2009: Chibote, Zambia

Chibote is a village in Zambia, in which families live together with their leprous relatives. It was founded 30 years ago by a Franciscan order.

Many people in Africa, and particularly children, live in constant danger because they do not receive enough to eat on a daily basis, and are threatened with illness. This is even worse for lepers. Physical suffering and the psychological effects which accompany it bring exclusion from society and isolation.

Chibote is a village in Zambia, in which families live together with their leprous relatives. It was founded 30 years ago by a Franciscan order. At the time supporters from Genoa provided financial start-up support. The original intention of the founders, to provide a professional education to enable a return to normal society, did not work out. The deficits in ability due to bodily deformations were too great and a normal life was not possible. The leper’s only option was to move back to the village. Five years ago financial support from Italy was cut off.
Chibote is an independent community. The inhabitants provide for themselves – they plant grain, keep chickens and bees. A meal is prepared daily for 250 children. The kitchen is modest, it consists of a fireplace in which a porridge is prepared from corn, beans, and vegetables.  This is the only daily meal, and indispensible for survival. Some of the children even make long marches on foot in order to be able to get something to eat.