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Introduction
In 1926 the Dominican Sisters founded Kasisi Orphanage. Two years
later they handed it over to the Little Servants of Mary Immaculate,
a Polish Catholic order.
Since then, it has grown to be the largest and best known Orphanage
in Zambia. In 2002 the name was changed into Kasisi Children’s Home.
At the moment, the children’s home has a separate wing for babies
and younger children, a small house for older girls, a street kids
house and two wings for children who are infected with HIV/AIDS,
namely The House of Hope and Martin’s Room. Seven Polish Sisters,
eight Zambian Sisters and about fifty Zambian Housemothers run the
children’s home.
Mission
The mission of the children’s home is to provide the children with
basic needs, spiritual care, love and protection, and to ensure that
these children will be self-supporting once they reach adulthood.
All the children of school age go to school and after secondary
school Kasisi supports them in further education or in finding a
job.
Location
The children’s home is situated 37km from Lusaka main city and 7km
from the airport out in the countryside.
Funding
Kasisi Children’s Home is funded purely via donations from
individuals and organisations throughout the world. Kasisi has no
access to any central funding.
How the Children Find Themselves at Kasisi
The children are brought in from all the provinces of Zambia. These
children are sometimes referred by the Social Welfare Society,
police victim support unit, refugee centres, hospitals, and the
streets and from the communities.
Facilities at Kasisi
The home has 230 orphaned children of which 60 are living with the
virus of HIV and 40 are already receiving the ARVs.
Kasisi is divided into four areas, a wing for babies and younger
children, a house for older girls, a street kids house and two wings
for children who are infected with HIV/AIDS.
There are also a pre-school; two play grounds, gardens and a
classroom, a library and a small computer room.
As the family is the best place for a child, Kasisi tries to find
solutions to reunite the children back with members of their
extended family and continues to support them with some their basic
needs. We have 33 children who have been discharged in the last year
but are still getting support from the children’s home.
Activities
The Children’s home has two play grounds, we have got the main
playing ground where all the children gather and play all sorts of
games and a smaller play ground for smaller children that is the
pre-schools and the like. So any items that can be used for these
children will be appreciated.
Medical Requirements
The children’s home also has a small clinic, which is managed by two
nurses, and doctors from The Coptic Church Hospital who come to
review the children on monthly basis. Children who get sick are
treated within the home and serious cases are always referred to the
larger hospitals.
We are always in need of drugs, eg Antibiotics Syrups, multivitamins
both syrups and tablets,. And surgical consumables e.g.-I.V Cannula,
needles size 23g, syringes 2mls, 5mls,and 10mls, Oral Dehydration
Salts, examination gloves, cotton wool etc etc.
And any other medical supplies that you have will be of great help.
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