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University Ministries

Zambia

Summer (after graduation–June 1) — $4,000

About the Trip

NPU is responsible for ayearlyclinic that provides medicalcheckupsfor the children being served by Hope Fellowship Ministries. The nursing students who participate in this clinicare able toobtain their community health credit for graduation. There are also vital clinic roles from non-nursing students!In addition to the clinic, students will be staying with host families, engaging with the community, playing games and interacting with the children who visit the clinic. There is also enough time to squeeze in a visit to a game reserve and Victoria Falls.

North Park has partnered with Hope Fellowship Ministries through Spark Ventures,whichwas founded by the former director of University Ministries, Rich Johnson. He began Spark’s work in Zambia through a partnership with Hope Fellowship Ministries along with a group of North Park students who had a heart for service, and our very own Dr. Heather Duncan of the NPU Nursing Program.

Partner: Hope FellowshipMinistries, Spark Ventures

Mission Statement:
Spark Ventures’ mission is to provide sustainable solutions lifting children out of poverty.

The goal is to provide high-impact nutrition, education and healthcare programming to the children of Zambia. From humble beginnings the partnership has flourished into a vibrant mission that enjoys year-round partnership with Hope through Spark volunteers who focus on education. During the summer trip, North Park student nurses facilitate the testing and treatment of malaria and other diseases as well as providing secondary education for the served population. They havemaintained a 100% primary school graduation rate over the past five years (the national average is 88.5%). The school Hope Ministries and Spark Ventures serve has 350 students with an orphanage of 25 children.

Student Testimony

“The team on this trip was amazing and probably one of my favorite aspects of this experience. I am so glad the team was formed so early, as I greatly appreciated getting to know the team throughout the year and feeling already comfortable with them by thetimewe left the states. Andrew and Andi were amazing leaders and set a great example. I loved Hope Ministries, and how amazingly welcoming they were. I loved being fully immersed into the culture in Zambia and being accepted so easily. Although there weretimesI was uncomfortable being in another culture or another home, I am so thankful for the ladies I lived with and being so comfortable with them that I felt so at peace with being uncomfortable about other things. I think the itinerary was great and travel was relatively easy.”

–BroolynSatterlee, Nursing, C’19