The Orphan Girls’ plight in Zambia---
As bad as it is to be an orphan in Africa, it is much worse for little orphan girls!

1.     AIDS has devastated the country. Over 40% of adults in Zambia are now HIV+. This has left so many sick and dying that it is impossible to comprehend the suffering until one sees it up close and personal.  Desperate people will often try anything to be cured of AIDS.  One of the widely told myths regarding AIDS is that “having sex with a virgin will cure one of AIDS”.  This has led to the rape of so many young girls.  Then of course they too become infected.  Orphan girls are the easiest targets because who will defend them? Teen or pre-teen prostitution also is sometimes the only way to get food and survive.  It is a heartbreaking vicious set of circumstances so many little girls find themselves in!

2.     In the African culture, sadly girls are considered less valuable than boys.  Girls are often peddled for the highest “Labola” to older men to be wives when they are only 12-15 years old.  Poor families often only educate one or 2 children while the rest herd cattle or work the field.  Rarely do girls get to go to school.  Imagine what kind of a life faces an orphan girl!

Jacob dreamed of the day when he could rescue and provide a safe place for such little orphan girls. (The Zambian government would not allow orphan boys and girls to be housed in the same compound).  So he bought a plot of ground very near the Heartspring Boys Orphanage. He believed the “Lord will someday provide a way to build it”. It took 6 years to raise the funds and to finish the construction of the girls facility.

IT IS NOW COMPLETE AND 31 GIRLS HAVE BEEN RESCUED AND ARE NOW SAFE AT HEARTSPRING!