Youth training for Foundations for Farming in the village of Eg'chickeni.
At YouthHOPE, we have the privilege of working with awesome global youth workers throughout the world who have a heart to see the lives of youth transformed by God. These people are in the trenches, working daily to bring the truth of Christ to the youth they interact with. Some of the global youth workers that I am blessed to work with are the same wonderful people who were hosts to my intern team this past summer, Rutherford and Tsahai Banda in Malawi and Lloyd Ng’ambi in Zambia. I was privileged with the opportunity to spend the summer working alongside these amazing servants in their ministries and I am excited about the opportunities in front of our intern team for 2012!
Currently, it is estimated that 21% of the population in Zambia is made up of youth between the ages of 15-24. These youth are facing many difficulties, including unemployment, lack of education, and HIV/AIDS. Lloyd, Director of Youth, Synod of Zambia CCAP, is working hard to combat these problems with the love of Christ. His vision is to see youth trained in business skills, Foundations for Farming, CHE, and HIV/AIDS education. He sees a generation of leaders, a generation full of potential, and he is working to develop sustainable, holistic ministry to prepare and equip that generation. This summer, our interns will partner with Lloyd to continue to develop a Foundations for Farming program in rural Zambia. The team will also help in teaching skills to study the Bible, HIV/AIDS education, and leadership skills to Christian youth at a regional conference.
Like Zambia, Malawi is a country of youth. According to the National Youth Council of Malawi, youth make up about 40% of the population and also deal with unemployment, lack of education and HIV/AIDS. Rutherford and Tsahai partner with YouthHOPE to bring hope to a generation without any. Rutherford, Bishop of Central Region Grace Christian Fellowship churches, is planning 3 youth conferences in a village in Malawi during which our interns will teach on prayer, Bible study, unity, and leadership. The team will also visit secondary schools to teach HIV/AIDS education and awareness and will assist in preparing a girls hostel as a safe living place for girls attending secondary school away from home.
The potential for transformation is incredible, not just for a handful of youth, but for a generation, for these communities, for these countries. The youth in these two countries are vibrant and full of life, but they need hope, they need something for their souls to delight in. Our internships and our ongoing partnership with Lloyd and the Bandas, are the avenues God has given us to take His great love to those in need and I am excited to see all that God will accomplish through our interns and these faithful servants in 2012!
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