UPDATE MAY 2025

NEW CLASSROOMS

ST MARY’S CCC (CHILD CARE CENTRE)

There are 3 classes – one ECE (Early Child Education) class and grades 1 and 2 with a total of 105 children, all orphans or vulnerable children.

A new classroom block is in the process of being built. The original 3 classroom block plan has been modified to accommodate 4 classes – grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 – and a small office. In this way St Mary’s will be able to provide ECE, lower and upper grades 1 – 6, a complete primary school education.

Academic year 2025

Building new classrooms St Mary’s

Children learning to grow vegetables at St Mary’s

Teachers of St Mary’s CCC and Patrick

ST MARGARET’S SCHOOL

There are 7 classes – 2 ECE and grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 with a total of 230 children. 115 children are part of the feeding programme.

A new classroom block of 3 classrooms is being built. One of the new classrooms will be for grade 6, one will be used as a Computer Lab and the third for Expressive Arts (music, drama, dance) and Technology Studies.

The good news is that St Margaret’s school has been registered with the EMIS (Education Management Information System). This is the first step towards fully qualifying as a government aided school. The government has given a small grant for term 1.

Academic year 2025

Middle class and reception class

Grade 1 and Grade 2 classes

Grade 3 and Grade 4 classes

Grade 5 class

Building work new classrooms St Margaret’s

Ready for roofing

NEW ZAMBIA EDUCATION CURRICULUM

In January 2025 the new ZAMBIA EDUCATION CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK started being phased in.

The school system has been restructured in the following way:

ECE (Early Child Education) is divided into:

Nursery 3-4 year old

Reception 5-6 year olds

Primary school education now has 6 classes instead of 7:

Lower grades 1-3

Upper grades 4-6

Secondary school education now has 6 classes instead of 5:

Forms 1-4 (Ordinary level)

Forms 5-6 (Advanced level)

The curriculum will emphasize learner-centered approaches, hands-on activities and practical skills development.

English will be the primary language of instruction but local languages may be used in early childhood education.

Climate change topics will be integrated into the curriculum at various levels, from pre-primary to secondary education and teacher training.

CHILDREN SPONSORED AT SECONDARY SCHOOL

We sponsor 7 children at secondary school.

The first photo is of 2 brothers, Allan and Levy Chishimba, who live with their grandmother. Both their parents died of AIDS.

Allan is 16 years old and is in Form 9 in high school.

Levy is 13 years old and is in Grade 5 primary school.

The second photo is of Andrew Mukuka. He is in form 5 at secondary school. As a young child he attended St Mary’s Child Care Centre.

Children who have undergone parental bereavement and hardships at home often fall behind in their studies. This is why there may be older children at primary school.

Allan and Levy

Andrew Mukuka with Sister Florence

HEALTH CHECK UP AT ST MARY’S

In March qualified nutritionists from the local Ministry of Health department visited St Mary’s to assess the children’s health status. The children were also weighed and their height was measured.

The children received a clean bill of health for which we are grateful. Receiving breakfast and lunch on a regular basis has been key.

However, any child with health problems will receive prompt attention at the local clinic.

Mr Patrick Mumbo works at the local hospital and has been a key figure in the development of our projects since 2008.

Waiting for their check up

Breakfast outside

FARMS

9 of the 12.7 hectares of the new land at Farm 2 at Mayembe have been developed. As always maize is the main crop. The rainy season will soon finish and harvesting will start.

In January 200 chickens were purchased. Some of these will then be sold to generate income and some will be used as part of the feeding programme.

At the beginning of February a terrible storm and very heavy rains washed away our 3 fishponds, banana trees, the vegetable garden and some maize at St Margaret’s.

Farming is always unpredictable and it’s never smooth sailing!

Destruction after the storm

Maize at Mayembe