UPDATE NOVEMBER 2025
FINANCIAL REPORT 2025
Thanks to donations, our farms and the proceeds of our income generating projects we have been able to carry out our feeding programme and manage and maintain the two preschools and elementary schools at St Mary’s CCC (Child Care Centre) and St Margaret’s in Nakonde during 2025.
105 OVC (orphans and vulnerable children) at St Mary’s and 115 OVC at St Margaret’s, a total of 220 children, have benefitted from the feeding programme which has provided breakfast and lunch during the academic year in 2025.
INCOME GENERATING PROJECTS
The cultivations from the 2 farms at Mayembe, the vegetable gardens, fish ponds and chickens provide much of the food for the feeding programme. This year the sale of maize, chickens, fish and school uniforms generated approximately €6,530 which is €2,000 more than last year.
The first farm (the old farm) produced 300 bags of maize flour – each bag is 50 kgs – and the second farm (the new farm) produced 124 bags of maize flour. This is approximately 4,000 kgs more maize flour than in 2024.
The farms also produced 100 kgs of soya beans, 50 kgs of sunflower seed and sweet potatoes.
In February a storm and heavy rains washed away 3 fishponds, banana trees, the vegetable garden and some maize at St Margaret’s which negatively impacted our feeding programme.
Out of a total of 12.7 hectares, 12 hectares will be cultivated next season, 3 more hectares than this past season.
NEW CLASSROOMS AT ST MARY’S AND ST MARGARET’S SCHOOLS
Thanks to funding from the Bridge of Friendship a new classroom block with 3 classrooms has been built at St Margaret’s and a new building with 5 classrooms has been added at St Mary’s. This means we now have two complete schools – from two ECE (early child education) classes, nursery and reception, right through to the last class of elementary school, grade 6. The children’s ages range from 3 – 6 years old in the ECE classes up to 11 years old in grade 6, but the children are often older.
The Google Earth photos show where the new classrooms are located.
St Mary’s
St Margaret’s
DESKS AND FURNITURE FOR NEW CLASSROOMS
100 desks for St Mary’s and 60 for St Margaret’s will be needed for the new classrooms. Local carpenters will build the new desks and furniture (cupboards, teachers’ desks and chairs). Each desk accommodates 2 children and one desk costs €40.
A generous donation from The Lurgan Rotary Club in Northern Ireland has allowed us to cover the costs of the 60 desks and furniture, as well as other equipment, for the new classrooms at St Margaret’s school.
The feeding programme and salaries take priority and when funding is sufficient we will organize for the 100 desks and furniture for St Mary’s to be made.
St Mary’s
St Margaret’s
BUDGETS 2026
ST MARY’S CHILD CARE CENTRE
During the 2026 academic year we will be providing breakfast and lunch for approximately 130* children. All the children at St Mary’s are orphans or vulnerable children.
*The number is approximate because the final number will be decided in January 2026 at the start of the new school year.
The budget is divided into:
Food programme – breakfast and lunch
Staff – the annual salaries of 3 teachers, a cook, a general worker, a storekeeper, 2 farmers and an accountant
Farming costs – fertilizer, seeds, cultivation, weeding and harvesting
Further education – financially supporting 4 pupils at secondary boarding school and one person at Teacher Training college
Other costs – maintenance, repair, cleaning, ZESCO (electricity)
ST MARGARET’S SCHOOL
In 2026 pupils will attend all the classes from the two ECE (early child education, nursery and reception) classes through to the last class of elementary school, grade 6.
Approximately 120 OVC children who attend the school will benefit from the feeding programme. We will know the precise number in January 2026 when the new academic year begins.
The budget is divided into :
Food programme . breakfast and lunch
Staff – annual salaries of 3 teachers (the other teachers are paid by the government), a cook, a general worker and an accountant
Learning materials
Other costs – maintenance, repair, cleaning and ZESCO (electricity)
A supplement of €35 per child will be necessary in order to provide breakfast and lunch for a total of 250 orphans and vulnerable children (130 at St Mary’s and 120 at St Margaret’s) during the 2026 academic year.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
THE PARTICIPATION OF PUPILS FROM ST MARGARET’S SCHOOL IN DISTRICT AND PROVINCIAL COMPETITIONS
NASAAZ – the National Schools Arts Association of Zambia, organizes a variety of activities which are centred on fostering arts education for students through festivals and competitions in areas like drama, poetry, music, dance, fine art and beauty pageants.
These events, which are held at provincial and national levels, showcase student talent while promoting themes of discipline, patriotism, and cultural expression.
In August children from St Margaret’s school went to Chinsali (250 kms south of Nakonde) to take part in competitions.
They did very well, obtaining 3 firsts in Drama, Classical music and Cultural activities. There were also 2 second places in Poetry and Choral music.
CAREERS DAY
The annual Careers Day was held in August.
People from different professions, for example a doctor, a nurse, a policeman, a journalist, a soldier etc, came to the school to talk about their professions and inspire the children to think about their future careers.
PILGRIMS OF HOPE
In the Catholic Church the Jubilee is now celebrated every 25 years. Pope Francis chose the theme “Pilgrims of Hope” for Jubilee 2025. He said – “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given to us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.”
On Friday 14th November children and teachers from the two schools, St Mary’s and St Margaret’s, joined together in a pilgrimage walk, singing and reciting the rosary as they walked, stopping to listen to children reading scriptures from the Bible.
At St Mary’s everyone attended mass and afterwards there was a communal meal.
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
