To
sponsor a child now, click at the left or call toll-free:
1-800-888-3089 and tell them you want to sponsor a child in Zambia - choose
a boy or girl and make sure to let them know it is to be a part of the "To
Zambia With Love" project - this will connect you with us from the
beginning. More information about the project can be found at
www.tozambiawithlove.com

For a long time I underestimated my ability to make a difference. Through sponsoring Edina Muumbu, who has just turned 3, I have realized I am able to be a voice for her needs. Edina and the thousands of children in Zambia who need a clean water supply, education and the opportunity for a future, need somebody to stand up and be their voice. I stopped thinking about the difference I couldn't make, and started to do what I could by creating a project called "To Zambia With Love". What I'm experiencing, is one person can make a massive difference in one child's life. My mission is to transform the lives of children in Zambia through Children International's child sponsorship program. The mortality rate for children in Lusaka in Zambia is alarmingly at 18%.

I'm further committed to raising $300 000 to build a second center in Zambia. I'm going to travel to Zambia on August 15th of 2006 with a group of sponsors from the New York Chapter of To Zambia With Love, to see with my own eyes Children International's powerful commitment to end the cycle of poverty.

I would love you to join me in my mission to make a difference for a generation of children in Zambia. There are a number of ways you can choose to do this. To sponsor a child, click on the Sponsor Now button on this page. To contribute to the "To Zambia With Love" fund, mail checks directly to Children International, with To Zambia With Love in the memo line. To spread the word and help us achieve these goals, please forward an email to your family and friends and invite them to visit this page to learn more.

With love,
Karen xoxox

A Letter From Lyn Girdler, who sponsored Purity

Below is an email from Lyn Girdler about her involvement in this project. It is one of the most inspiring pieces I have ever read...

Dear Friends

In our world of group emails, web logs, power lunches, laundry, grocery shopping, shoe shopping, cell phone relationships, automatic cars, blackberries, bluetooth's, remote contols, virtual families, text message conversations, multitasking, fast food, obesity, 401k, health insurance, pay raises, super size meals, greed.....opportunity - there is a little girl named Purity who lives in Zambia with her mum, dad , older brother and sister.

Purity has a good life, at least she and her family have a house to live in - their corrugated iron roof keeps them warm in the summer heat and in the winter - well they all sleep in one room anyway so at least they can keep each other warm. Purity being 2 years old might have nightmares, but since she sleeps on a mat in the same room as the rest of her family she doesn't have far to go for comfort.

You see Purity's family survives on $14USD a month - education might not be availble for her since it costs nearly $2 a month to go to school and with a brother & sister already going to school that's almost half the family salaries and they have to eat.

Last week I decided to contribute $22 a month to help Purity have a better life and to ensure she will eat and she will go to schoool. I thought about it for a minute.....$22 a month ~ could I afford it? I mean I really enjoy my wine at night and wearing nice clothes and going out for dinner, and driving in my car, and talking on my cell phone and emailing my friends, and watching cable television and going to movies and having heat in my apartment and having a few blankets around. There are a few concerts I want to go to and I was just looking at this furniture mag and there were some really great designs that I wanted to earmark and see if they fit in my apartment. $18 a month.....I wondered if I was going to be able to afford it - what if I wasn't going to be able to see that movie because the end of the month came and my bank account was a little low and I mean....who knows when I will be down to my last $18.

I only thought for a minute.

Attached is a picture of me holding a picture of Purity - when I look at her I think about what I have and what she doesn't. She loves to sing - she doesn't have any chores around the house yet because she is only 2. Her dad works in a factory and her mother is u nemployed. She sleeps on a mat on a concrete floor. She is happy that I am her sponsor - she will be able to recieve some form of health care and education. Eventually I plan to meet Purity - I have been invited.

Below is an email from a very good friend of mine. She has begun her community project to make a difference in the world. I want to help her. There is a website link to a company called children International. This is not an organization who are asking for 'a dollar a day' contribution to sponsor a child you are unable to visit. They are asking for $22 a month to contribute to a community. Your money doesn't go directly into the hands of your child but widens the opportunity for a child to be given access to education, health care and food and takes the burden off their parents a little.

Children International encourage you to visit your child - unlike other 'a dollar day' organization.

I don't know about the meaning of life, I don't know why I am able to sit on a comfortable chair to write this and Purity doesn't. How many of us want to do something but 'don't have time', 'can't make a difference' or 'these programs are a scam'? And maybe all of that is true - but when I look at that picture of Purity it feels real - and $22 doesn't.

Below is information from Karen. A very trusted and well educated friend of mine. She has invited me to share in her project and I am delighted to be a part of it. Please take the time to read the information.

Don't feel uncomfortable about it - don't feel obligated either, just read and make a sound judgement.

With love

Lyn & Purity