An interview with Mary Kombe-Chairperson of SLA

Most people think that when you give or donate, it has to be a lot-Well this is not the case with Savings Loans Association-Chindwin Home Based Care -A localy organization working in Zambia's kabwe township helping to break the cycle of multigeneartional poverty through micro laons www.sloansassociation.org

Care Givers are a good example of what giving is all about-They give their time and effort with SLA to visit homes of people who suffer many forms of challenges- ranging from illness, psycho social, financial, spiritual to mention a few. SLA members have the love, care and time to visit homes of those who need help to talk to them and make them feel happy and be loved.Yet, they are not paid not even a single ngwee (Zambian) penny (UK)/dime (USA).

Now what really motivates these volunteers to do what they do so well in this challenging economic situation we face in Zambia, especially in Kabwe with no major industrial or coporate employing company other than Zambia Electricity Company? Well I spent a few hrs talking to Mary Kombe, who is the chair lady of SLA and volunteers for the organization:

Me: What do you understand by the term Home Based Care Volunteer?

Ms Kombe: TO volunteer means a lot of things-However, the common thread about volunteering-in this case for HBC is to offer your time and effort purely on charitable basis without any finanical returns.

Me: But most of you are coming from poor families with no consistent flow of income but yet you want to sepend your time doing these activities at the expense of your family?

Ms Kombe: I know somewhere in the Bible it says that "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. [Roman 13:9]This explains everything.

Me: What are some of the challenges volunteers from SLA experience?

Ms Kombe: We all face different challenges but a few fall within the same bracket: 1) The need to help is so great but we don't have the necessary resources 2) Transportation-Even a few basic bicycles would do a great job but our organization is very small and operates on a minuscule budget and therefore can not afford 3) The pain and torture to see someone die from preventable diseases like water borne diseases, eye problems and even HIV/AIDS.

Me: What suggestions do you have for members who would like to join SLA?

Ms Kombe: SLA is a wonderful christian group that offers an opportunity for people (in particular women) to offer their passion to help others.We believe that society will be measured not by what we have achieved but what we have done for others. Our small micro grant enterprise programs offer a unique opportunity for members to join groups and receive small loans to enable them begin activities that will not only keep them busy at home but will allow them to raise abit of income to help meet the many challenging needs we all share in common such as PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE.

ME: How many members have benefited from your program and where do you get such "small grants" from?

Ms Kombe: To-date we have helped close to 29 families-Typically a family in Kabwe has 6 members and therefore if you do the maths, we have helped on an average of about 174 members. Our small grants come from individuals like yourself who has a passion to help others and also from organizations like Netherlands Albert Foundation and African Millennium Foundation .

Me: Do you have any last words for the public?

Ms Kombe: Let us love one another and do what we can ONE PERSON AT A TIME.