Letters From Africa

Peter Ravensdale and Salwa Adams met in Zambia, where Peter's parents farmed and Salwa's father was working for the Government there. They were married in 1979.They returned to England and Peter studied to become an architect.

They have two children, a boy now 22 and a girl of 18. Peter eventually became Project Manager for British Aerospace in Saudi Arabia.

During their 10 years or more in Saudi, they felt there was a great need for help to be extended towards the poor in Zambia, many of whose people live in abject poverty.

Bringing a group of friends together on the BAE compound, they formed a charity, "Zamaid", and raised funds locally. These funds were used to build a number of small bush schools in Zambia, and equip them with books, writing materials and other essentials. They also support a local Zambian orphanage.

After much soul searching, they decided to give up their comfortable, well paid life and follow God's call to them to devote the rest of their lives to alleviating suffering in Zambia.

In August 2003 Peter resigned his position with BAE and took the family back to Zambia. With their savings they bought an old ramshackle house and 15 acres of scrub land, which they are currently trying to renovate and make habitable. They have also "adopted" two Zambian teenagers and are providing them with accommodation, food, education and a lot of love.

Peter has long been upset at the amount of expenses eaten up from the donations to major charities and has come up with the concept of a two-tier charity. A commercial, but non-profit making, company whose function would be to produce the capital necessary to pay all the overheads of the basic charity. Thereafter, all donations to the charity (Zamaid) would be used to help those in need. In this way donors could be sure that all their donations are going straight to where it is needed.

When they first returned to Zambia, they had no source of income but were convinced that, if God had truly led them on this path, He would provide for them. So far their trust has been justified!

Peter and Salwa say "We have found that God's love is the key. For many people here, especially the young, the future looks bleak and they view life with a sense of hopelessness; but we are trying, in practical ways, to show them God's love and to encourage in them a sense of hope for the future. Our hearts lie here, in this place, amongst these people. Our greatest desire is to be able to make a difference. The start we've made is small but it is a start."