Twenty-seven students from Upper Columbia Academy (UCA) in Spangle, Washington, traveled to Zambia, Africa, during spring break on a mission trip to assist in continuing to develop the Mukuyu Project. Located on the banks of the Zambezi River, the Mukuyu Project was developed to support the people of the Siavonga district through humanitarian aid and education.
The plot of land that Mukuyu Project calls home has a school (made up of six structures) and a church. The UCA students' main project was helping build a community center. The structure will be used to teach women different trades. In that region of Zambia the women work in order to make enough money to feed their families.
“It makes you feel really good that we were able to assist in giving these women a place to learn so they can provide for their families,” says Saige McCann, UCA student. “It is amazing to see how hard they work to make sure their families are taken care of.”
In addition to serving as an education facility for women, the Mukuyu Project will use the community center to feed the elderly, which will be a new aspect of its ministry.
The eight days that students were at the project allowed them to assist with pouring sidewalks, repairing a roof and building a retaining wall as well.
While on the trip students slept in tents and sleeping bags, adding to the experience.
“Mission trips are an amazing way to see God at work in our world,” said Fred Riffel, UCA chaplain. “What amazes me is watching the students respond to God calling them to service. We were there to serve the people in Zambia, but the students went above and beyond. It was awesome.”
The team works on the beginning stages of the community center.
UCA students construct a community center that will be used to educate women and feed the elderly.
Students and their bags begin the long journey home.
The UCA team helped construct an additional building to help the Mukuyu Project further its ministry.
