Author: markandrewpreston
Demonstrating his exceptional skills in engineering and design, alongside evident drive and business acumen, Mark Preston went from a degree in Mechanical Engineering and working for GM and Spectrum Racing Cars, to obtaining key roles in both the Arrows and McLaren F1 teams, and then creating the Super Aguri F1 team in just 100 days.
Now the Team Principal of Team Aguri Formula E racing in the second season of the FIA Formula E championship.
Completing his MBA at Oxford in 2006, Mark has also worked with Oxford University researchers who’ve benefited from his expertise in composites and high-tech design: he has consulted in commercializing spin outs from their research in marine energy and electric motor technology.
Such developments of his management skills in and beyond the realm of motorsports shows Mark to be an exceptional team player and innovator, ideally placed to manage and motivate workforces.
Together, his skills and experience combine to ensure that Mark delivers first-class business planning and start-up advice covering technical due diligence, operations management, and more – offering as he does a unique balance of commercial and technical understanding, achievement and ability.
Supporting disabled, orphaned and vulnerable children in Zambia – Eastsider News
Melbourne couple celebrates 25 years of selfless service to Zambia’s poor – Crosslight
“We worked with Uniting World to build our first school and that meant children don’t have to travel 20 miles to go to school” – John Preston
ZOCS celebrates the life of Betty Ward
Zambia Open Community Schools gives tribute to the life of Ms. Betty Ward who committed much of her time and passion to raise funds for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Zambia.
August 2020 Newsletter – Kondanani Zambia News
Vale Mrs. Harriet Sianjibu-Miyato
Sunrise: 21st July, 1951
Sunset: 4th August, 2020
It is with grieving hearts we are sad to inform you of the passing of our
very dear friend Mrs. Harriet Sianjibu-Miyato in Lusaka on Tuesday 4th August.
Harriet has been our inspiration and mentor since we first met in 1992 in Melbourne where she was an AusAid scholarship student at Deakin studying a Masters in Health Education. Harriet has been the reason we have visited Zambia so many times since our first trip to visit with Harriet in 1996, to work and learn from Harriet about the rights of the child to education.
December 2020 Newsletter – Kondanani Zambia News
Uniting Church Banyule Network provides Scholarship for EDITH MWAULUKA
For the love of teaching and serving vulnerable children in the community, Edith Mwauluka has been teaching voluntarily at Libuyungu Community School in Nkeyema District, Western-Province.
Born on 2nd January, 1988, Edith has been teaching as a volunteer teacher at Libuyungu Community School for the past six (06) years.
Ms. Mwauluka started teaching at Libuyungu in 2015 when she realised that she could help vulnerable children in the community by letting her passion lead the way and make a difference especially after noticing children walked long distances to have access to education in that area.
She has been teaching Grades one and four at the school and her efforts of teaching have in most cases been appreciated through gifts in kind- a bucket of maize, chickens and many other farm products that the parents contribute to support her activities at the school.
Two years ago, Mwauluka enrolled for a Primary Teacher diploma program through distance learning at Gideon Roberts, a private University. However, she could not continue with the studies as the little stipends received from parents in Libuyungu could not meet the University needs (fees and study materials).
In a chat with ZOCS during the monitoring visit to the District and School, Mwauluka still shared about her deep desire to get trained from a recognised institution (University or College) saying undergoing training will help her enhance her teaching skills and ensure quality education is delivered to the OVC of Libuyungu. Getting a University qualification will also place her at an advantage for possible recruitment by Government (being put on Government pay roll) while she continues serving at the same school.
Choma Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Organization(CADRO)
Choma Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Organization(CADRO) is a non-profit organization set up on the 13th of December 2018. Our main objective is to offer free help and support services to alcohol and drug addicts, their families and communities.
CADRO’s motto reads “from addiction to production “, a sentiment that strongly reflects its belief that every addicted person has the potential to become productive given the appropriate help.
SUCCESSES
The most cardinal achievement that the organization has scored in the past two years is the setting up of a support group for recovering alcoholics which meets once every week. The support group uses the Twelve Steps of AA and it’s the first of its kind in this part of the country. A large component of the clients are from poor households who can’t afford private counselling.
ACTIVITIES
CADRO has started a unique project for recovering alcoholics which uses farming waste to make charcoal briquettes. This project has a great deal of importance because of the enormous amount of deforestation that has taken place over the years as our population and need for charcoal increased. This project is meant to empower our support group members with a source of income since unemployment is a huge problem in Zambia especially for those with the stigma of alcoholism.
New pre-school to be built at Kalumbila
Kondanani Zambia is excited to share the news that a pre-school is to be built at Kalumbila, in North-West Zambia, 150 kilometres west of Solewezi, managed and supervised by our valued partners, Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCS)
The Kalumbila Centre of Excellence is a new site based in North-western Province of Zambia, where ZOCS intends to develop and promote a sustainable, all-inclusive learning environment for Children. This will include the provision of education services from Early Childhood Education (ECE) through Primary and Secondary School to vocational skills training. Kalumbila Centre of Excellence, is earmarked to serve as a Community hub from which various services including health, sport, nutrition and others, will be easy for learners and community members to access. Adults who’ve never had any opportunity for education, will also be able to access education.
Rationale for the Centre of Excellence
ZOCS believes that a holistic approach to raising the most vulnerable child is an answer to the current challenges of productive skills among the youths as well as the high levels of unemployment in the country. Once OVC (and all children and youths) are given an opportunity to not only to acquire knowledge but are also exposed to value based life skills and attain vocational skills, they obtain the power to correct their own behaviour and negotiate through life and to meet lifelong challenges ahead of them.
The centre is just getting started after the Chief His Royal Highness Chief Mumena graciously gave ZOCS a 15 hector piece of land. This idea of the Centre of Excellence in Kalumbila was born from the initial visit to the Chief by the late ED Mrs. Harriet Sianjibu Miyato. A follow up meeting was done that led to the acquisition of the land.
Jenny & John Preston were thrilled to have a ZOOM meeting with Ms Cleopatra Chona-Muma, Executive Director of ZOCS about the development of Kalumbila Centre of Excellence, and immediately conveyed the concept to the family of Richie, who whole-heartedly agreed to the building of a pre-school at Kalumbila; Richie had always hoped to be able to make a difference in Zambia, and prior to his death onn 9th. September, his hope-filled gift came to Kondanani Zambia’s account. Kalumbila is a newly developed mining area, inn north west Zambia, with no educational opportunities for Out of School Children;
In the picture from left: ZOCS Resource & Mobilisation Manager Mr.Pimmy Muzyamba, Education Standards Officer –Open and Distance Learning (ESO-ODL) for Solwezi Mr. Felix Luputa, ZOCS Executive Director Mrs Cleopatra Muma, His Royal Highness Chief Mumena, ZOCS Research & Advocacy Manager Ms. Petronella Sibeene and ZOCS Programmes Manager Ms. Regina Lialabi.
SAMMY Stamp donates $5,000 to ZOCs for feminine hygiene
The Uniting Church Australia’s Sammy Stamp group have donated AUD$5,000 to the great work being done with ZOCs in Zambia.
About Sammy Stamp
Sammy Stamp had a million reasons to celebrate this week after licking a major milestone.
Over its 41 years of operation, the Uniting Church Adult Fellowship (UCAF) fundraising group has amassed $1 million from selling donated stamps.
Impressively, $500,000 was raised in just the last 11 years.
Sammy Stamp’s Convenor Allan Clark thanked and acknowledged “the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of supporters all around Australia over the past 41 plus years who helped us reach this milestone.”
He said the stamp fund has allowed volunteers to feel a sense of “comradeship” while “helping people all over the world”.
The volunteers get together every Thursday morning at the Synod’s 130 Lt Collins St office to collect, trim, sort and package stamps for sale. The proceeds are donated to various projects, internationally and locally.
Sammy Stamp are always looking for more volunteers and, of course, more stamps. If you are interested in participating, contact Allan Clark on 9557 1008. More information here:
Kondanani Zambia 