Update December 2023

ST MARY’S CHILD CARE CENTRE

The 2023 academic year at the Child Care Centre at St Mary’s parish finished on 1st December and the new 2024 academic year will start on 8th January.

During 2023 there were 2 classes at the CCC, one ECE (Early Child Education) class (included both nursery and reception sections) and a grade 1 primary school class with a total of 80 children, all orphans and vulnerable children.
If we have enough funding, we are planning on adding a grade 2 primary school class in 2024. This would mean assisting another 30+ orphans and vulnerable children. As a result we would have approximately 110+ children attending the Child Care Centre in 2024.
Both breakfast and lunch are provided for all the children.

Here are photos of the children having breakfast and a photo of Mr Chanda handing out report cards at the end of term.

Repair and maintenance

A few weeks ago we replaced the roof of the centre as it had become very rusty which caused leakage problems. Now we have an attractive blue roof. The rainy season is starting so it was important to get the job done in time.

ST MARGARET’S PRE-SCHOOL AND PRIMARY SCHOOL

The first academic year at the new school ended on 30th November and the new academic year will begin on 8th January 2024.
During the 2023 academic year 220 children attended the school, divided among 5 classes:

• one ECE nursery school class (ages 3+4)
• one reception preschool class (ages 5+6)
• grade 1
• grade 2
• grade 3

The classes are made up of children from the local community and include orphans (single and double) and children from particularly vulnerable backgrounds. Out of 220 children we were providing lunch for 60 orphans and vulnerable children.

We are very satisfied with the performance of the orphans and vulnerable children in general. However, those in grade 2, who had attended grade 1 at St Mary’s CCC the year before, excelled. Three of them finished top of the class. This shows what can be achieved if children are given the right opportunities.

This photo shows some of the parents and children on the last day of school when report cards were handed out.

In 2024 a grade 4 class will be added. The exact number of incoming children in the ECE nursery school class will be finalised in January but we know it will include 30+ vulnerable children. Therefore in 2024 we will be providing not only lunch but also breakfast for 90+ orphans and vulnerable children at St Margaret’s.

In September 2023 there was a prize giving day. The children look very smart in their uniforms.

THE FARMS

FARM 2 – The building of our second farmhouse, which is on the new land that we bought last year, was finished in September and the new farmer and his family have been living there since then. There is also a borehole powered by solar panels with a 3,000 litre water tank.

The rainy season (mid November – April) hasn’t started yet so planting has been delayed. Mostly maize will be cultivated at the second farm. Maize is the staple food in Zambia, it provides mealie meal which is used to make nshima, a type of polenta. During 2023 the price of mealie meal soared so it’s very important to be self sufficient.

Pine trees will also be planted which will be used both as fuel and sold for timber in the future.

FARM 1 – building work continues – this farmhouse will replace the original one. A borehole has been drilled and it is powered by solar panels.

As well as maize, other crops will be planted, for example sunflower used for cooking oil, beans, onions and sweet potatoes.
If there is sufficient rainfall also soyabeans and groundnuts will be planted.
Livestock – we have goats, poultry and recently we purchased a cow with calf.
Unfortunately our fishponds have not been very productive this year so we need to get advice from the local agricuture officer.
In 2024 we will invest in a maize thresher. This machine, which costs approximately €500, separates the grain from the cobs. It means we avoid having to pay other people to do it and we can save on transport costs.

This is a photo of Sister Florence with some of our bags of mealie meal.

Farming has always been challenging and climate change is aggravating the situation. However, we have no choice but to adapt and continue to do our best.

FINANCIAL REPORT 2023

Sister Florence Nawale, the accountant and project manager of the 2 schools and the farms, has prepared a detailed financial report for 2023.
Summary:

• The construction of the second farmhouse, borehole and water tank have all been paid for.
• Donations helped us feed 140 orphans and vulnerable children during the academic year of 2023, assist older children who have moved into higher education, carry out repair and maintenance of the 2 schools, pay for staff, learning materials, costs related to the farms and a series of other expenses concerning the running of 2 schools with a total of 300 children.
• The sale of maize, chickens and uniforms generated approximately €2,000.

BUDGETS ST MARY’S AND ST MARGARET’S 2024

Our expenses in 2024 are similar to those in 2023 but in 2024 we will have more children. We are still waiting for the new school at St Margaret’s to be approved as a government aided school so our overheads regarding staff and teaching materials continue to be high.
Feeding programme
The feeding programme is our number one priority. No child can learn effectively on an empty stomach. In 2024 we will be providing both breakfast and lunch to 110 children at St Mary’s and 90+ children at St Margaret’s, a total of 200+ children.

It takes less than €20 to provide one child with breakfast during the whole academic year and it takes less than €15 to supplement the cost of providing one child with lunch during the whole academic year. We produce maize, meat and vegetables but not enough to be completely self sufficient.

If you would like to help us finance our projects, you can contact:

Elizabeth – [email protected]

or

Caitriona – [email protected]

We will be sending funds directly to the CCC St Mary’s account in Nakonde at the beginning of January 2024.

Thanks!

May 2023 Visit to Nakonde – see page

Update January 2023

On Monday 9th January the children started school, both at the pre-school at St Mary’s and the new primary school at St Margaret’s.
There is still some work to be done at the new primary school, for example the security bars on the windows and doors need to be installed. Extra toilets have been built for the younger children in grades 1 and 2 and they are situated behind the admin building, near the first block of 3 classrooms. The other toilets, for the older children, are further away. There is a “water kiosk” next to the kitchen/storeroom and the water tank, connected to the borehole, can be seen behind the classrooms. Boreholes are fundamental as they provide safe, clean water.

The photo of the kitchen shows an energy saving stove which is a more economical way of cooking using charcoal – 3 holes for pots with space below for charcoal.

The rainy season is in full swing and there are days when it’s impossible to do anything because of the intensity of the rain. In fact, the building of the 2 farmhouses is on hold at Mayembe. However, Sister Florence managed to reach Mayembe a few days ago to check the planting and organise some weeding. Maize, soyabeans and sunflower have already been planted, beans will be planted shortly. We still have to clear 11 hectares of the new land, it will take time.