Important Update about Hope School’s Executive Director
Dear Spark Community,
Last week we sent an update to let you know that there were several confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Hope community in Zambia. Charles Mumba, the Executive Director of Hope, was one of the people who tested positive. Out of respect for his privacy, we did not share this news previously, but have been given permission to share it with you now.
Charles has been in the hospital for the last week. We are deeply concerned about his condition. Due to the fact that he has diabetes in addition to COVID, his complications are very serious. He is receiving the best care available in Ndola, and after a week of several ups and downs, he is stable but still struggling. Due to the conditions and lack of resources at the hospital, the Hope team has been delivering food and bedding for Charles every day.
The others who tested positive either have no symptoms, mild symptoms, or are recovering at home. The staff and children at the Hope House orphanage will continue to quarantine. The campus will remain closed until the health department determines it’s safe to re-open following strict safety guidelines including sanitation of the entire campus and additional testing.
After the message we sent out last week, many of you asked what you can do to help.
Send a Message to Hope:
We created a CaringBridge webpage so you can send words of encouragement and photos to Charles and the entire Hope Community. Your messages will give them strength to help them through this crisis.
Contribute to Spark’s COVID-19 Response Fund:
We are committed to stand by Hope and do everything possible to support Charles and the needs of the Hope staff, students and community. Thanks to your ongoing support and donations to our COVID-19 Response Fund, we sent funding to provide more PPE, purchase sanitation supplies, and to cover testing and COVID-related health care costs as needed. A generous donor also sent funds to purchase supplies for the hospital where Charles is. The hospital is overwhelmed with COVID patients and is in dire need of essential items like oxygen, PPE, and bedding. We are helping ship a donation of 20,000 KN95 masks from the US to Zambia. While Hope’s campus is closed, Spark is providing uninterrupted funding for all programming, including salaries and meals.
If you’d like to contribute to our efforts, we are welcoming donations to our COVID-19 Response Fund.
We are communicating with Hope every day and will continue to keep you updated. Thank you for keeping Charles and all of our friends at Hope in your thoughts.
With gratitude,