29 July 2013

Recruiting suitable teachers has been a real challenge since Limapela started in Zambia in 2009. The Zambian government has stepped up its recruitment of teachers for government schools, and is improving remuneration. This is reducing the number of available teachers for schools like ours. So we are becoming aware that we may need to engage one or two more expatriate volunteer teachers. If you are a qualified teacher and this interests you, please get in touch with us.

A more far-reaching solution is to assist in the training of young Zambians at good colleges. Last month we were pleased to send off two young men to the Foundation for Cross Cultural Education for their Christian Discipleship course, which is a prerequisite for teacher training at FCE. Limapela and Give Hope International are assisting with the training costs, and we are confident this will be a life changing experience for these two candidates. They will be bonded to Limapela and Luyando if they complete the teacher training over a four-year period.

Building Projects

• The new Office and Guest Room Building at Baluba has reached ring-beam stage, and the builder is confident of completing by September. We are grateful to six private donors who have contributed a total of NZ$ 20,000 for this project.
• The Rotary International Matching Grant initiative for the toilet-ablution block at Limapela Cedric’s was a huge success. Special thanks must go to our dear friend, Desmond Woods of Canberra, who has received a Rotary award for the work he did to ensure the success of this fundraising venture. Our thanks go also to all the Rotary Clubs and Rotarians who contributed. We are now negotiating with a contractor and hope to see the building started in August.
• The Library-Information Technology Building has been on hold until the fundraising target is reached. 99% of the funds raised so far has been donated from Africa, and it would be good to see the remaining NZ$13,000 (US$10,000) covered from within the continent. Local businesses have been extraordinarily generous so far. Thanks to Canberra Rotarian Barbara Campbell, who organised the donations of 8 Apple iPads for our teachers when she and Christine Norek visited in April. It was wonderful for Barb and Chris to see the school in action and appreciate the day-to-day challenges we face as we work with Zambian children and their teachers.

Luyando Community School

Around 370 children are enrolled at present, and this year is the first for a grade 7 class, who will sit their National Grade 7 exams in November. Head Teacher Frankie Mumba is doing an excellent job with her team of teachers in improving teaching standards and bringing some satisfaction and stability to a troubled and disadvantaged community.

Self-Sufficiency

Some 1,300 chickens are laying happily every day now, and Cleopatra’s tomatoes are selling well. Farmers and business people will be quick to remind us that to make money we need to spend money! The chicken project has been expensive, but if we continue to manage things well, significant profits should be just around the corner. These will help cover our monthly school expenses. It has been a delight to see jobs created and real enthusiasm amongst our employees as they do their work.

— Matthew F. Raymond, Trustee