Zambia
The City of Joy was established in 2008 by the Salesian Sisters to educate and develop the full potential of the lives of poorest young people in the Southern Province region of Zambia. The City of Joy caters to girls and young women who are orphaned or vulnerable and is located two hours south of the capital, Lusaka.
The Sisters work in collaboration with lay staff and volunteers to run the home for young girls at risk. They provide a safe and nurturing environment for the girls to live and study. The girls attend local schools during the day and return to the City of Joy after school. They conduct a strict schedule for the young women that includes oratory, homework time, tutoring and of course time for play and fun. The Sisters also run a very successful oratory program that invites children from the surrounding compounds to come and play games and take lessons.
The Sisters have implemented many projects to help them work towards self-sustainability. There is large fishpond in order to breed fish and sell them, a garden and they are planning on building a piggery. The biggest long term goal for the Sisters is to establish a much needed secondary school.
The Cagliero Project began sending volunteers to the City of Joy in 2013. Past volunteers have always worked with the young women at City of Joy and have also worked on diverse projects to help support the centre. Past volunteers have included professional teachers, engineers, social workers and tertiary students from areas such as education and development.
The City of Joy needs volunteers to work in the following areas:
- living with and mentoring young women from the home
- teaching life and leadership skills during the oratory program
- conducting afterschool tutoring sessions and evening activities
- giving formation talks, workshops or retreats on personal and spiritual development
- providing marketing, fundraising and administrative support