Crisis Nurseries February 2023 Update — Baby Prosper Returns Home
Lusaka, Zambia
Baby Prosper, one and a half-year-old years old, was brought to Alliance for Children Everywhere (ACE) by the Child Protection Unit (CPU) in Lusaka, Zambia. The baby was living on the streets with his twenty-one year-old mother. The CPU, in collaboration with several other stakeholders, removed Prosper and his mother and many other babies from the streets during one of their outreaches.
The young mom and Prosper went back to live at her mother’s house, but Prosper’s mom kept running away from home, leaving baby Prosper unattended. Prosper’s grandmother was having a really hard time coping with the stress of taking care of and providing for a baby. She visited the government offices with the baby and requested emergency assistance while she made a plan. The child was brought to the House of Moses Crisis Nursery (HOM) that same day. There, he received loving attention from the caregivers and was put on a special diet so that he could regain his health and strength.
Meanwhile, ACE social workers followed up with Prosper’s grandmother and encouraged her to consider taking the baby home and the possibility of family empowerment was discussed at length. A month later, she visited Prosper and was deeply moved when she saw the baby. She became emotional and promised that she would be happy to take the baby if she was empowered to start a business.
A plan was quickly made by ACE social workers, and Prosper’s grandmother identified a possible business that she could start. The ACE team worked with her to start that business and she continues to run it successfully. Soon after, an assessment was conducted at the grandmother’s home and it was evident that many changes had been made. A small crib had been purchased with clean bedding for Prosper and the small business was booming. Finally, just three months after Prosper was taken in, the baby was turned over to his grandmother’s arms! It was a happy day for both of them and an incredibly successful short-term placement, empowerment, and reintegration for Prosper and his grandmother!
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the mission and ministry of Crisis Nurseries in Zambia. All gifts of any size are welcomed. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.