2015 2nd Quarter News

Dear Friends,

Here is another update of news from Makeni Centre. The full 2nd quarter 2015 newsletter can be read here.

image002Good progress is being made in completing the school laboratories now required of us by the Ministry of Education.

This has been made possible with the financial help of the Friends of Makeni, Netherlands.  Some fundraising is also taking place through parents and pupils of the school. There is further money yet to be raised, and MEC is still seeking further assistance with this. In addition, the labs will need equipment when completed.

image003Our settlement villages are now becoming almost full, and while development continues, and farmers show increasing levels of financial independence, roads to the communities remain problematic. Most of the roads are dirt, and not well maintained, leading to high transport costs and delays in getting goods to market or obtaining essential supplies.

Not only do the settlement villages serve to help establish prosperous farming communities, but MEC also is involved in education, health services, and advocacy in the areas in which it operates. A case in point is advocacy against child marriage.

image006It is important in these matters to have the support of local leaders, and Chief Chamuka in Mwomboshi has been supporting this message. It is reported that these efforts are having a real impact.

Back in Lusaka, St Nicholas Orphanage Village continues to support children into adulthood. We have reports of visits by Barclays Bank and Radio Phoenix, and donations in kind from both. In addition, we have a report from Gift Machaya, who is being supported in his studies of automotive maintenance.

 

image005Both Barclays Bank and Radio Phoenix have been supporting the children for many years now.

We always appreciate visitors who help to instill in our children a sense of purpose and self motivation, so it was really good to also have a group of women from the Roads Development Agency visit, and help deliver the message that senior jobs are not only for men!

image007Finally, we have had support from an organisation called IT Without Borders, headed by Chrys Thorsen, who delivered ICT training at the centre in June. We aim to keep our staff IT literate, and to prepare our children and students for an increasingly digital world, so this kind of assistance is greatly appreciated.

There is more on these stories in the full newsletter!

About Makeni Webmaster

I spent most of my youth in Makeni, growing up at the centre as it emerged from the bush, one building at a time. I now work in the UK as a lecturer in computer science.
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