May 2002 Newsletter

 

Dear Friends of Makeni,
Herewith another little newsletter about our work, just before we leave for Britain for medical consultations in May and, possibly, heart surgery in July.

1.
MEC 2002 Budgets are now all available for inspection on our web site:
A brief summary of them:
The Family Planning Budget $5363
The Settlement Budget $12000
The Orphanage Budget $8873
Budget for all other MEC Projects $18500
TOTAL for some 35 different community and development projects: US$ 44,736
Please note that all budgets are NET, after local income in the form of fees charged. The fees charged are part of our effort to help ourselves.

2.
Primary School Improvement
(a) Since we engaged the new headmaster, Mr George Halubobya, final examination results have improved greatly: In the year 2000, 84% of pupils passed and qualified for secondary school
In the year 2001, 86% of pupils passed and qualified for secondary school.
(b) Plans are afoot of adding a Grade VIII and IX (
Junior Secondary School) to our facilities at MEC Centre. It will require extending and adding classrooms. Government has said it cannot help with that...

3.
A NEW BROCHURE has been produced giving a completely updated survey of all MEC's projects. Copies can be mailed to you for showing to members of your congregation and/or aid agency. Please ask Mrs Christine Allen for copies.

4. ZAMBIA'S NEW BUDGET & ECONOMY:
Zambia's External Debt has increased from US$ 6.3 billion to $7.3 billion in 2001.
A Poverty Reduction Policy was adopted in September 2001 and backed by a Budget Allocation of K450 billion. In the new budget, expenditure on fighting HIV/AIDS has increased to K12.5 billion for anti-AIDS drugs. The overall budget increased by only 3%, far less than the 14% Kwacha devaluation in 2001.
Expenditure in 2002 on Education & Training will increase by 33%, and on Health by 27%.
The Zambian government expects 40% of the total budget to be funded by donors....
1.3 million people are facing starvation in Zambia, says the UN World Food Programme
"1 million AIDS orphans in Zambia ... 750,000 street children ... 665,000 children not in school ... 70% of Zambians live in extreme poverty...", says the Minister of Youth & Child Development [March 19th]

5.
ORPHANAGE: There have been problems with an outbreak of scabies ... Baby Mutinta's weight is down from 7.2 kg to 6.6 kg -- a worrying sign.
The children are so enjoying a glut of avocado pears from the Dils'' trees! Excellent food!

6.
ALL OUR PROJECTS are still functioning in spite of a drop in income from donors in 2001 from US$ 91,756 in 2000 to $34,763
Our prayer is that our faithful donors will continue to support MEC's very extensive work among the poor. Never forget how many people have been and are being helped by your support:

267 families / ca 1600 people presently in our five settlement villages!
About 1800 children presently in our primary schools!
30 AIDS Orphans!
Tens of thousands of patients in our clinics!
Thousands of "acceptors" in our Pro Life and Family Planning Project!
Hundreds of villagers benefiting from HIV/AIDS counselling!
Thousands of adult students who have benefited from our vocational and skills training projects!

Please keep us in your prayers.

 

Yours in Christ,
Fr Pierre J Dil