Who are we?

Children of Ubumi, is an American non-profit, inspired by Hudson, Ohio resident, Claire Frese, who volunteered for nine months at the Transit Home. It has a three pronged goal to meet their three major funding needs:

1. A regular, consistent income to support the children in the Home.
2. Funding to cover improvements and ongoing projects such as ongoing education, or lodging for volunteers.
3. Seed money to initiate investments to make the Ubumi Project self-sustaining.

Why should we care?
AIDS is leaving a whole generation of African children rudderless. There are an estimated 650,000 orphans in this country of 10 million people. Tens of thousands of children are living on the streets, begging or stealing to stay alive, uneducated, undisciplined, and vulnerable to disease and exploitation. The country is overwhelmed socially and economically, struggling to maintain stability against staggering odds.

Isn’t this too big a problem for a small group to take on?
While there has been a significant international increase in AIDS assistance, most of that funding goes to research and treatment. Very little funding is available for the consequences of AIDS. The identification of a specific funding site, such as the Ubumi Project, eliminates the intermediary expenses of large charitable organizations and sets a model of giving that is personal, efficient, and accountable. Benefactors know where their money is going, can know the children and follow their progress, and the children can know them.

Doesn’t this detract from our own charities?
Children of Ubumi recognizes that Zambia and its problems are distant, and that many people already have their established and worthy charities. We do not wish in any way to detract from these.

The Biblical Book of Deuteronomy declared that the gleanings from the harvest, that is, whatever was left behind by the harvesters as they passed through the fields, belonged to the widow and the orphan. Children of Ubumi asks only for the gleanings, what’s left from your charity, and what you won’t miss.

How can we help?
1. Keep these children in mind, watching for opportunities that could benefit the orphanage. Our monthly email update keeps you in touch with their needs and our efforts on their behalf.

2. Make a small monthly contribution—your pocket change, a small monthly donation of savings from passing on a snack or using a coupon, the cost of a weekly lunch or treat. (Click on Contact Us to see where to send your donations.)

3. If you belong to a group or club, encourage membership to do a yearly, in-house fundraiser—a white elephant sale, a spaghetti dinner. Even a little money goes a long way in Zambia.

4. Want to become involved? Become a volunteer. We can use your skills, ideas, large or small amounts of time.

Whatever you can do,
the Children of Ubumi thank you.