December 1998

Another mini newsletter from Makeni Ecumenical Centre, addressed to our supporters:

  1. Makeni Centre now has its own web site on the Internet at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/antondil.
    (But then you knew that --you're here!)
  2. Following the evaluation exercise for the Settlement Projects of the Centre, loans to settlers have been revised extensively:
    (a) Housing loans, if desired, must be negotiated with our partner in development work, Habitat for Humanity International. Each settler may apply to Makeni Ecumenical Centre for 12 roofsheets, for which no repayment will be required.
    (b) Subsistence Loans: During the first 6 months each new settler can apply for K15,000 in cash and one bag of mealiemeal per month.
    (c) Crop Loans: During the first season of settlement, each settler can apply for a crop loans consisting of: 10 kg maize seed, 50kg "D"compound, 50kg urea, and K50,000 for ploughing.
    (d) Poultry Loans: available only after construction of an adequate poultry house by the settler --100 day-old chicks, 10 bags of feed, medications, a set of drinkers/feeders.
    (e) Settlers who do not want a poultry loan can apply for a second crop loan. As before, all production loans are repayable at the time of sale of produce or chickens. Subsistence loans are repayable within two years. All loans will be indexed so as to eliminate the effects of the constant devaluation of our currency. Any settlers who repays loans within six months is exempted from the indexing rule.
  3. We notice with regret that support from church congregations overseas has dropped off rather badly in 1998.... Some supporters have complained about MEC's continued need for support and have said we should stand on our own two feet by now.... Easier said than done -- poverty in Zambia is now more extreme than ever before. Local donations have dried up completely. Demanding higher fees from the poor we serve will only still further reduce the number of people we serve. Please re-think this matter and pray about your giving to MEC. The Centre will, again, organise the annual "Carols by Candlelight" Fundraising evening in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Please pray that local people will give generously on that occasion.

Warm regards,

Yours in Christ,


Very Revd Canon Pierre J Dil,
Honorary Chairman Makeni Ecumenical Centre  P O Box 50255,Lusaka, Zambia
Private mail: Private Bag RW304X, Lusaka, Zambia
Tel 260-1-274991  Fax 260-1-272437

e-mail:mecdil@zamnet.zm