Help train Zambian children and young people

We thought you would be interested to read real stories from 3 of the students who have recently benefited from attending Kaliyangile vocational training centre. Thank you so much for your support which enables this ongoing work to happen and transform lives!

My name is Annia L and I am now a student at Mulungushi University.

This beautiful smile I wear today (above) is because I chose rightly by spending time studying at Kaliyangile when my dream of going to college was dim and seemed far-fetched.

My father worked in a bank and life was good until he was made redundant in 2005 when I was just in nursery school. Since that time, we have struggled as a family. Being the first born, dad left me with my grandmother here in Chisamba to help with farm work so I could raise money for school fees.

By God’s grace and the help of well-wishers, I completed Grade 12 in 2015. But my life came to a standstill as I had no money to go to college and my father had to raise school fees for my siblings. That’s when I learnt Kaliyangile Training Centre was offering computing basics. I enrolled in September of 2016 - we were the first students! It was really hard for us because the centre relied only on the laptop that was used for administrative purposes. That did not discourage me. We would have our lessons in the manager’s office as we were only the three of us. This created a very close relationship between us and we worked as a team through assignments. In a few months, I had learnt a lot, especially how to use Microsoft Office. I became efficient at typing and with this skill I managed to get a job as a shopkeeper from which I was able to raise enough funds for my college.

I am now on 75% bursary at Mulungushi University and in my second year. I don’t regret having taken computing basics at Kali because it has helped me a lot with my school assignments and research. In giving back, I am always available to help out with new computing students at Kali and give encouragement during holidays.

I am happy that we now have five desktop computers thanks to the support of Hands around the World!!! 

May God bless your efforts in reaching out to our community.

Pauline writes:

My name is Pauline B and I was born in the year 1997, I come from a family of three and am the second born daughter. I did my Grade one to nine at Chisamba school and was later moved to Olympia Park secondary school in Lusaka where I completed Grade 12 in 2016.

My parents could not raise the money to take me to college. I applied for ICT Information and Technology Studies at Kaliyangile skills training centre starting in October 2018, looking forward to learning everything about a computer. Since I joined I have learnt the importance of modern technology in our daily operations, school, businesses and work. I know how use Word and can type any document without difficulties, though this was a real struggle at first.

I am certain that it will help me in sustaining my needs because I look forward to work in a business as a cashier. Our instructor has really been good to us; she is understanding and helps us. I am sure this will help in the near future and I therefore look forward to the day I will graduate.  

To Hands around the world the sponsors of the project we are very grateful, for without their financial support we wouldn’t have been here to acquire knowledge and computing skills.

Persis the manager writes:

We found Gift out on his own hunting bees, and when asked he said he needed to sell honey so he could buy school books and pay K20 (£1 or $1.25) as school fees. We asked him if he would be interested to learn more about bees and the right way to harvest honey, and his face lit up with joy!

He later joined one of our beekeeping classes and the instructor was very impressed with his participation.

We have now given our youngest members Bupe (aged 11) and Gift (aged 13) a hive to manage at the Centre which they have baited under the supervision of the instructor! Once harvested, the proceeds will go towards helping them pay their school fees, books and pencils.

Gift is pictured below with Mr Chilo, the beekeeping instructor.

This is the dry season in Zambia and it is a time of concern following a poor crop due to lower than usual rainfall. Most people try to survive on subsistence farming and have little cash, so they are worried. The price of basic foodstuffs is going up as demand exceeds supply. In this country there is absolutely no rainfall between April and November!

But work goes on...

Our project has been a hive of activity in recent months as students participated in the making of beehives in readiness for the apiary to be located at Chipilepile a few kilometers away from Kaliyangile Training Centre. This has cheered many local beekeepers and has motivated a number of youths and women wishing to train in beekeeping.

Betty, a young mother, and others appreciated donated baby clothes from the container sent by HATW. 

Our new photocopier helps with the computer training, admin and teaching resources, and generates a little income from the local community too.

Your encouragement and donations help bring beautiful smiles to many! Thank you for all your support.

As we made our farewells in late February there were a number of issues needing attention, as highlighted in the last report.

Refurbishing the 2 staff houses is now almost completed. This was the top priority and is also a great psychological boost! The leaking roof and damp walls have been sorted out and Persis the manager now has a bright, newly decorated kitchen (below)

Having originally been disappointed by one prospective donor, we are delighted to have just received confirmation that another will provide the bulk of the funds to build the workshop. When this workshop is built, the idea is to bring in more new students. Plans are well underway to get this work started soon, and we are continuing to seek funds to complete the task this year, as well as building another classroom and purchasing a new and larger incubator.

A part-container of items needed by the children, young people (and the centre itself) which we sent to Zambia has just arrived. Persis writes: "We were really glad to receive clothing for the children, knitting and sewing items from the container this week. The children will be very happy to receive these gifts. Thank you all so much."

Beekeeping training in partnership with the government forestry department is ongoing and funds raised in a recent Global Giving appeal have enabled the purchase of materials for making 10 beehives and bee suits for some of the beekeeping students, as well a honey press for Kaliyangile. This will make a huge difference to their ability to translate theory into practice and will hopefully lead to much-enhanced honey production, as well as better marketing and enhances revenues in future.

We have been able to purchase a printer / photocopier both for direct use with students and admin, but also as a chargeable community resource. This should be installed in the next couple of weeks.

I believe the Kaliyangile project has a bright future under Persis' leadership. It is great to be able to support and encourage her in this way, and we hope to continue doing so, as well as sending out short-term volunteers.

Thank you for your help and please get in touch if you (or a friend) would like details of exciting short-term volunteering opportunities. This would be a wonderful experience for someone with market gardening, beekeeping, computer or tailoring skills and interests, or maybe a couple keen to volunteer together.

It was a great pleasure for me to visit Kaliyangile (Kali) in February and meet again with Persis Musonda the manager and her board members, as well as student beneficiaries and others. My last visit was in 2017.

With much encouragement, Kali is now emerging from a difficult period, and there is a palpable elevation of mood and an air of optimism. Persis is enthusiastic and keen to make a difference. Last year, movements were restricted for a lengthy period due first to a cholera outbreak in Lusaka, and then by Foot and Mouth Disease locally. Fortunately these are no longer problematic.

Kali’s stated goals for the year to April 2019 were:

1. Enhance student enrolment in computing, tailoring and knitting

There has been limited success in this area, rather restricted at present by the single classroom and small tailoring workshop. There are in total about 20 students attending at various times in the week, (plus 40 beekeeping students enrolled).

2. Refurbish Staff Houses

This is the top priority. Persis’ home is a duplex bungalow and both are in a very poor state with cracked and damp walls, seriously leaking roof, and needing decoration.

3. Fence front part to improve security

Under discussion currently, Patrick the landowner hopes to help soon when undertaking other fencing work.

4. Workshop and classroom construction

Much needed, this is dependent on HATW securing funding. Sadly we were turned down by one potential funds donor, but other applications are in.

5. Boost the layer-chicken project

This is doing well, with almost 600 hens laying, minimal losses and a good market for the eggs. There are plans to make this a rolling programme (as funds allow) to ensure continuity. Their small egg incubator is now repaired and currently under test. It is helpful but funding for a larger one has been requested, including batteries to cope in power outages.

6. Construct and develop fish ponds

This has been on the back burner for a time. With funds and HATW volunteer help, it could soon be brought to reality.

Other items which I noted and discussed:

Beekeeping training in partnership with the Forestry department is going well but is entirely theoretical at present. Funds we send just cover paying the trainers. In discussion with Persis and the students, I believe it would be helpful if we could fund materials for the Kali tailoring students to make each beekeeper a bee suit.

Persis would like a printer / photocopier (cost approx. £350) both for direct use with students and admin, but also as a chargeable community resource, (similar to their hammer mill which generates income by preparing maize meal for humans, feed also for pigs, chicken and cattle).

In conclusion, I am confident that the Kali project has a bright future under the leadership of Persis. I believe it is important that we support and encourage her as much as possible to continue the work she is trying hard to do. Sending short-term volunteers out would be very helpful, both practically and in providing encouragement.

Please get in touch if you would like details of short-term volunteering opportunities or to help in another way.

Links:

• Website

The past three months have been very busy and a lot more interesting as students participated in several activities which included community work, and World Literacy Day where they showcased their skills in literacy, knitting, tailoring and computing. This was followed by Independence celebrations in which our students gladly took part.

What is most impressive is that there has been a notable difference in community response the past few months as community members are getting to appreciate the contribitions Kaliyangile is making in improving the lives of our vulnerable youths and women in the community in a positive way.

Our beekeeping students participated in a two day training workshop in entrepreneurship skills which was supported by the German government. Some of our students participated in the Dairy Farming training workshops which are facilitated by the Dairy Association of Zambia through contributions from our local farmers.

It wouldn't be right to forget the training in computing. The students are much happier now that we finally have our own computers. The programme has impressed a lot of youths, though we have restricted the enrolment number for easy monitoring.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Hands around the World and other co-operating partners for enabling a clean learning environment. We have a new roof that is no longer leaking and a beautiful computer room.

Hats off to the HATW team and may God richly bless your kind gesture!