Newsletter No. 37, 26th April 2001

Dear Friends of Makeni,

I am sorry that there has been a break in the flow of Newsletters for so long -- you must have been wondering what happened to us! The interruption was due to the fact that I had to travel to South Africa for what I thought was heart surgery. The new cardiologist we saw decided that, although there was evidence of a serious heart problem, I was asymptomatic, i.e. showing no symptoms indicating there was a problem... Mysterious but wonderful -- undoubtedly the result of so many prayers being offered up for me by so many all over the world. I was advised to return to Cape Town for 6-monthly check-ups just to keep an eye on things. What a relief!  Here now is some of the latest news:  

1. The Orphanage Project [St Nicholas' Orphanage] is doing well -- there are now 20 children and some additional children who are cared for externally by family, but financially supported by us. It is a joy seeing the children so neatly dressed, and some of the older ones so smart in their school uniforms, and clearly so happy. There are several photographs (some new with this newsletter) here.

Staff report that some of the children are badly traumatised by their past and the loss of their parents. Some are quite sickly too and medical expenditure is becoming a problem. We have had to hire additional part-time staff almost immediately since fulltime staff simply could not cope.

The daily food bill is turning out to be much higher than anticipated. Mr Nyagumbo, the bookkeeper, says it costs now about K20,000 (£4.50) a day. A further three children are due to arrive soon. The new chairman, Fr Mukuyamba, has been asked to send you all a little report giving a picture of the day-to-day routine.  

2. Finances:

(a) The recurrent deficit for AD 2000 was K55.363 million for all MEC's projects (approximately US$18000 or £12,500). Thank God that donors were again as generous as ever in that year, ensuring that MEC survives financially.  

(b) We have been unable to find a new donor for the Family Planning project for AD 2001. This project has only K15million left [US$4800] and the number of staff has been reduced to the barest minimum as a result.  

(c) Additional staff has been hired for the Finance Department in the person of Miss Mutinta Hakamangwe.  

(d) Very sadly, our honorary auditor, Mr M. Jayaseelan FCA FZICA, died very suddenly of a heart attack in February. He had never been identified as suffering of a heart problem. May his soul rest in peace. Our prayers go out to his widow, Sarda Lilly, and his children.  Mr Jayaseelan died two days before he had planned to do the audit of our books for the year 2000. The Centre is presently looking for another auditor who will do the audit Pro Deo, but if we are unable to find one we shall hire Messrs Mark Newton & Co who are asking K2,250,000 [approximately US$725]  

3. Equipment Donations:

(a) In the recent past The World Bank donated 5 processing units, 7 keyboards, 1 monitor, some networking equipment, and 4 printers to the Computer School

(b) Gered Gereedschap, Holland, donated a large quantity of carpentry tools to the Carpentry Department.

(c) The reconditioned vehicle for the Family Planning project, donated by Christians in Holland arrived in good order. It is a Toyota HiAce 1989 model, but in excellent condition. The FP Project shares this vehicle with MEC, whose staff bus has now reached such a state of disrepair that it is no longer safe to use it.

(d) Thanks to the generosity of the Reformed Church congregation of Baarn, Holland, we were able to buy a new Family Planning vehicle, a Ford Ranger 4 x 4 Single Cab Pick-up which cost Br£8562. This vehicle will be used for the rural FP work, the other for its urban work, where roads are a little better.

(e) The Government's department of Technical & Vocational Education TEVETA, and CIDA, Canada collaborated to donate to the Centre carpentry tools, agricultural tools and Domestic Science School equipment and materials.

(f) "Books Abroad", Scotland, donated a substantial number of Primary School readers and books on English and Maths.  To all these donors our warmest thanks are extended! Your goodwill towards our work is such an encouragement to us!  

4. Court Case against the Government of Zambia: Old MEC supporters will remember that MEC was forced in 1993 to begin court proceedings against the Attorney General for  the withdrawal of a farm allocated by government for our settlement project after we had built on it a community centre and sank several boreholes. The case was finally concluded in the High Court in March and MEC won the case. The High Court is now to decide on damages payable to MEC to reimburse it for its lost investments.  

5. First Quarter Report Family Planning Project:   In spite of greatly reduced staff and lack of a vehicle for the first part of the quarter,  this project served 1708 clients in the first quarter of AD 2001. 1905 cycles of pills, 1001 of Norisievat and 1128 packets of condoms were distributed. Once new staff has been hired, numbers should soon increase again to former levels.  

Sincerest thanks to all the donors who have extended support to our work so far in the year 2001. Thanks to you we will be able to continue serving all our clientele in the Pre-Schools, Primary Schools, Clinics, Adult Education schools and skills training departments -- on behalf of all these beneficiaries: THANK YOU !!  

Yours in Christ,   Fr Pierre J Dil    
The Very Revd Canon Pierre J Dil
Founder-Director Makeni Ecumenical Centre
Correspondence: P O Box 51313, Lusaka, Zambia
Business: P O Box 50255, Lusaka, Zambia