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Spotlight - Autumn 2003
edited by Maggie Currey
A REMINDER OF WHAT WE DO
by James Cairns OGDS OBE
Chairman, Zambia Society Trust
We feature a photograph of some of the senior pupils from Mufulira
Secondary School who, with children from Ansford Community School,
were warmly welcomed at the Zambia High Commission this summer as
participants in the Cary-Mufulira Partnership. Three such partnerships
were initiated by the Anglican Church in Zambia and the Diocese
of Bath and Wells in England and are being helped by the Zambia
Society Trust. This interchange of pupils greatly enhances cultural
understanding and is a valuable resource for teachers and for pupils,
amongst who are potential leaders in both countries. Other links
have been formed between Zambian schools and counterparts in Manchester
and Yorkshire.
At the other end of the scale among Zambia’s young people,
the trust gives priority to orphans and other vulnerable children
(OVCs). There are at least 650,000 in Zambia without parents or
a mother because of the HIV epidemic. Most are not infected with
the virus, so have potential for a full life span. Emphasis is placed
on projects which help OVCs living with relatives or neighbours
to attend school and acquire skills to become self-supporting.
In Education, we can afford to help a few of those who apply to
attend courses for diplomas or certificates providing experience
potentially of value to the community from which they come. In Health,
we help post-graduates taking four-year specialist university courses
to become physicians, paediatricians, surgeons or gynaecologists,
to buy vital textbooks and gain experience under supervision at
rural hospitals selected by the university. Other health workers
based in rural areas are helped to attend three to four weeks in
service refresher courses.
The football and netball scheme through which we send good-quality
footballs to many secondary schools, encourages much enthusiasm
(see letters page). It is also cost-effective. The seeds project
provides seeds from within Zambia, mainly to women in rural areas
who grow vegetables for themselves and for sale. A few pounds go
a long way. And an exciting new development is our link with APTERS
(Appropriate Paper Technology Enterprises) which makes papier-mâché
aids including chairs for handicapped children, using large quantities
of recycled paper from Lusaka offices. To sum up: £12 will
keep a child at primary school for a year, £5 will buy a football,
£20 will pay for an APTERS aid which the family cannot afford
and £20-£60 will buy a vital medical textbook. Help
us if you can.
Why We do It
The Zambia Society Trust does not raise the kind of money that amounts
to much in these days of corporate or state funding . Twenty-five
thousand pounds a year is about average, and is peanuts when compared
to the major organisations. But we have the cardinal advantage of
working as volunteers, so our outgoings on administration are relatively
small and our personal enthusiasm remains great. And we continue
to seek your support for our small projects because, thanks largely
to our chairman James Cairns and to committee member Frank McGovern,
as well as to Gretta Hudson in Lusaka, we have contacts who ensure
that they are closely monitored. We believe in the projects and
the people involved in making them work. And we believe that in
a small but effective way, the Trust helps to make a real difference
to the lives of many young Zambians today.
Correspondence and Membership queries:
Jo Herkes
Honorary
Secretary
Zambia Society and Trust
4, Ashurst Way, East Preston, Littlehampton BN16 1AG
Tel: 01903 783 765
Fax: 01903 785 977
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