Three new support groups have been created in Belgium, Canada, and the Netherlands.
The Belgian group, MEC Friends from Flanders, under the leadership of Mieke and Miel Claus, volunteers in the 1970s, raised 740 Euros in February and US$1600 in November 2004. Most of the second contribution is going towards the upgrading of the Homecraft School, while the earlier donation was split between the orphanage, AIDS Prevention and Agricultural Settlement projects.
The Canadian voluntary group started by Pierre and Lee Ann Dil, is in the process of being officially registered. Two members of the group, Dr and Mrs Taylor, recently visited Zambia and Makeni. Dr Taylor is an administrator at a University in Canada and is interested in community health promotion. Mrs Taylor teaches English language at the same University and has been a VSO in Nigeria.
The Village Link group in Holland started by Dmitri Knobbe is setting up a link between the Dutch Benevolent Society and the centre’s settlement villages. The Benevolent Society was created in the 19th century, when Holland was going through a period of great turmoil and poverty, with the aim of settling landless or unemployed people in agriculture.
The first national meeting of the Village Link group is taking place in January 2005. Two of the main speakers will be Jan and Truus Veldkamp, who visited MEC settlement villages in July 2004.
Later in 2005, the Village Link group is doing awareness raising work, which should include a visit by a Zambian artist, sponsored in part by the Dutch Embassy. Sincere thanks are due to Dmitri Knobbe for arranging this event.
We hope also that either or both Fr Mukuyamba and Mr Silwenga may visit Holland to promote this link and visit churches and schools. We hope that our Friends in Holland will be able to support this venture.
