In 2005, a group of people saw a need of feeding and
educating 300 orphans in an incredibly impoverished area known as Chipulukusu (“worthless”) in northern Zambia. At the time, there was one teacher for all 300 children in a building no larger than a two-car garage. Later the name of the area was changed to Mapalo meaning “blessing”.   In the spring of 2006 a new school house made out of used timber and dirt floors was completed for the children. There are now five teachers at the orphanage, all of whom are receiving formal training.

One of the challenges in educating the children was that many of them were unable to focus or stay awake during the day because many of them were malnourished. In response to this need a once a day feeding program was put in place so that the children receive one cup of porridge, which has become the most nourishing meal that they receive.