Results & Impact
Determination, faith, and commitment are the cornerstones that allow what seems (im)possible to become possible. By building local relationships and networking, many of the people who come to Wendy for help are lead to self sufficiency. Lives are being saved, families are finding relief in their poverty, and new hope is spreading like wild fire as “Mama Wendy” facilitates the possibilities of partnering together to bring life, love and joy.
Wendy featured in Mississauga News.
2010
July
Wendy arrived in Chingola, and established in her heart that Mbayi would be the village she would focus on. (blog post)
October
Maize seed and fertilizer provided for a community maize field that would be ready to harvest in March 2011. The words of gratitude spoken were: “now we will have enough food next year and won’t have to worry about starvation.” (blog post)
2011
January
Tuesdays are declared “Clinic Day.” It is a 2 and 1/2 to 3 hour walk to the nearest health clinic and so many are too sick to make the journey. The health personnel declare that lives were being saved! (blog post)
Relief food in the form of mealie meal (a flour made from corn) is being provided to local orphans and disabled elderly as funds are received. (blog post)
February
A chicken business is launched to empower women. Two hundred broilers are raised every 6 weeks. People are astonished that an impoverished place like Mbayi—without electricity—can not only raise chickens, but chickens of the best quality! (blog post)
Sweaters provided to every child at the Mbayi Primary School. (blog post)
March
12 young goats purchased for the purpose of breeding. These goats provide meat (good tasting) and manure (excellent fertilizer for vegetable gardens). (blog post)
April
Shoes provided to children through generous donation from St. Stephen's On the Hill United Church. (blog post)
June
A process of taking elderly with eye problems—glaucoma and cataracts—to the Eye Clinic in Kitwe begins. Sight saving procedures are performed. (blog post)
July
Generous donation received from Streetsville Rotary Club provided the Mbayi community with their first hummermill to grind their maize crop. No longer do they have to lug heavy sacks of maize a day’s trip to be ground—now they service the needs of the community and it provides income to the households that maintain the hummermill. (blog post)
September
Health post planning begins. Wendy asked the question—after many months of transporting the sick to clinic and hospital—“How can we bring Health Care into Mbayi?” A Clinical Officer came to Mbayi and gave a presentation of the process required. (blog post)
Container from Canada arrives. Blankets and sweaters distributed to the elderly. (blog post)
October
Inoculations provided for a van full of moms and babies. (blog post)
December
Mamies Christmas Party sponsored by the Moms Group at Caledonia Presbyterian Church. With cake and other goodies—plus a gift bag for each mother—we celebrated the birth of Jesus. (blog post)
2012
February
Step 1 of building the health post has begun with clearing the land of stumps. Villagers will provide the labour, and the government will provide iron roofing sheets, window, door frames, and staffing. A wonderful partnership has begun with the government. (blog post)
Orchard with banana and nut trees planted close to Mbayi Primary School for the children.
March
Container arrives with clothes for women and children and toys.
July
Foundation for the health post is dug.
AUgust
A football team is formed so that youths living in poverty can compete in a sport in which they yearn to participate. Uniforms and balls are sent from Canada and money is donated to purchase soccer boots. (blog post)
September
166 mosquito nets distributed for protection against malaria—a killer of villagers. This was made possible by the fundraising efforts of the Moms Group at Caledonia Presbyterian Church. (blog post)
October
Rich in iron, calcium and protein—a millet field is planted as another initiative to develop sustainable agriculture and support the most vulnerable in Mbayi. Maize seed and fertilizer continues to be purchased for the most vulnerable. (blog post)
December
Opening of Agape Land School in Chabanyama—for street children, the poor or orphaned. School fees are subsidized through donations and text books, and educational toys were provided by generous gifts for the start up of the school. (blog post)
Mamies Christmas Party, second year, again sponsored by the Moms Group at Caledonia Presbyterian Church. With cake and other refreshments—as well as toys for children (sent from Canada), and the incredible gift of a chicken for each family—the birth of Jesus is celebrated. (blog post)
2013
January
Wendy is the first woman invited to join the Chingola Rotary Club.
May
Step 2 in building the health post. A work team of 6 from Canada partner with the village for 2.5 weeks to hand make 3200 bricks to build a health post. Next will be the pouring of the foundation. (blog post)
APRIL
Chingola district Government commits to partnering with Wendy and the village of Mbayi in the building of the health post. District Commissioner George Sichula, District Community Medical Officer Dr. Sakulanda, Community Development Officer Dorothy Chileshe, and Honourable Deputy Mayor Titus Tembo have all endorsed the health post project, and meet with Wendy regularly. His Honourable Titus Tembo even donated and personally delivered oil to the work site for the production of the mud bricks.
A sewing machine is provided to the Mbayi Women's Club to empower them in a tailoring business. Funds from the Streetsville Rotary Club.
June
Bee keeping business established. Forestry Dept. was hired to train 10 villagers how to start a bee keeping business. The government donated 11 beehives, then a donation from Streetsville Rotary Club provided clothes, boots, and start up supplies. (blog post)
December
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International has named Wendy Bourgon a Paul Harris Fellow in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.
2016
February
Partnered with Rotary clubs in Mississauga to put 20 clean water wells in Mbayi.