“It Begins with One Person, One Heart and a Desire to Share the Love.” — Loretta’s Hearts
Karen and Chanda outside the youth center. Chanda’s scholarship is made possible by Karen.
With Valentine’s Day in the air, we thought we’d share a story with you that touched our hearts.
Engaging with our girls and boys through our scholarship program can be very rewarding, but a trip to Africa is oftentimes a life-changing experience. Karen DelRaso, longtime friend, volunteer, and supporter of AEP, is a testament to the power of volunteering with our girls and boys in Kafue. So when she asked if AEP would like to collaborate with her on her photographic book, Loretta’s Hearts (www.lorettashearts.com), we were all in! We recently interviewed Karen about her work and inspiration for this project.
1. How did you first learn about AEP?
Around 2008, I was introduced to AEP while I was working for Walter Buckley, who sat on the board. When I heard the backstory of several young Radnor High School students wanting to help the children in a small community in Zambia who had been affected by AIDS and poverty, I was intrigued. I did a little more research into AEP, and I started by sponsoring a young woman, Musonda.
A few months later, I went to a fundraiser and was struck by the students in the video that was showed. Especially, one young man, James. James gave us a tour of his home. It was unfinished cement blocks, several walls, and half a roof. He lived in one of the only rooms that was finished. It was very dark with a dirt floor, but it held all his possessions. He was immensely proud of his space and prouder of his dog, Soldier. When I saw him, that is when I knew, I had to go on an AEP trip.
2. What year(s) did you travel to Zambia on an AEP trip?
“I remember my first trip to Zambia and how amazing and life-changing it was. A piece of my heart is always with them as I continue to visit and watch them move forward in their lives. ”
My first trip was in late October 2009. October is referred to as "Hotober" in Zambia. It is the hottest month, right before the rainy season, and it sure was. When I first arrived, I remember walking into this small house converted into a youth center. It was dark inside, to keep the sun from heating up the building, but it was full of smiles, laughter, and music. The students were all there, ready to greet us, and it was exciting, overwhelming, and humbling. Amid all those faces, there was one I recognized. James, there was James! The young man from the video. He was the reason I got on that 21-hour flight. James gave us a personal tour of his home and introduced us to Soldier.
During the trip, our task was to interview all the students looking for new sponsorship. It was daunting at first, as some of them were very shy, but eventually, they warmed up and the interviews started to fly by. Something happened to me during that first visit. I knew I would be back.
Karen visits the students attending the University of Zambia on her latest trip in 2019.
And so, I did come back. I continued to return for summer vacations to interview the new students and spend time with the current students. I even had the good fortune to spend 2013 to 2015 volunteering in Zambia out of the Amos Youth Centre (AYC).
3. What stood out the most about your time in Zambia?
The students are always the most memorable part of my visits. During my first trip to Kafue, we interviewed the grade 7 students looking for sponsorship. Having the opportunity to speak one-on-one with each student and learning about their lives was inspirational. To hear their stories and what their lives were like was an incredible experience.
4. What students have you sponsored and what does this relationship mean to you?
Karen and her walking partners in 2019 scaled another mountain.
I started with Musonda, but sadly, she passed away about a year after I started sponsoring her. It was due to an infection, something we take for granted. I was extremely fortunate to meet her during that first visit. She was a shy, soft-spoken, highly intelligent young woman. When I asked her what her mother did for work, she said her mother was a businesswoman. Her mother sold bananas at the local market. I loved that. She was proud of her. Later, I found out that Musonda had a younger sister, Chanda. When she was ready to go to grade 8, I sponsored her, which was a gift. I also sponsored a young boy, Chibwe, throughout his high school education. When we first met him, he would follow us around, but would not say anything. He was like my shadow, which became his nickname. Currently, I sponsor Chanda, Edward, Sunford and Niza. These are the reasons I enjoyed going back, to see all the students thrive thanks to all AEP/AYC has done for them. On my most recent visit in 2019, I was able to see a group of students at UNZA (University of Zambia) who I have known since they were in grade 7. It was an incredible experience. A piece of my heart will always be with AEP and AYC.
5. What inspired you to create Loretta’s Hearts? What is your mission and dream for this project?
Initially, it was a personal project to share something uplifting. It started after my mom, Loretta, passed away. She was a special lady. She loved life and always encouraged me, especially during the last years of her life. Whenever we were together there was a lot of laughter and encouragement to really live, to find happiness and joy in life. We were very close, and I felt a little lost after she passed. One day, I was looking for rainbows after a thunderstorm and that is when I saw this heart-shaped opening on the clouds. I felt that it was her way of telling me everything would be ok. Since then, I have seen hearts in nature almost everywhere I go and started to photograph them. I decided to make a book of the photos along with a few inspirational quotes. In the beginning, I gave them out to friends, family, and just to say thanks to people. A good friend suggested I should publish it and share it with others.
The first heart that started it all…
Since I have always thought it was important to help others, the book is my way of uplifting someone's spirits by reminding them that love is all around while supporting others in need. The mission of Loretta's Hearts is to share love and kindness so when you buy a Sharing Heart book or gift, a portion of the proceeds are donated to non-profits, like AEP, that are making a positive impact in their communities. I like to think it just takes one heart to share with another.
6. If there are any stories around the photos that you shared, please share here.
Some of the pictures in the book are from hikes that I took with the students. It was one of my favorite things to do with them. It initially started as just a couple of us walking through the community and then eventually we started to explore the surrounding mountains. They showed me where they lived, where they went to school, where they played. They tried to teach me some of the local languages and the games that they liked to play.
On one trip we had younger children, who could not go too far. One of the older students, Moses, wanted to explore further. I promised him that he and I would go on a day hike to see how far we could go. We covered over five mountains that day.
Karen captures the smiles from the Munckins at the youth center.
Our hikes became a weekend ritual, and it got extremely popular. I felt accepted by the community.
7. Any inspirations from your journey with AEP?
I have met so many great people through my AEP journey. The whole experience was empowering and totally out of my comfort zone. I would not trade it for anything and hope to continue my journey with AEP. Julie-Anne and the team have done an incredible job and if I can help in some small way, I am happy to do that.
To learn more about Loretta’s Hearts, visit www.lorettashearts.com.
To learn more about the 2021 Nyali Scholarship Fund and how you can sponsor a student, visit: https://www.africaneducationprogram.org/scholarship-fund