Community
We work hand in hand with local communities to create lasting change through education and sustainable development.
Mpekala
Community
We work hand in hand with local communities to create lasting change through education and sustainable development.
1. Homework Club.
The Linda area of Livingstone is blighted by poverty and has many children who do not attend school
at all. This project grew out of the efforts of a local teacher who had established a ‘homework club’ in
the evenings in the yard of his home for the benefit of children from the compound. One of our
trustees was introduced to them in early 2016 when the children were sitting on the ground outdoors
without shelter from the sun or rain. For a modest sum she was able to arrange the construction of a
structure, benches and a blackboard so that classes could take place when it rained and out of the
heat of the sun. These are major factors to be taken account of, especially in the rainy season.
2017 saw the consolidation of that first structure – a metal roof (with matting underneath to deaden
the drumming sound of the rain), a raised dry floor and low walls to prevent flooding. Electricity was
introduced so that learning could take place after dark. Textbooks have been provided to support the
teaching. We are delighted to say that ‘Homework Club’ has been enthusiastically embraced by
many IVHQ and Travel Active volunteers in Livingstone who attend to assist the children at least once
a week. Largely through their fundraising efforts, in 2018 the facilities were improved (with a second
structure), as they were in 2019 and 2020 (with improved toilet and storage provision).
In 2023 Homework Club moved to purpose-built classrooms with better desk provision that we had
built at nearby Linda Community School. It is still supported by IVHQ and other volunteers who
regularly give up their spare time to help the children once or twice a week.
We work hand in hand with local communities to create lasting change through education and sustainable development.
Tiyese (“Let’s Try”) Craft Initiative.This group of ladies was established by Zambezi Sunrise Trust in the Linda compound area ofLivingstone. They originally used the Linda Sunrise structures, before moving to bigger and moresecure accommodation that we had built at nearby Linda Community School. They meet several daysa week to get together, share their experience and talent and make a variety of craft items. Themoney they raise through the sale of their handmade bags, aprons, tablecloths, clothes and rugssupplements their incomes and assists in providing regular meals and education for their children. Aportion of the profit from each item sold is put back into the group’s funds to buy more materials andensure its sustainability. As well as assistance with establishing the group, Zambezi Sunrise hasdonated three pedal powered sewing machines, together with craft tools and items sourced from oursupporters. Tiyese have now achieved official government registration and have opened a group bankaccount – the first time the ladies have had access to such a facility. Having successfully made the670 delegate bags for the 2019 Commonwealth Law Conference, the ladies have also sold items thathave gone around the world – to visiting volunteers and to Zambezi Sunrise donors who have maderequests. During the Coronavirus pandemic their skills were recognised by the government, and theyreceived orders from the Ministry of Health for 2,500 face masks for frontline workers. Similar orderswere received from WWF, as well as ourselves for the schools we support. Items made by Tiyesa canbe found at the Pure Skills shop at the Victoria Falls (Pure Skills have enhanced their abilities bysending four of the ladies on a tailoring course), as well as Protea Hotel, Kubu Cafe and the gift shopof the Livingstone Museum.
We work hand in hand with local communities to create lasting change through education and sustainable development.
3. Kupagwa Ni Lilato (‘Made With Love’) Craft Group. Kupagwa Ni Lilato was established with help from Zambezi Sunrise in the Highlands area of Livingstone. Again, the ladies of this group met to share their experience for the benefit of all of them. They concentrated on making different items from those produced by Tiyese so that the two groups complimented each other and did not compete for the same sales. Some great skills were developed before relocation and other personal factors which sadly led to the end of the group
We work hand in hand with local communities to create lasting change through education and sustainable development.
Mpekala Women’s Programme. Founded by the irrepressible Sister Immaculata, this programme has branches in several remote rural villages in the Sekute area beyond Livingstone. They are served by very poor roads and are almost inaccessible at times during the rainy season. Ladies there have traditionally been dependant on the (environmentally unfriendly) production of charcoal to supplement their family incomes. The programme has helped them diversify through setting up craft clubs. Zambezi Sunrise have been able to assist the latter through the provision of hand powered sewing machines to three village groups. We have also been able to provide examples of craft items made by supporters in the UK for them to examine – and have done the same in reverse.
We work hand in hand with local communities to create lasting change through education and sustainable development.
Zambezi Empowerment Initiative This group, in a remote area next to the Zambezi river in rural Barotseland/Western Province, was set up with our assistance in early 2020. Situated near Njoko Mission, the ladies in the surrounding area have great talent in basket making but had no access to a market for their talents. As well as assisting with the foundation of the craft group, we hope to help them obtain sales in Livingstone.
We work hand in hand with local communities to create lasting change through education and sustainable development.
Clement Despite being blind since birth, Clement is an accomplished guitarist who composes his own songs urging support of the disabled and other ‘needy ones’. He sings in English as well as Lozi, Tonga and other Zambian languages. Clement can often be found in Livingstone busking, the only means he has to support his family. We came across him in 2016 when he visited our Linda Sunrise project to say thank you – one of his children was attending ‘homework club’. His method of doing that was to play a few of his songs. We were astounded and, in due course, Clement featured at the end of our website video. “What can we do for the needy ones?” “Help them.” On our return to Zambia in 2017, Zambezi Sunrise arranged the recording of an album of Clement’s songs. This was funded through a special discrete appeal in which supporters were able to sponsor one of the 10 tunes. ‘Blessings’ was duly recorded and launched at a special event in Livingstone attended by others in the Zambezi Sunrise family and the volunteer community. Both he and one of our trustees, Joanne, were interviewed on local radio station Zambezi FM about his story and the album. The sale of ‘Blessings’ has enabled Clement to have some financial security as he provides for his family in Linda compound. One of his children attends Linda Community School – one of the schools that we support. Clement can still sometimes be found entertaining the children and volunteers who support Homework Club. In 2023 one of our supporters was delighted to buy Clement a new guitar! If anyone would like to purchase a copy of ‘Blessings’ please contact us for details.
We work hand in hand with local communities to create lasting change through education and sustainable development.
Distribution As well as providing foodstuffs and other items purchased in Zambia, Zambezi Sunrise continues distributing books, clothes, sporting equipment and toys that have been donated. They range in scale from large scale uniform donations by schools in the U.K. to single items donated by individuals. Such donations are typically distributed to vulnerable children through schools, hospitals, orphanages or directly to their families. Our support Josie Hind has knitted over 1500 teddy bears for Zambezi Sunrise along with may other items she has made. These knitted bears were named and/or given messages and will be distributed to children in Zambia. Email enquiries are welcomed from those considering such donations. Donations are welcomed on the basis that some items which may not be easily transported to Zambia may be sold to raise funds for the charity. On occasion, monetary grants are made to address particular needs of schools that are not the focus of our usual support. For example, we were delighted to be able to ensure the electricity system was repaired and the supply restored to Baobuyu Learning Center after it was hit by a lightening strike in early 2018. The school has also benefitted from the distribution of clothes donated by our supporters. Similarly, we were pleased to make a grant to Njokomalomo Basic School in Barotseland / Western Province to assist with their immediate needs. Zambezi Sunrise Trust has also paid the registration fee to ensure the school receives grants of reading books from Book Aid International.