Category: Uncategorized
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.
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.
10 positive aspects of Zambia
1. Zambia is a country at peace – 41 years of independence without serious conflicts. Seventy-two tribes; seven major tribes; living in harmony; without ethnic clashes. Zambia is the envy of other African states!
2. Zambia is noted for hospitality – people who are friendly and welcoming, people who have received several hundred thousand refugees in recent years. It is the poor hosting the poor.
3. Zambia has rich resources – great assets of minerals, land, water, agriculture, tourist sites, etc. It is true that these have not always been wisely utilised – but they are there for the future.
4. Zambians are known for hard work, for resilience – dedicated to feeding families and building a strong nation. (This is particularly true of women!)
5. Zambians have talent – given a good education, they can match anyone. We know this from the wonderful staff of young Zambians who work with ZOCS and many other NGO’s with whom we have contact.
6. Zambia is committed to democracy – a nation struggling, faltering, but persevering in efforts to build democratic structures and attitudes. Zambia has an anti-corruption fight that has even put the former president on trial for “plunder of the national economy”!
8. Zambian civil society is very strong – coalitions of NGO’s, trade unions, professional associations, church groups, etc., that are articulate and intelligent in shaping development policies.
9. Zambian churches are dynamic and spiritually vital, with plenty of ecumenical cooperation at many levels. This involves service of the needy and a prophetic voice in pursuing social justice.
10. Zambian youth are a powerful force – 45% to 50% of the population often million is below the age of 15! They experience plenty of difficulties but also are committed to work for a better future.
Chipo for Life
Buying a Chipo for Life gift is simple and easy: this is how it all started…
When Jenny & John Preston first visited the village of Kalalasaka in southern Zambia, the village headmen conferred Tonga names in them: John’s name is Milimo – meaning Worker, and Jenny’s name is Chipo – meaning Gift. Friend Nell who designed the newsletter livery suggested we use the name Chipo to highlight that all the giving opportunities are intended to have ongoing effect on the lives of recipients.
For example the gift of goats is linked to a community management project whereby every 3rd progeny then goes to the next poorest household in a particular village.
Gifts of door or window frames will accelerate the building of a 3x 1 classroom for Kaanga Community School.
Each gift thus adds an extra dimension towards the opportunity for village children to flourish in life skills – including mathematics, reading & writing, history, health – food groups, hivaids, prevention of abuse, and local herbs and fruits.
If you are interested, please download this link and fill it in and send back to Kondanani Zambia.
The order form below can be printed out and sent to the email address shown.
Kondanani Zambia 