ACTION Zambia is in partnership with Mazabuka Community Churches (Choma Branch), a Christian mission specializing in rural development, to reach children who are in crisis. MCC operates an Orphan Baby Milk and Nutrition program in southern Zambia where they are helping to addressing critical community needs. In a region of Zambia where most deaths are accepted to be AIDS related, many children are left orphaned. In the Zambezi Valley, people struggle to survive due to the harsh environment, poverty and disease. Most families live below the bread line. There are no orphanages operating in the vicinity. 
Orphaned children are being absorbed into the extended family which can be a good means of taking care of orphans. Sadly, it is often the grandparents or aunts who are acting as caregivers, and even they are struggling to survive. These care-givers are mostly ill-equipped for the task. Older orphans are frequently not treated well and in many instances they become the “work force” of these families.
ACTION Zambia is moved by the many vulnerable children living in extreme poverty along the Zambezi Valley. Through a formal partnership with MCC, we are able to route badly needed resources into the hands of very capable staff. The nutrition program is well in-tune with the challenges that face this community. With the program’s assistance, HIV+ mothers who need an alternative milk supply to feed their babies are obtaining formula. Most families find it very difficult to provide an orphaned or vulnerable baby with the necessary infant milk formula to grow and be healthy. Because formula is simply too expensive, orphaned babies succumb due to malnutrition. Through the Milk Support Program, these young children have hope for a future.
The program works on a referral basis. Desperate care-givers usually hear about the program from others who have been helped before. Sometimes pastors and church leaders will refer vulnerable families to the program. Even the local clinics refer HIV+ mothers. Then, each baby is individually assessed to determine the level of need and the period of time they would be on the program. If the mother of a vulnerable baby is still managing to breastfeed, she is encouraged to continue but will supply milk formula for a specific period, as an additional supplement to the babies’ diet. Once approved for the program, care-givers bring the babies to MCC Mission Base once a month. Records are kept of their progress according to their weight gain/loss. The babies are taken for all their injections as required by the law. Babies on the program regularly receive care-packages with blankets, diapers, toiletries and clothes. In addition, much time is spent with the care-giver discussing problems and giving and sharing advice about health, hygiene, food preparation, diet etc. pertaining to the baby in their care.