Brief report by ZST Trustee Tim Legge on his recent visit to Zambia
On a recent trip to Zambia ZST Trustee Tim Legge visited five projects supported by the Zambia Society Trust. Here is his brief report.
Mpunde Mission, Kabwe
I was pleased to visit Father Adam for the second time. The journey from Kabwe, the nearest town, took almost two hours in an old truck, along dusty, dirt tracks.
Fr Adam has a great sense of humour, is very hospitable and kindly accommodated me and my two friends for the night in his presbytery. We were pleased to arrive in time for Mass in his church. After an excellent meal cooked by his housekeeper, I met four of the students whom he is sponsoring with our funds. He has been in post for some twenty-two years and knows his parishioners well. He chooses to sponsor able, committed students and is doing a great job in encouraging and supporting them to pursue their goals through education. I am convinced that he is spending our money wisely. Veronica and Francis are still at school, while Emmanuel and Mumba are student nurses at Kabwe School of Nursing. It was a pleasure to meet the four of them and to see the good rapport they have with Fr Adam. They all expressed their gratitude for our support.
Pilgrim Salt in the Community, Serenje
I was unable to visit the community school because it was closed for the holidays. However, in Serenje I was pleased to meet Grace, her husband Nicholas and brother Jastin, who are the leaders of the project. They remain fully committed and have plans to improve the school. The school is running well and has one hundred and forty-five pupils in grades 1 to 6. The foundations had been laid for a preschool classroom and there are plans to build a dormitory to house weekly boarders, because some walk long distances to school daily and attendance drops in the rainy season. Parents are supportive of the school.
APTERS, Lusaka
At APTERS, which is located within the grounds of the Lusaka University Teaching Hospital, I enjoyed meeting Kenneth, the manager, Darius the assistant manager and Karen the chair of the support group. It was great to feel their commitment and enthusiasm. Zodwa, a young nurse, who has previously visited with me has become a Wednesday volunteer. She has been taught to measure children for the chairs and support frames and helps to make a range of attractive items that are sold at craft fairs to raise money for the project. It is hoped that ZST may be able to sell some of these products in the UK. Karen has also arranged other fundraising initiatives.
Kwasha Mukwenu, Lusaka
I made two visits to Kwasha and was pleased to see the two extra classrooms which had been funded by the project and built very quickly. Attendance has increased and there were some one hundred and eighty children on the roll. We visited the preschool, which is thriving and has also had an increase in the numbers of children attending.
Home of Hope, Lusaka
I visited this project to introduce it to Charity Sivela, ZST’s company secretary in Lusaka. The home had eighty-five resident boys, the youngest being just five years of age; ten were with their families and fifteen attend boarding schools. It receives an average of fifteen new boys per month. Brother Jacek remains in charge and his energy and commitment are impressive. Kitchen improvements and roofing repairs are to be funded by a Dutch foundation and additional funding is being sought to build more dormitories.
