Chitsime Association for Service & Development
Misisi, Lusaka
The Zambia Society Trust, together with many other organisations, makes grants to support the work of the Chitsime Association. Below, you will find information on how the Association was set up, the work that it does and regular updates on its development between 2000 and 2007.
Background
For many years Misisi compound just south of the Kafue roundabout on Cairo Road in Lusaka has been home to many thousands of Zambians. It is situated on a previously unused area of wasteland near the railway lines and grew steadily as an illegal compound with no proper facilities.
Foundations for the extension of the school
During the early and mid 1990’s the people of Misisi with the support of a Swedish group (MS), the Sacred Heart Sisters, the Catholic Women’s League and many other friends and organisations within and outside Zambia initiated various self-help projects. These included a Home Based Care Programme to support the increasing number of families in severe distress due to HIV/AIDS, an Open Community School and Income Generating projects.
In 1997 the Chitsime Association was formed to bring together all the service and development projects under one umbrella so that the needs of the community could be coordinated and prioritised.
At its formation the following projects/ventures were already established:
| SERVICE | DEVELOPMENT |
| Open Community School | Widow’s Oil Press |
| Pre-School for Orphans | Homecraft Club |
| Feeding Programme for children Project | Inkalamba Building malnourished Project |
| Home Based Care for Chronically Ill people | Limbikani Tie and Die |
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| Sewing Room |  |
By the end of 1998 the Service section had extended to include:
Special Educational Needs Unit
Literacy for Women & Youth
Street Childrens accommodation & feeding
Education Programme
Pastoral Care Programme for chronically ill
The Development section had begun a Pottery & Ceramics project.
The priority of the Chitsime Association is to focus on the needs of the children, so it has concentrated on three main areas.
| Chitsime/Misisi project | ||
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| Community School for Underprivileged Children | Special Needs School | Street Kids Accommodation |
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| Community School | |
The Community school began in 1992 with one class for girls unable
to find a school place. By 1996 some temporary classrooms were used
at Kabwata Parish for the girls and 70 boys started school at the
site vacated by the girls. A Pre-School for both sexes was added.
All these classes were housed in shipping containers.
In 1998 a plot of land was acquired in Kamwala South-between two
railway lines-near Misisi Compound. Permanent classrooms were built
and the Community School started with a few classrooms on the site.
The school provided free education for children from Misisi Compound.
The people living there are mostly low income families, many children
have difficult home situations, and over 85% of the pupils are orphans,
displaced or street children.
Only a small percentage of the children living in Misisi were able
to find places at this school, so the need for more classrooms and
teachers was paramount.
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Because of the overwhelming number of orphans and vulnerable children
in Zambia, the Zambia Society Trust gave special assistance to several
projects helping more of these children to live with families, to
receive an adequate diet, and have the chance to attend school.
From the late 1990’s,the Trust adopted the work of the Chitsime
Association in Misisi compound in Lusaka as a special project and
has funded it every year. This Association co-ordinates the service
and development needs of the community, and with outside funding
and self-help income-generating projects, has transformed a previously
neglected area of wasteland adjacent to Misisi Compound.
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| iv. | A Home-based care scheme for chronically sick people | |||||
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2002
The Trust gained the valuable support of Rotary Clubs in Brighton (UK) Rouen –Vallee (France) and Amersfoort ( Netherlands) and Rotary International resulting in a grant of over US$ 17,000 presented to Fr Edgar Pillet –the Chitsime Coordinator-for the building of new classrooms for the Community and Special Needs Schools. Over 600 pupils attended the schools. Further grants from Rotary funded the School Feeding Programme.
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During this year the building of a 500 metre road was completed
to make the project accessible during the rainy season, a Brickfolder
machine was purchased to make concrete blocks and a new toilet block
built within the Orphans’ Home of Hope enclosure.
During this year the Trust donated £2000 to the Chitsime Association
to develop and maintain its work.
2003
The extra classrooms for the Community School and Special Needs School were fully utilised, additional teachers were employed and enrolment reached 750 pupils.
The school continued to provide free education from Pre-School to
Grade 7 for orphans and vulnerable children from the Misisi area.
An extra room for sick children was added to the Special Needs School,
and playgrounds for children at both schools were constructed and
equipped.
The St Lawrence Home of Hope for orphans and
vulnerable children had an average of 26 children. Many of them
being steadily reintegrated into their communities through the support
of distant family members. From the humble beginning of 3 empty
shipping containers, the enclosed walled area had water and electricity,
a new sanitary block and nearby gardens growing maize and vegetables.
Income-generating area
The newly built Homecraft Centre was thriving with full and part-time students studying tailoring and design, knitting and embroidery. They produced tablecloths, clothes and baby clothes, aprons etc. A cafeteria is sited next to it providing a valuable service for teachers, policemen etc working on the site.
A new Carpentry Centre opened with an instructor and 6 students.
Because of the development on the Misisi site, and the construction
of a feeder road from Kabwata, a considerable amount of building
is taking place nearby outside the Chitsime boundary. This has given
a boost to the new Brick–Making venture producing significant
income.
The Maximill grinding maize meal was moved to a site within the
Chitsime plot, making it easier to operate and increase its customer
base.
Community services
The Misisi Home-Based Care Project was doing outstanding work. A team of 55 volunteer community–based carers served patients living with HIV and TB in Misisi compound. It provided medicine, counselling, advice and support and referral to other agencies.
2005
Orphans' Home of Hope
From its very simple beginnings providing shelter for orphan boys
and street children in industrial containers, the Home of Hope has
been transformed. It now comprises four small dormitories, a caretaker’s
house, a kitchen, ablution blocks, proper roofing and a paved yard.
Over 20 boys live there and attend the Community school.
Community School
The St Lawrence Community School provides free education and continues to expand. It has 1,123 pupils-556 girls and 567 boys. Most of the children come from nearby Misisi township—estimated population 60,000-- and a large number are orphan children. More classrooms have been built and an equipped children’s playground developed. Out of the 24 teaching staff only 6 are on the Ministry of Education payroll, so the monthly salary bill is a heavy financial burden. For the future it is hoped that funds can be raised to build classrooms for Grades 8 & 9 so that the full basic education can be offered.
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Special Needs School
A new classroom has been added together with a restroom
and there are currently 60 children and 7 teachers, only 2 of whom
are on the government payroll.
New site developments
Two teachers’ houses have been completed—one occupied
by the Head teacher. A new Home Craft centre, a Carpentry Workshop
and a Canteen are all equipped and functioning in their completed
buildings. 25 ladies are following the Home Craft course while 7
men are studying Carpentry. The Canteen is popular with the teachers,
police, other employees and the local community.
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There is a new multi-purpose Hall for the school and the local community, new roofing on the permanent Police Post, and a new ablution block for the staff and police officers.
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The garden/farm project is progressing well. The new borehole and water tower to supply the garden are operational and orange trees; vegetables, maize and sunflowers etc are being cultivated. The boundary wall enclosing the entire site is almost complete.
Income-generation
Since its inception in 2002 the Block-making project continues
to produce high quality concrete blocks, which are sold locally.
The Maximill, housed in its own purpose-built unit is also a popular
income-generating project providing a service for the local community.
Services to the community
The Home-Based Care Centre continues to provide vital assistance to the people of Misisi Township. A large team of volunteer community care counsellors help the chronically sick and those affected by HIV/AIDS and TB. The centre now has the necessary equipment, facilities and personnel to conduct voluntary HIV testing producing results on the same day.
The School Feeding Programme continues to offer all children at
St Lawrence a daily meal of porridge.
2006
1. The wall around the perimeter of the Chitsime Association site is completed and the entrance through strong metal gates makes it more secure.
2. The Home of Hope for about 30 orphan boys continues to be enlarged. An additional block containing 8 individual showers is being constructed. The shipping containers originally used as sleeping accommodation have now been converted into recreational seating areas.
3. The Special Needs School supporting 60 children is having an extra room built to provide more facilities.
4. A new toilet block for teachers and administrative staff is completed.
5. This year the St Lawrence Community School operates 23 classes
providing free education for 1070 pupils. The majority live in Misisi
Compound and a high proportion are orphans or vulnerable children.
Classes are arranged in double and triple sessions especially in
the lower grades. In January one Grade 8 and Grade 9 class were
introduced.
(Only 7 of the 31 teachers are paid by the Ministry of Education
leaving the salaries of 24 teachers to be met by the Chitsime Association.)
6. The Homecraft Centre produced 18 graduates last year and a new intake started this year. Many of those qualifying found local employment.
7. The Carpentry Workshop operates regular courses in carpentry and welding with finished products being sold. In addition classes in carpentry are given to St Lawrence pupils from Grade 5 upwards.
8. The Canteen & Shop are functioning well providing a service for teachers, police and other workers on the site. Also a daily nutrition feeding programme for all school children is provided and modern electric cooking facilities are installed.
9. The garden is securely fenced and many orange trees planted.
Maize and vegetables are grown in season. In the enclosed garden
area a chicken house has been constructed and is operating successfully
fulfilling the demand for poultry in the local community.
10. The Home-Based Care Centre is continuing to provide counselling
for the people of Misisi compound. Voluntary testing for H.I.V.
is increasing with the results immediately available. Patients with
positive results are referred to the clinic in Kamwala for further
tests and free treatment.
11. The main income-generating activities are a) the sale of concrete blocks produced by the block making machine, and b) the grinding of maize meal by the Maximill. Next to the building housing the Maximill is another building nearing completion for a bakery. If funding allows it is hoped this will be equipped and operational later this year.
12. The Police Post in a permanent building is well established on the site.
13. The Community Hall together with offices is now completed and furnished and a computer room has been set up in a side room of the Hall. Six computers have been donated and are being made operational and training courses are being run for the staff of St Lawrence.
2007
The Orphans Home of Hope provides a home for about 30 boys and the facilities now include an updated kitchen, additional shower and ablution block, a recreation room, rooms for the matron and a paved courtyard. The original industrial containers have been absorbed into the developments.
The St Lawrence Community School provides education for over 1,000 pupils from grades 1 to 9, a high proportion being orphans or vulnerable children. Grades 8 and 9 have been added this year in newly built classrooms. A building to house the school library is complete, the next step being fittings and furniture when funds permit. There are also projects to develop a Computer Room and a Laboratory based on the hope that the school could offer grades 10 to 12 in future.
In addition to the established Income-Generating projects of Block Making, and Garden produce, a second Chicken House is now operational and a new Bakery. These are fulfilling demand in the local community.
Study rooms for senior students have been built on to the Community Hall. New Offices for the Youth Development Programme have been completed. These provide facilities for counsellors to offer guidance to students who are unable to progress further with their education.
The other vital areas of the Association continue to function effectively i.e. School Feeding Programme, the Special Needs School, Home-Based Care Centre, Homecraft and Carpentry Training courses.
The funds from the Trust have contributed to these activities but especially the payment of eachers' salaries at St Lawrence Community School.
See a visual plan of Misisi Township which shows the ongoing and completed developments.
SUPPORT THE CHITSIME ASSOCIATION
The Zambia Society Trust together with many other organisations make grants to support the work of the Association. Although the income-generating projects are progressing well, without outside support the developments and improvements would not be possible. Please continue to support this well-deserving project.