September 1999

Dear Friends of Makeni,

Here some news items to keep you informed of developments:

1. On September 13th it was Graduation Day at MEC; adult students have just completed their academic year. The following graduation stats may interest you:

COURSE ENROLLMENT EXAMS WRITTEN PASSES RE-WRITING
Agriculture     29 17 12 5
Settlement      26 19 17 2
Basic Electron. 28 15 9 6
Homecraft       24 12 8 4
TOTALS          105 63 46 17

The carpentry and Senior Electronics students are part-way through their academic year(s) and did not write exams at this time.

2. We share with you the continuous concern over low enrolment and high drop-out rates. A 40% drop-out rate is unacceptable. It has been discussed with students who gave up and we heard the usual reasons: no money to carry on, no money for the little school fees and not for busfares... [see 3. below]

3. The Graduation Ceremony was presided over by the new Dutch Ambassador Mr de Beer. He also toured the Centre and saw its many projects. He was deeply impressed and immediately offered financial contributions towards
(a) the purchase of the Nutrition Village to be used in future by MEC as an AIDS Orphanage,
(b)the Family Planning Project budget, and
(c) a small bursary fund to assist adult students who have started courses but can not complete them for lack of money. It is anticipated that we shall be able to help 20 students with bursaries for the coming academic year. The ambassador said he was keen to see ties between the Wmbassy and the Centre resumed and strengthened.

4. At the Graduation Ceremony diplomas were also handed out to the first graduates of  the Computer Courses we have started; there were several members of MEC staff among the graudates of these short courses, all of them having completed the basic level of computer skills. Enrolment for outsiders for the Computer courses is now in full swing following extensive [and expensive] advertising...

5. Enrolment so far for the next academic year (TOTAL   96 so far):

SUBJECT ENROLLED
Agriculture 16
Settlment 22
Basic Electronics 10
Homecraft 17
Senior Electronics 16
Carpentry 15

6. Makeni Ecumenical Centre's court case against the Government of Zambia/Ministry of Lands for compensation for the loss of Farm 6497/M Leopard's Hill in 1993 [after K26 million had been invested in development of this Farm] is scheduled for November of this year. EZE in Germany who donated funds towards these developments will be delighted to hear that the matter is finally to appear in court. The wheels of justice grind very slowly in Zambia - let's hope they grind fine... Our claim against the Government is for K26million plus interest at about 25% per annum since 1993. Will keep you informed of developments.

8. The new [pert-time] chairman for Makeni Ecumenical Centre, Fr Andrew Mukuyamba, is presently being trained in the job. It is clear that he will make a fine replacement for Fr Dil, who will continue in a role of adviser, financial watchdog and fundraiser.

Warm regards to you all!

Yours in Christ,

Fr Pierre J Dil / Hon. Chairman

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Very Revd Canon Pierre J Dil,
Vicar General Continuing Anglican Communion in Zambia

Hon. Chairman Makeni Ecumenical Centre
Work address: P O Box 50255, Lusaka, Zambia
Private correspondence: Private Bag RW51313, Lusaka, Zambia
Telephone: Home 260-1-274991      Fax: ditto - after previous notification
Office Fax: 260-1-272437 [office hours only]
e-mail: mecdil@zamnet.zm
Makeni Ecumenical Centre's home page is at:
http://members.truepath.com/mec/mec.htm