Francis

Name:  Francis
Gender:  Boy
Reported birthdate:  April 29, 2019 (currently age 5)
Favorite food:  Nshima and chicken
Favorite activity:  Playing with toys
Child is happy when…  He is watching soccer
Child wants to be an…  Electrician
Home information:  Francis is growing up in the town of Luanshya in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. Our ministry partners in Luanshya report: “Francis lives with his mother. His father passed away some time back. Francis has two siblings; he is the second born. His mother works as a maid to sustain the family, but she cannot meet all of their needs with the small amount of money she earns. Feeding her children is a big challenge. Francis helps at home by washing plates.”
School information:  Francis has not previously attended school. Through sponsorship, he will be able to start grade 1 at the Blooms of Grace primary school in January 2025. There, he will learn and play, be taught about 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 in Luanshya live in a number of compounds (densely populated communities). Francis’s family resides in Maiteneke Compound. In the compounds, unemployment and poverty rates are high, and people primarily depend on menial jobs for survival—working, for example, as garden hands, maids, and small-scale farmers. Families tend to be large and live in small houses. The compounds have been greatly afflicted by HIV and AIDS, leaving many children without one or both of their biological parents. Orphaned children are often cared for by their grandparents, aunts, or uncles; other children live in child-headed homes. Living in poverty, most families struggle to meet their basic needs and afford school fees for their children.
Prayer requests:  Please pray that Francis will complete his education and be able to help his family in the future.