Racheal (headmistress) reports:
“Schools reopened later than usual on 12th February because of the outbreak of cholera in Zambia and the government ordered all schools to close for a period of time, but the pupils have started coming for classes. We currently have 280 pupils who have reported so far.
Regarding the cholera outbreak none of our pupils or their family members have been affected as we have not received any report so far.
All the repairs have been done. We received K17,233 for painting and a total cost of K16,691 was used.
The ladies sewing group will resume their sewing classes this month.
We are so grateful for the continued support that you are rendering to the school.
The numbers have increased by a bit from 280 to 300 pupils and we have stopped enrolling. Yes we are managing with the current number of 4 teachers. We have 8 streams of classes that are from pre-grade up to Grade 7, which have been separated in two sessions (morning and afternoon sessions). So 4 classes report in the morning, from 07.30 up to 12.00 (that is pre-grade 1, Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 7)
Then the last 4 classes report in the afternoon, from 12.30 up to 16.00 (that is Grade 3, 4, 5, and 6). That means each teacher has two classes to teach, one in the morning and one in the afternoon so we are able to manage.
We have just reduced on the number of pupils, though it is not easy because of the number of children that are being turned away is overwhelming. We are failing to accommodate them all due to the limited number of teachers. We previously used to have about 350 to 400 pupils before we reduced on the number. “
From April we were able to increase the amount we send to £2,000 per month for which Racheal said it has come at the right time because the country’s economy is not stable at the moment. It has also meant we have been able to increase the teachers salaries. The same applies to the feeding of the children. We are now able to give them a balanced meal which includes mealie meal, beans, chicken, soya chunks, vegetables, eggs, sugar and ground nuts. To some children, it is the only meal that they have as their families are unable to provide for them due to the high cost of the commodity (mealie meal). All thanks to you for increasing the amount.
To give you an idea of the costs, 4 class Teachers K18,000 (£600=£150 each per month), 1 tailoring teacher K2,500 (£83 per month), 2 general workers K5,000 (£167=£83 per month). We employed one more general worker to assist with the cooking. Total K25,500.
Orphanage Reports from Jeannie and Annie
Jeannie has said:
“Gregory is one of my young people in the house. He comes from Ngombe compound. He was learning at Heal Project community school, and when he wrote grade 7 he passed very well. Gregory continued with his education with the help of the project as he is very intelligent. That time school fees were still being paid for by well wishers from project transit home (orphanage).
When he finished his secondary schooling he did extremely well and was accepted to study veterinary medicine at the University of Zambia.
It makes me feel very good to see these children advancing their education. (It is very costly, but the most important thing in their lives). I get motivated, and the “school sponsorship” program is encouraging. We are going to have professional graduates soon.”
There are 35 children in Jeannie’s care. 21 below aged 12, oldest 17.
8 are studying in different colleges, and 3 are doing their diploma final year. 2 girls Angela and Judith have completed their Grade 12 and are yet to start courses when chance allows. Most are sponsored by well wishing donors.
“Last month was good. The pound rate was good. We received more money than usual, which helped to cushion in the gaps, and increase on mealie meal. The price has been very high of late, gladly we are not buying vegetables as we grow them in our garden, and we are going to have plenty in the next month.”
David and I first visited Zambia in 1999 to see Helen who is working as a doctor there. She had befriended Jeannie who had fallen on hard times as she had become infected with HIV, which had a stigma attached to it. She, with a group of other women, were sewing items by hand to make a little money and they asked me if I was able to buy them a sewing machine – so we purchased one from the Singer shop in Lusaka.
The next year when we visited they asked us if we could provide a school for orphans and poor children in her care, so on another visit we opened the thatched classroom they had built. The rains came and so more permanent buildings were needed. So the HEAL Project school came into being.
We are so grateful to the donors for their interest and continued support without which all of the children would not have had an education. Those children now entering higher education are a testament to the support that they have been given.
Joyce Ayles