By Christina Macone-Greene, Staff Writer

Last month, a group of San Diego County mothers and their daughters embarked on a life changing “Vision Trip” to Zambia. The Project Concern International (PCI) office in San Diego hosted this trip, which left an indelible imprint for each woman. The ladies stayed in Zambia for one week. While there, they learned how PCI gives hope and assistance to impoverished countries.

The travelers consisted of five mothers. Each parent invited either one or two daughters along for an unforgettable experience. The travel participants were Linda Cipriani, Stefanie Zable, Bianca Zable, Elise Zable, Karen Hoehn, Jo Hannah Hoehn, Susannah Hoehn, Lisa Barkett, Jacqueline Barkett, Karen Cox, Leslie Cox, Anne Otterson and Fabienne Hanks. Joining them were PCI staff members Uli Heine and Shawn Ruggeiro.

“Many of the women, and daughters, too, knew each other or were related, so it made for a very friendly circle of travelers,” said Uli Imhoff Heine, director of institutional advancement at PCI. “Some of the women started with a safari to the Lion Camp before meeting up with everyone on July 13 for a three-day visit to PCI’s programs in Lusaka, Zambia.” The ladies stayed at the Taj Padmozi -- the exact place where Laura and Jenna Bush lodged when visiting the PCI programs two years ago.

“The goal of the trip was to learn about Zambia, its people and what PCI is doing to empower the beneficiaries to lift themselves out of poverty and create a sustainable life for themselves and their children,” Heine said. “The hope was that each of the women would return armed with experiences that would make them into informal ambassadors for PCI and the people we serve.”

For Bianca Zable, a trip participant from Del Mar, the experience was incredible. “This trip affected my level of awareness and understanding of PCI’s programs in Zambia; specifically, how they are administered, organized and the degree of impact they have directly in the community.”

The ladies visited a variety of places, such as: community schools that teach orphans and children in need, women’s self-help groups, mobile health center, care organizations and shelters for street children in need of safety.For Linda Cipriani, also of Del Mar, her experience was realizing her future commitment in helping the people of Zambia. “I became more aware of how we take things for granted -- particularly when food and education are not guaranteed,” Cipriani said. “I was surprised that this was such a primary issue in Zambia.”

Stefanie Zable, a resident of Del Mar, was overwhelmed with emotion from her trip. “I am very respectful of PCI and the projects that are currently operating in Zambia,” she said. “PCI is performing such a wonderful ray of hope for so many who are in desperate need of humanitarian support.”

The July trip to Zambia was also the first for Heine. She experienced a heartfelt sensation when receiving warm hugs from volunteers and smiles from the Zambian children. “One of the main messages I took away from the trip was that everyone can make a difference despite the overwhelming nature of the problem,” Heine said. “Amid scenes of hopelessness and despair, there was lots of dancing, chanting and cheering.”

The problems in Africa, Heine says, are vast, and dealing with corruption is a challenge all over the continent. Regardless of the despair, Heine is seeing hope through the PCI programs. A positive impact is touching one person at a time.

The solution, she says, is not based solely on donations. Rather, a connection between nutrition, clean water, healthcare and stimulating the economy is the answer. Each of these entities improves an impoverished community. “It is better to focus on supporting sustainable development through organizations like PCI than hand-outs that create more of a dependency and might worsen the situation,” Heine shared.

According to Heine, PCI is a nonprofit that was established 48 years ago. It’s a global health and development organization that saves lives and builds healthy communities around the world. It champions the prevention of diseases and provides access to economic opportunity, clean water and nutritious food.

PCI has presence in 14 countries, including the United States, Botswana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, India, Indonesia, Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Nicaragua. “PCI works in disadvantaged and isolated communities to bring health and hope to those in greatest need,” Heine said. “PCI reaches 4.5 million people annually with programs in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.”

PCI regularly hosts Vision Trips to Zambia every two to three years. For more information on PCI, please visit www.ProjectConcern.org or call 858-279-9690. Its San Diego office is located at 5151 Murphy Canyon Rd, Suite 320.