Happy New Year!

Hello everyone,

Its been a long time since I updated the blog as its been so busy the past few months. I am supposed to be pacing myself but its quite a difficult thing to do in Zambia!

CCAP Synod of Zambia have a community School in Mtendere compound in Lusaka (where I used to go to church), and they are hoping to open an ECD class. I went to visit the school with the Deputy General Secretary, Rev Mithi. We had a good visit, the class is small so would not accommodate more than 20 children (but in Zambia usually children are piled into the class so we will see). There is no outdoor space for a playground as the school is in the church grounds and there are no toilets suitable for small children. So, there is a lot of work to do before children could come, but they hope to open this term! We heard yesterday that school opening has been postponed from January 8 to January 29 because of a severe outbreak of cholera across the country. The means that between term 1 and 2 there is only one week of holiday which is challenging for teachers, children and parents.

This is the main school on the right with the ECD class on the left

Rev Mithi, Rev E Mbewe (minister at Mtendere CCAP) and Mrs Susan Phiri the Head teacher

The outdoor area which will be the playground!!

I had a meeting with the Presbytery clerks from the two Presbyteries in Lusaka, Midlands and Midlands East. We discussed ECD as in Midlands East Mtendere CCAP is located where the class above will be.

In Midlands at Matero CCAP, we also had a community school which unfortunately is no longer operational. Together with the Presbytery clerk in Midlands, we are having discussions on how we can make this into an ECD centre for Matero compound. It is an exciting prospect as we have no ECD centres in Lusaka at present. There is already a committee in place to organise this. As you can see from the photo below, there is a lot of maintenance to be done before this can open as a centre. The roof is leaking, the electrics need fixed and the drainage, as well as toilets for young children. But it is a challenge that we hope to overcome!

Matero building for the ECD centre

Some of the ECD committee with Rev Mithi

It was exciting to host Pauline Kennedy, PCI's Womens Ministry and Presbyterian Women Development Officer for 9 days. She was here to have discussions with the Womens' Guild in CCAP about a possible project. I also took her to see one of the ECD centres in Mazabuka so that she could learn a bit about what I am doing here too!

In Mazabuka ECD - the kids loved to see themselves!

With the Executive of the Womens Guild in CCAP Synod of Zambia

Pauline addressing the ladies of Matero CCAP Women's Guild

With the Women's Guild of Kabwata CCAP after Pauline had preached at the service

We took time out to visit the Elephant orphanage too!

I went with some Synod officials to Kitwe to witness the Retirement service of Rev Abel Banda, who had been a Moderator with the Synod. I took the opportunity to meet with the Presbytery clerks of 3 Presbyteries in the Copperbelt as we want to begin ECD in this area. We had fruitful discussions and I hope to visit again in January to begin preparations for work there.

Rev S kabaghe (General Secretary), Rev C Chunda (Moderator) Rev Kamanga (Presbytery clerk)

Rev and Mrs Abel Banda

Women's Guild ladies leaving after the service

Rev C Chunda preaching and singing during the service

In December, I had my first teachers workshop since coming back to Zambia. It was tough going and I was extremely tired at the end of it but it was very fulfilling and great to hear what teachers are doing. I had teachers from 2 centres in Southern Province, 3 from the two ECD centres we hope to open in Lusaka and 2 from Chipata in Muchini CCAP ECD centre. It was quite a challenge trying to balance what to do with them as we had some teachers with a lot of experience and some who were new to the idea of learning through play! However, we had a lot of fun and learnt a lot from each other.

Teachers working on a puzzle

With Rev Mithi who presented their certificates at the end of the workshop

I found the first day of the workshop difficult because, when I was in hospital in 2022 in Ireland, I received the news that Angela, our teacher from Monze CCAP had passed away very suddenly. We paid tribute to Angela during our devotion time. Angela was a wonderful young lady, an elder in the church and a fantastic teacher who encouraged others and loved the children. She will be greatly missed. She leaves a young daughter Sarah who is now staying with her grandparents.

Angela

I had a few days off and went to my happy place - South Luangwa national park to spend time with the animals! As you know I love photography and I love seeing the animals in their natural habitat. It was extremely hot - the park is in the Luangwa valley so its much hotter than Lusaka, but the animals did not disappoint!