Staff Writer

At WellSpring Rescue Village, we often talk about creating a global family, but sometimes, the most powerful connections are the ones that remind us of the families these girls already have. This week, we experienced one of those moments.

Today, we had the joy of celebrating Shilla’s birthday here at WellSpring!

The morning began with something truly special — a birthday shopping trip just for her. This is one of the ways we show each child how cherished they are on their special day. For Shilla, it was a brand-new experience.

At WellSpring Rescue Village, we believe every child deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and deeply loved—especially on their birthday. This week, we had the joy of celebrating Catherine’s 13th birthday!

For most of her life, Mary Kaunda never knew the truth about her health. Raised by her grandparents in a remote Zambian village, she only knew that she was “always sick,” taking medicine daily and making frequent trips to the hospital. It wasn’t until January 2024—at age 14—that she finally learned the truth…

On May 20th, Idah turned 16 — a milestone birthday and a moment of joy for a girl who has come so far!

This year, her celebration at WellSpring was a little different. For the first time, the girls themselves made her birthday cake…

​Thanks to your incredible support, the girls at WellSpring spent part of their April school break learning a brand-new, exciting skill — baking and cake decorating!

​My name is Mary Kaunda, and I am 14 years old. Before I came to WellSpring, life was very hard. I lived with my grandparents, who are very old and could only provide one meal a day — sometimes we didn’t eat at all. I got sick a lot, and school was difficult because we didn’t have enough money for uniforms or supplies.

​Meet Richard Chalwe, a brave young man from Kawama North. Richard’s life has been filled with hardship — he lost his father when he was young, and today, he lives with his elderly grandparents, helping them survive by doing small delivery jobs just to earn enough for one meal a day. His mother, Violet Banda, is still alive but is very ill after an accident and unable to support him.

​Thanks to your generous support, something beautiful has been growing at our new WellSpring property — a small but meaningful patch of maize, planted and cared for by the girls over the past few months.

​My name is Micha Nsonga, and I am 11 years old. I am the youngest in a family of six. Our father left when I was just a baby, and my siblings and I were raised by our mother on her own. Life was not easy, but in 2023, I became a resident of Wellspring Rescue Village in Mufulira, and my life changed for the better.