Empowering young Zambian eco-leaders

Dear all,

Chipembele regularly supports 5 local and vulnerable families with food or other living necessities throughout the year. With so many privileged people enjoying good food and exchanging presents at this festive time of year, we were very happy to provide them all with a Christmas hamper - a plastic bucket full of groceries, and a bag of toys and books for the children. The woman top left in the family photo is a wonderfully warm, appreciative and hard-working matriarch of a large family with no means of support other than subsistence farming. We have been supporting the family for over 20 years and have seen a generation grow up and have children of their own. There is always plenty of singing, dancing and hugging when we visit and they make us feel like part of their extended family!

Many of the students who attend the Chipembele Conservation Centre for a day of lessons and activities have never seen the LuangwaRiverbefore or been inside the National Park, even though they live in the same vicinity.Justimaginetheirdelightwhenwetakeawalktothebank of the Luangwa River and see not onlytheriver, butlotsof hipposand South Luangwa National Park on the opposite bank too. The picture shows students from Kakumbi Primary School, 14 of whom had never seen the Luangwa River before. No wonder they're smiling!

The start of the rainy season in Zambia heralds a peak in animal births - and for a range of reasons some are left orphaned. If they are fortunate enough to be rescued they are usually brought to the Chipembele Conservation Centre (with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife's permission) for rehabilitation. This year was no exception - Anna and Steve took in a baby monkey, a baby warthog, a baby impala and 2 baby genets. All the milk feeds, cleaning of enclosures and general care have been really keeping them on their toes! Sadly the baby monkey didn't make it, but Wilma the warthog, Impi the impala and Blossom and Bud the genets are all thriving.

Thanks to our long-term supporters in Switzerland, we were able to complete the renovation of a 3-room classroom block with a teacher’s office at Mfuwe Primary School. The classroom block had been left derelict for many years. We also had 120 all-metal desks made (in keeping with our policy on minimal use of wood to help deter deforestation) and furnished the teacher office.  This overcrowded school has 1200+ students so at least they now have better space and can learn in more comfort.

We wish you a happy, healthy and productive 2023! We have many exciting initiatives lined up for the new year to keep us busy.

Warm wishes from Olivia and the Chipembele team

Links:

• http://www.chipembele.org