They cast because they care
Guides lead fishing trips to feed African orphans
By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer
Guides from Silver Creek hope to raise enough money to feed and educate these orphaned children in Zambia for two years.
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Sometimes inspiration is all in a word.
When Peter DeBaun found out the name of a Zambian orphanage translated to mean ?worthless,? it moved him to do something worthwhile.
DeBaun rallied fellow fishing guides to organize Silver Creek Outfitters? Fishing for Life Orphan?s Benefit, which helps orphaned children of the Chipulukuso Orphanage in Zambia?the ?worthless? orphanage.
On Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 10 a.m. the guides and their guests will embark on a day of fishing to help feed and educate orphaned children in Africa. The day begins at Memory Park in Ketchum, just across the street from Silver Creek Outfitters, with refreshments and a short introduction to the benefit with Silver Creek guides and staff.
?We realized what we earn on a trip basically feeds all of the kids and pays the teachers salaries for two months,? DeBaun, a fishing guide for Silver Creek Outfitters, said.
DeBaun guides here and in the off season he teaches at Northrise University in Ndola, Zambia. He became involved with the Chipulukuso Orphanage after visiting the center started by one of his Zambian students and the student?s small village. After returning to the Wood River Valley, fellow guides offered their services to help raise money to support the kids.
DeBaun explained that millions of Zambian children are orphaned due to the alarming adult death rate from malaria and AIDS. Half of Zambia?s 10 million inhabitants are children under the age of 17, many of whom have lost their parents.
Silver Creek guides hope to raise $5,000 to feed and educate the orphanage?s 300 children for two years. All are donating their time to help the children.
?Our goal right now is to feed, educate and keep them alive,? DeBaun said.
Any additional funds will be used to provide more frequent and healthy meals, hire teachers, provide clothing and medicine and possibly expand the size of the orphanage to accommodate more children.
?It?s just wild to watch what one meal a day will do for kids that don?t eat,? DeBaun said.
Presently, the children receive one cup of corn meal, sugar and soy flour to provide basic nutrients each day.
?The intensity that surrounds feeding time is like a child?s first Christmas,? DeBaun explained.
The beaming smiles of the children at mealtime in pictures reveal the innocent appreciation for the care provided. The orphans also receive an education based in reading, writing and arithmetic. In addition, their education includes trade skills that the students can use later in life.
Presently, one teacher serves 100 children. All of the 300 students and teachers cram into a leased space the size of a three-car garage. The guides hope that the funds will enable the orphanage to purchase and expand the size of the building.
The cost for the three-quarters day of fishing is $295 per person. There will be one to two people per guide. Reservations are required. Call Silver Creek Outfitters at 726-5282 to book a trip or to contribute to the Fishing for Life Orphanage Fund.
