Crisis Nurseries and House of Moses in Lusaka The numbers are staggering: It is believed that there will be as many as 16 million orphans in Africa in the next 10 years, in part because of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In Zambia alone, the health ministry’s studies revealed the number of children in crisis in that county was over 500,000 in 2000. Today they estimate that number has reached one million. Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church has invested in a far-reaching project, the Crisis Nursery Program in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. It is operated by the Christian Alliance for Children in Zambia (CACZ). This is not an enormous program (yet!), but it is recognized as a model for all of Africa.
A Crisis Nursery is not an orphanage. It is a “safe home” for young children, until they can be returned to their families or placed in foster homes or adoptive families. The typical Zambian family is economically unstable but strong in emotional and tribal ties. Orphaned children are often adopted by relatives or taken in by other people from their tribe. The Crisis Nursery children are placed in loving homes. The staff prepares the family to receive a child, and continues to work with the family after the child is placed. To date there are three Crisis Nurseries. The Kanyama Crisis Nursery was opened in 1998 in the New Kanyama compound (population 150,000), a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Lusaka. Beth Bowman, daughter of LCPC members Pam and Barry Bowman, visited it in 1999 when she was living in Zambia. She knew that mothers or families in crisis had three options: keep the child, even if they lacked the means to provide food, clothing, shelter, or medical care; send the child to a Catholic organization far outside of town, where it would be difficult to visit the child very often; or abandon the child at birth—at the hospital, under a tree, in a ditch, or down a latrine. Beth reported that, sadly, the last option was not uncommon. She was so impressed with the Crisis Nursery, that it became the first of many visits. As many as 15 toddlers may be cared for at one time. Many arrive traumatized by grief and/or neglect, but they respond wonderfully to the loving care they receive. Beth wrote, “Here is a place right in New Kanyama compound that takes care of its own children. A big banner by the door proclaims ‘Jesus loves you and so do we!’ This is an incredible gift to the community—a place where the children in the community can be cared for while the family gets back on its feet.”	Caregivers provide loving care for the orphaned or abandoned children who are brought to the Crisis Nursery.
Beth wrote, “Here is a place right in New Kanyama compound that takes care of its own children. A big banner by the door proclaims ‘Jesus loves you and so do we!’ This is an incredible gift to the community—a place where the children in the community can be cared for while the family gets back on its feet.” A specialized crisis nursery for infants, the House of Moses, was opened in 2000. Premature and high risk abandoned or orphaned infants are particularly vulnerable. The House of Moses is one of the few facilities that meets this growing, almost overwhelming need to care for these most innocent of victims. A delegation from the United Nations and U.S.AID declared it to be a model for all of Africa when they visited in August 2003.
	Little Helen was brought to the House of Moses with a bump on her head. her mother was hit by a car and killed while carrying her across the street.
The Bill and Betty Bryant Crisis Nursery in the Garden Compound was dedicated in 2003, named for the former director of the Outreach Foundation and his wife. They had both championed this project. It can care for up to 25 children. Because it is near a community-based school that is operated by several churches, young school-aged children are served here. In 2003, Florence Mywopa, who was then director of the Crisis Nursery projects, visited Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church with her daughter, Fanny, who is director of the House of Moses. We also hosted missionary Sandra Levinson, one of the founders of the project. We relate to the Crisis Nurseries through the Outreach Foundation. You can learn more about the Crisis Nursery at The Outreach Foundation website (click on “Projects”) or the Children Everywhere website.
Statistics: Zambia Total area: 286,000 sq. mi. (slightly larger than Texas) Population: 9,770,199 Languages: English (official) 7 major venaculars, and about 70 indigenous languages GDP per capita: $880 Religions: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, indigenous beliefs Literacy 78.2% Life expectancy: 37 years. (Statistical information from the PCUSA 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study)