  Lesley is growing up in the rural town of Luanshya in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. He lives with his mother, father, and grandmother. He has five siblings—two sisters and three brothers. Lesley’s father is mentally challenged, so his mother cares for the children. She has a hard time meeting all of their family’s needs, and they struggle with hunger and the payment of school fees for the children. Lesley helps at home by fetching water. His most immediate need is education.
School information:  Lesley has not previously been in school. With sponsorship, he will join the Haven of Hope Luanshya Primary School, starting grade 1 in January 2020. There, he will receive an education, learn about the love of God, and receive meals, medical care, and clothing. In Zambia, primary school lasts for seven years and is followed by five years of secondary school.
Community information:  Haven of Hope's students live in a number of compounds (slums). Lesley’s family resides in the Mikomfwa compound in Luanshya. It is one of the most populous local areas, with high rates of unemployment and illiteracy. People in this compound primarily depend on menial jobs for survival—working, for example, as garden boys, maids, and small-scale farmers. Most families live in small mud houses. Families tend to be large, with a lot of children depending on unemployed parents, or on relatives in the absence of their parents. The compound has been greatly afflicted by HIV and AIDS, leaving most children without one or both of their biological parents. Alcoholism is also a problem within many households. Poverty has kept most families struggling to meet their basic needs and afford school fees for their children.
Prayer requests:  Pray that Lesley will grow in God’s wisdom and have a bright future through receiving a good education.