A Child’s Story: Lidson Masamba of Malawi
POSTED ON Jul 19, 2010
Lidson's transformation inspires other children.
Lidson thanks God and COTN for helping him be what he wants to be--a doctor for COTN.
By Mr. Donald and Mrs. Mary Chirambo
House Parents, House of Love, Chiwengo Children’s Village, Malawi
Lidson Masamba is a 15-year-old boy in eighth grade at Children of the Nations (COTN) Chiwengo Children’s Homes in Malawi. His life has been transformed so much, that it is evident not only to everyone at the Children’s Homes, but the whole Chiwengo Village and school.
Lidson lost his parents when he was two years old and lived with his grandparents. Because of their age, his grandparents could not manage to provide food and other necessities to all the grandchildren they had. It was because of this that all the grandchildren, including Lidson, could not even start school. Lidson came to the Children’s Homes in 2001 from the village of Mtsiliza in Lilongwe when he was five years old. Soon after coming, he was enrolled in school.
Lidson thanks God that he joined COTN. He looked frail and weak when he arrived. He was put on a special diet, and his health improved quickly. The problem we had with him was that he was not motivated to help with home chores and he didn’t study hard at school. It made him fail Grade 5, which he had to repeat. Remedial classes and consistent counseling helped him a lot, and he was soon upgraded in classes.
As the [house] parents, we did not give up encouraging him to work hard at school. Lidson realized the importance of school and is now serious with school. His performance at school and in remedial classes has improved beyond recognition. Now, Lidson is one the few reliable children in the home helping with house chores and even helping the young ones.
The head teacher and other teachers are all stunned at Lidson’s transformative changed life. During the zone mock examinations [school district pre-testing], he was one of the few children who passed with flying colours from the whole zone. At first it was doubtful whether Lidson’s dreams of becoming a medical doctor could be realized. But now nobody can doubt he will indeed be a medical doctor one day.
We praise God for Lidson’s transformative life, as this will help others to emulate his good example. It is pleasing that Lidson has a desire to help his brothers and sisters in Children of the Nations first, before seeking employment somewhere else. He says he wants to do this to show his appreciation to God and to Dad Chris [COTN founder] for helping him be what he wants to be—the COTN medical doctor.
If you are interested in sponsoring a child like Lidson, please visit our Sponsorship page.