2 September 2015

As seen through the eyes of Rob Bellingham, trustee and visitor

A Day in the Life of Limapela

5:00 am	The gardener from farthest away starts his two-hour walk to work for 8 hours in the hot sun.
6:00 am	Teachers and pupils begin their walk to school at Limapela Cedric’s and Luyando.
7:30 am	The first session starts for the day. On Mondays and Fridays the national anthem is sung and the flag raised at morning assembly.
7:30 am – 4:30 pm	The banana plantation and vegetable gardens are weeded, mulched, planted and harvested. 1,000 hens lay eggs 24/7 at Cedric’s School to help pay teachers salaries.
9:00 am	Eggs, bananas and vegetables are taken to market.
11:00 am – 2:30 pm	Second session pupils arrive and have 6 subjects per day.
11:00 am – 2:30 pm	Pupils begin the 3–5 km walk home on dusty roads and tracks.
5:00 pm	Head Teachers Mr Mwanza and Miss Frankie Mumba conclude their day.
8:30 pm	Matthew and Alison stop their preparation, reports and planning.

A Day in the Life of the Raymonds

It’s a pre 7:00 am start for Matthew and Alison Raymond living at Baluba, 30 km from each school.

Matthew, Alison, or both, attend the schools to oversee the program in partnership with the two head teachers Mr Mwanza, Miss Frankie and accountant Sarah Chisalaba.

Alison oversees the new Limapela Library and does remedial reading with struggling students. She often carries vegetables for sale from the Baluba garden — current crops are lettuces, kale and strawberries. Matthew is often in town getting supplies, meeting with the head teachers or the accountant or negotiating with contractors.

Typically around 1:00 pm the return journey to Baluba begins, where, after a brief lunch and siesta it’s into the office for Matthew and preparation and checking on the garden for Alison.

The extracurricular activities include the Kafakumba Singers for Matthew, local vegetable deliveries and mending school uniforms for Alison. On Sunday there’s church and a rest day. General administration, fundraising and sponsorship often mean evening sessions in the office for Matthew. Before the evening meal he runs the 3.5 km road triangle around the farm.

Coming up there’s a visit to Australia and New Zealand to see family and donors. It’s a busy routine with a half dozen balls in the air at any time. Visitors assist and add interest.