Worthy Convos: Alissa Rosebrough of Arise Africa

We started Worthy Convos to highlight people doing good and interesting things in our community. In this Worthy Convo, we talk with Alissa Rosebrough of Arise Africa.

Tanglewood Moms: What inspired you to found Arise Africa back in 2010?

Alissa Rosebrough: My love for Zambia began in 2006 while working as a professional photographer for aid organizations throughout Africa. During several extended trips to Zambia, I was deeply impacted by the joy, resilience, and faith of the people I met despite the significant challenges many families faced. I returned home with a growing conviction that I wanted to contribute more than photographs—I wanted to be part of lasting change.

Around that same time, my American friend John Rosacker whom I had met in Zambia, had experienced a similar connection. We realized we shared a vision to serve vulnerable children and families in a meaningful, long-term way. What started as a desire to help quickly grew into something much bigger, and in 2010 we officially founded Arise Africa.

TWM: How has your mission changed since 2010?

AR: At its core, our mission has never changed. From the beginning, we have been committed to serving children in Zambia who are suffering from economic, physical, and spiritual poverty through a Christ-centered approach. What has changed is the incredible way God has grown the ministry beyond anything I could have imagined! Honestly, I am still amazed by His faithfulness. When we first started, I thought we might gather a few friends once a year, hold a small fundraiser, and send support to Zambia. I never envisioned the scope of what Arise Africa would become.

In the early days, we were a much smaller organization focused on meeting immediate needs. Over time, God expanded the ministry and showed us opportunities to create deeper, long-term impact through education, discipleship, feeding programs, and full-time care for vulnerable children. It is so amazing to now see students who joined our programs 15 years ago graduate from college or trade school and become working adults who have broken the cycle of poverty for themselves and future generations. Time and time again, God has opened doors, provided resources, and brought the right people alongside us to expand our impact. The mission remains the same, but the journey has been far greater than I ever dreamed possible.

TWM: Out of all the countries in the world, why Zambia?

AR: For me, it started with relationships. Zambia is where God first opened my eyes to both the incredible beauty of a culture and the significant needs facing many children and families. Once you know people by name and hear their stories, a place becomes part of your heart. Once you know you can trust each other, the ability to help is endless.

Zambia is also at an interesting point in its development. While the country has experienced growth and opportunity in many areas, there are still communities and families being left behind. We felt called to focus deeply on one place rather than spread ourselves thin across many countries. By investing in Zambia long-term, we’ve been able to build trust, create sustainable programs, and walk alongside communities for years rather than months. This long-term approach allows local Zambians to take ownership of the work, empowers communities to create lasting change from within, and ensures our efforts strengthen—not replace—the people and systems already in place.

TWM: Can you explain the different programs in your ministry?

AR: Our ministry focuses on four primary areas.

First, we provide full-time care through our Arise Homes, where vulnerable children receive a safe place to live, loving caregivers, nutrition, education, and the stability every child deserves. These children are much more than the beneficiaries of a program—they are our sons and daughters. We have the privilege of loving them, raising them, and helping them build bright futures filled with hope and opportunity.

Second, we operate schools that provide quality education to children living in some of Zambia’s most vulnerable communities. All of our students come from densely populated slums where families often survive on less than a dollar a day and have limited or no access to basic necessities such as running water and electricity. Despite these challenges, these children are incredibly resilient and eager to learn. We believe education is the most powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty, creating opportunities that can transform not only a child’s future, but the trajectory of an entire family for generations.

Third, discipleship is woven throughout everything we do. As a Christ-centered ministry, we want every child to know they are deeply loved by God, created with purpose, and never forgotten. While meeting physical needs is important, we believe lasting transformation happens when children understand their identity in Christ and develop a personal relationship with Him. Discipleship is not limited to a Bible lesson or church service—it is integrated into daily life through mentorship, encouragement, prayer, worship, and the example set by our staff and caregivers.

Finally, we operate feeding programs that provide nutritious meals to students. For many of the children we serve, these meals are their most reliable source of daily nutrition and may be the only substantial meal they receive that day. Proper nutrition is essential for a child’s growth, health, and ability to learn, so something as simple as a meal can have a profound impact on a student’s future. By helping meet this basic need, we enable children to focus in the classroom, participate fully in school, and thrive both academically and physically.

Together, these programs work hand in hand to support the whole child—physically, emotionally, educationally, and spiritually.

TWM: Unlike some other ministries, Arise Africa’s leadership seems to be evenly divided between people in the US and people in Zambia. How does local leadership help in your mission?

AR: This is one of the things I’m most proud of at Arise Africa.

On the Zambia side, Arise Africa is fully led and operated by local Zambians. We do not have any Americans living in Zambia, and that is very intentional. Our Zambian team is not simply carrying out a vision created somewhere else by someone else—they are helping lead, shape, and strengthen the ministry every day. They understand the culture, language, traditions, and challenges in ways that those of us from the United States never fully can, and their leadership is one of our greatest strengths.

We intentionally operate with strong leadership on both sides because we believe sustainable ministry happens when local leaders are empowered. Our American team provides support, resources, fundraising, and strategic partnership, while our Zambian leaders provide invaluable wisdom, oversight, and day-to-day leadership. That partnership allows us to serve effectively while honoring and preserving the richness of Zambian culture.

There are also many checks and balances on both “sides of the pond,” as we like to call it, which helps ensure accountability, transparency, and strong communication. Most importantly, our teams genuinely enjoy working together. We share the same mission and have built deep relationships over the years. In fact, both sides love visiting the other side of the pond and do so frequently throughout the year. Those visits strengthen our partnership and remind us that although we’re separated by an ocean, we’re truly one team working toward the same goal.

TWM: How many children and families does Arise Africa serve annually?

AR: Right now, Arise Africa serves approximately a thousand children and families through our homes, schools, feeding programs, and discipleship initiatives. That said, our focus has never been simply on reaching large numbers. We believe in quality over quantity. We are committed to building meaningful relationships and creating lasting impact in the life of every child and family we serve.

The reality is that every child we serve is there because someone in America chose to get involved. Growth only happens when people step forward to partner with us—whether that’s sponsoring a child, purchasing needed items from our Amazon Wish List, giving financially, praying for our ministry, or joining us on a mission trip. The most impactful way to experience the work firsthand is to come to Zambia and meet the children, families, and staff who make Arise Africa so special. Time and time again, we’ve seen those visits transform not only the lives of the people we serve, but the lives of those who come to serve alongside us.

TWM: What lessons have you learned in working in another country and adapting to another culture?

AR: One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of humility. When you enter another culture, it’s essential to listen before you speak or lead—and trust me, that hasn’t always been easy for me! Over the years, I’ve learned that some of the most important growth happens when you set aside your own assumptions and are willing to learn from others.

I’ve learned that effective ministry is built on relationships, trust, and a genuine willingness to learn from one another. Some of my greatest teachers have been our Zambian staff, caregivers, and students. They have helped me see the world differently and reminded me that people don’t need outsiders to come in with all the answers—they need partners who are willing to listen, learn, and serve alongside them.

I’ve also learned that God works through people everywhere, and some of the strongest examples of faith I’ve ever witnessed have come from the communities we serve. Many of our staff members have been with Arise Africa since the very beginning. At this point, we aren’t simply coworkers—we are family. Over the years, we’ve walked through so much life together: weddings, the birth of children, celebrations, hardships, the loss of loved ones, and everything in between. They have supported me, challenged me, prayed for me, and loved me well. They truly are my brothers and sisters, and I love them dearly. In many ways, one of the greatest blessings of Arise Africa hasn’t just been the ministry itself—it’s the relationships God has built along the way.

TWM: How is Arise Africa funded?

AR: Arise Africa is funded through the generosity of individuals, families, churches, foundations, corporate partners, and sponsors who believe in our mission. Many supporters choose to sponsor a child, student, or educator, while others give to specific projects or provide general support for the ministry.

One thing that makes Arise Africa unique is that we don’t have one major donor or foundation carrying the organization. From the very beginning, this ministry has been built through grassroots support from ordinary people who hear about the work, connect with the mission, and decide to get involved. It might be someone sponsoring a child through our website, purchasing supplies from our wish list, joining a mission trip, or making a monthly donation. Those individual acts of generosity may seem small on their own, but together they have created something truly remarkable.

When I look at where Arise Africa is today, I see the collective impact of thousands of people choosing to say “yes” to helping a child they may never meet. It is a beautiful reminder that ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference when they come together around a common purpose.

We are incredibly grateful for every donor because their generosity directly impacts lives every single day. We also take that responsibility seriously and strive to steward every gift with transparency, accountability, and intentionality.

TWM: What motivates you to continue Arise Africa?

AR: Honestly, I don’t think you can go to Zambia, spend time with the children, see the work firsthand, and even consider walking away. It is contagious. Every time I visit, I am reminded why this ministry matters. I have the incredible privilege of being on the front lines of watching lives be transformed, and once you’ve seen that, it changes you forever.

The children have always been my greatest motivation. Just the other day, I was on the phone with one of our boys who is currently in college studying civil engineering. He’s about to graduate and already has a job lined up. After we hung up, I looked down at a photograph under the glass on my desk. It was a picture of him from the year Arise Africa began. He was 10 years old, weighed only 50 pounds, and was living with HIV. Both of his parents had passed away, and he was living with relatives who were struggling just to feed their own children. Most people believed he was dying and had little chance of survival.

But God had a different plan.

We were determined to fight for him, and today he is healthy, thriving, graduating from college, and preparing to begin an incredible career. We still text regularly, and every time I hear from him, I’m reminded of what is possible when someone is given hope, opportunity, and people who believe in them. How could I ever quit on kids like him?

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of watching children who once faced unimaginable obstacles grow into confident young adults, university students, skilled professionals, leaders, and followers of Christ. Seeing those transformations never gets old. It also serves as a powerful reminder of how much we often take for granted and how life-changing opportunity can be when it’s paired with love, support, and faith.

There have certainly been challenges along the way, but every time I visit Zambia and spend time with our students, staff, and families, I’m reminded why this work matters. Their stories are a constant reminder that God is still changing lives every day, and that is what keeps me moving forward.

TWM: And finally, what do you want our readers to take away from this Worthy Convo?

AR: I hope readers walk away knowing that every child has God-given value and potential, regardless of where they were born or the circumstances they face.

I also hope people understand that lasting change happens through relationships. When people choose to invest their time, resources, prayers, and encouragement into the lives of others, incredible things can happen.

While the children and families we serve may live thousands of miles away, I believe compassion shouldn’t stop at geographic borders. We are all part of a global community, and when we have the opportunity to help others thrive, we have the opportunity to reflect God’s love in a tangible way. Supporting children in Zambia doesn’t take away from caring for needs in our own communities—it expands our capacity to care and reminds us that we are connected to something much bigger than ourselves.

Most of all, I want readers to know that they can make a difference. Whether it’s supporting a ministry, mentoring a child, serving in their local community, or simply showing compassion to someone in need, every act of love has the power to create lasting impact. Of course, I would love for people to join us at Arise Africa by sponsoring a child, supporting our programs, or even coming on a mission trip. But more than anything, I hope people leave inspired to do something. If Arise Africa isn’t the right fit for you, find a place where you can use your gifts, resources, and compassion to make a difference. The world doesn’t change because a few people do everything—it changes because many people choose to do something.