"Many grandparents seek admission for their small grandchildren because they are too old, frail and poor or are overburdened with the raising of numerous children from their sons and daughters who have passed away", writes Sr Philomena Schwejman, the coordinator at St Anthony's Village. Built with funds from Caritas-Italy, the village opened its doors to infected children in May, 2003. It opened with 20 children who were transferred from the transient home, also run by the sisters and soon grew to 42. By the end of 2003, there were over 70 children. By the end of 2004, the children fluctuated between 75 and 100, as some died and others were brought to the Village or simply dumped at the gates.

The village aims to provide both physical and emotional support to the children in a family setting. To accomplish this, the village enjoys the services of 14 care givers, ten of whom are physically disabled girls from the Cheshire Home in Ndola. The village also concentrates on nutrition as a way of combating the disease and any illnesses/opportunistic infections. The children's ages range from a few weeks to 13 years. In rare cases, the village also accommodates physically handicapped children. In 2003 Sr. Philomena wrote: "a few weeks ago we received a handicapped child with a sock in her mouth left in a sack" . The Village also runs a Pre- School for the children.

The Village hopes that perhaps help would come by way of ARVs for children in the same way as adults may get help. One child from the Village was among the few that the Children's Hospital in Ndola had put on trial ARVs for children. But three children proved negative and were moved to Twapia Transient Home and are attending a local public school.

St Anthony Children's Village is the second of ZOA's projects that St John Catholic Church, McLean supports on a regular basis, and it was singled out for help by the Creppy children. In her 2004 Christmas greetings to ZOA and St John Church, Sr. Philomena wrote: "Of late the children keep amazingly well and there have been no funerals. Thanks be to God. Your donations to buy good food have contributed greatly. Perhaps you will thank all the donors".

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