Until we get our website up and running I thought I'd do a note of what we're up to with a few pics.
Our 17 school children are doing well, are mostly at the top of their classes which is great to see. This picture shows 12 of them. There are still some problems to be ironed out, particularly where there are in child-headed familes and social instability. Although school starting age is 7 in Zambia several of the children are 8, 9 and 10 years old, as their families could not afford to send them to school when they reached the right age.
The children all come back to the day care centre for lunch - either before or after they go to school, and join the younger children.
Our craft group has done well over the last few months, which have been busy in the hotel and restaurant. This started about 7 months ago and with the help and advice of my friends Mercy and Agnes, our group is now producing simple but charming necklaces and earrings. We had a great boost a couple of weeks ago when we used some donated funds to buy new beads and equipment. This picture shows Mercy in the middle with Susiku on the left of her and our 3 grandmothers. The older ladies are using the money they make from the craft group to build or rebuild their houses (one lives in a tent) and help them care for their grandchildren, Between them, many of their children are sick with or have died from AIDS and care of the grandchildren falls to them. Without assistance, despite the best efforts of their grandmothers, these children will not recieve adequate nutrition and health care and are unlikely to go to school.
The jewellery that the ladies make is being sold at Zig Zag's restaurant and all the proceeds are returned to the women.
