"Absolutely
stunning - we spent most of the time
speechless - so impressed with the thought
and attention to detail. A really fabulous
place for children to learn."
June and Richard Chapman, Oxford,
England |
|
|
| Chipembele
Newsletter...
Chipembele
produces
regular
e-mail newsletters
informing
supporters
and interested
parties
about life
at Chipembele
and updating
them about
all the
projects.
If
you would
like to
subscribe
to Chipembele
News please
type in
your e-mail
addess in
the space
above and
submit.
We
will then
get back
to you with
a few simple
questions
and once
we have
received
the reply
your name
will be
added to
the subscriber
list.
Your
details
will not
be given
or forwarded
to any other
party without
your express
prior permission.
|
|
|
 |
Chipembele News
|
March 2006 |
|
|
| |
|
 Many of the local people
suffered
greatly
during
the
floods.
Hundreds
of
huts
collapsed
and
the
majority
of
families
lost
their
crops
for
the
year.
The
year
ahead
will
be
a
tough
one
for
everyone.
The
families
who
had
to
build
makeshift
huts
at
the
side
of
the
tar
road
are
still
there,
awaiting
the
arrival
of
the
dry
season
before
they
can
return
to
their
villages
and
rebuild
their
homes.
About half of the local
schools
were
flooded
and
had
to
close
for
a
few
weeks
but
opened
again
as
soon
as
they
possibly
could.
The
positive
spirit
in
the
local
community
amongst
all
the
adversity
is
just
incredible.
The picture shows Grace
Mundandabele
(rear,
in
red
blouse),
a
Chipembele
sponsored
pupil,
who
is
an
orphan
living
with
her
Aunt
and
Uncle.
They
are
poor
subsistence
farmers.
Sadly
her
simple
mud
hut
was
a
victim
of
the
floods
and
the
entire
village
was
forced
to
move
to
the
only
higher
ground
available
in
the
vicinity...
note
the
tar
road
in
the
bottom
left
of
the
picture.
Despite
all
the
difficulties,
Grace
continues
to
go
to
school.
The
family
is
assisted
by
a
monthly
food
parcel
which
Anna
buys
and
delivers,
generously
paid
for
by
her
sponsor,
Nigel,
a
Chipembele
Trustee
in
the
UK.
Nigel
was
on
holiday
here
with
us
during
the
floods
and
his
help
was
invaluable
in
rescuing
most
of
the
property
in
the
house
and
Centre.
Thanks
Nigel,
you're
a
wonderful
friend.
|
|
| |
|
 The biggest problem
resulting
from
the
flood
for
Chipembele
remains
the
well.
It
collapsed
inside
and
we
are
unable
to
access
any
running
or
clean
drinking
water
from
it.
Every
two
days
our
workers
drive
a
mile
up
the
Chowo
river
and
dig
holes
in
a
sandbar,
allowing
clean
water
to
filter
through.
They
then
fill
jerry
cans
and
bring
them
back
for
us
all
to
use
in
our
every
day
lives.
We are currently seeking
advice
from
a
well
consultant
but
its
repair
is
unlikely
to
a
swift
or
inexpensive
one! |
|
| |
|
 Before the floods,
the
10
mile
long
bush
road
road
to
Chipembele
was
in
a
terrible
state
and
we
were
frequently
getting
stuck
in
mud,
particularly
after
heavy
rain.
The
flood
waters
covered
a
great
deal
of
the
road
and
we
were
completely
cut
off
from
the
outside
world
(apart
from
local
VHF
radio
and
the
occasional
passing
boat)
for
3
weeks.
After the waters retreated
we
were
able
to
drive
on
it
and
reach
Mfuwe.
However
the
condition
had
deteriorated
even
further
and
we
had
to
make
more
off
road
detours,
drive
through
water
which
was
at
times
over
the
bonnet
and
frequently
got
stuck
in
mud.
A
small
bridge
collapsed
leaving
us
cut
off
once
more
until
it
was
temporarily
repaired
a
week
later
with
poles
and
sandbags.
After one particular
long
day
in
Mfuwe
administering
the
schools
projects
Anna
drove
home
in
a
storm.
She
got
stuck
4
times
in
the
mud,
the
last
3
times
of
which
were
in
the
dark
without
a
torch!
One
of
our
workers,
Rodgers,
was
with
her
and
he
did
a
great
job
of
digging
her
out,
until
the
last
time
when
it
was
just
too
difficult
as
the
Land
Rover
was
on
a
tilt.
So
they
abandoned
the
vehicle
and
walked
barefoot
home
in
the
dark
carrying
a
cooler
box
of
defrosting
meat
between
them!
They
had
to
walk
through
slippery
mud
and
water
to
thigh
level.
At
one
stage
a
hippo
ran
out
in
front
of
them
and
they
heard
lions
roaring
nearby.
It
wasn't
until
they
reached
home
and
Steve
pointed
out
that
they
had
must
have
been
leaving
a
delicious
scent
trail
for
the
lions
from
the
meat
they
were
carrying
that
Anna
realised
the
error
of
her
ways!
The
next
morning
it
took
Steve
and
two
workers
to
free
the
vehicle
from
the
mud.
Roll
on
the
dry
season! |
|
| |
|
 Despite all the logisitical
problems,
the
Chipembele
schools
and
community
projects
have
continued.
During
the
floods
Anna
caught
a
lift
on
a
passing
boat
one
day
and
stayed
at
Kapani
Lodge
for
2
nights.
Nearly
all
of
the
lodges
had
evacuated
and
the
management
staff
all
stayed
at
Kapani
Lodge,
which
acted
as
a
wonderful
refugee
centre!
The
camaraderie
was
amazing
and
everyone
pulled
together
to
help
each
other
out.
Thanks
to
all
the
staff
at
Kapani,
you
did
an
amazing
job.
Anna was able to hire
a
vehicle
and
administer
all
the
community
project
commitments
she
had
in
Mfuwe,
or
at
least
make
plans
so
that
the
projects
could
continue
until
she
was
fully
mobile
again.
Many
thanks
to
Adrian
Carr
for
the
boat
ride
home...
Adrian,
you
were
the
star
of
the
floods!
The terrible condition
of
the
road
however
has
meant
that
the
Centre
will
not
be
operational
again
until
the
dry
season.
The
good
news
is
that
it
will
have
been
completely
redecorated
and
refurbished
by
then.
Painters
are
already
at
work
and
doing
a
grand
job
of
getting
Chipembele
back
to
its
former
glory! |
|
| |
|
 Fortunately most of
the
pupils
in
the
Pupil
Sponsorship
Scheme
had
been
seen
in
January
before
the
floods
came.
The
total
number
this
year
is
128
and
it
remains
a
huge
administrative
task,
particularly
in
the
issue
of
equipment
to
the
pupils
at
the
different
schools,
several
of
whom
are
at
boarding
school
up
to
150
miles
away
so
have
to
be
given
all
their
requirements
transport
money
etc.
well
in
advance
of
the
start
of
the
term.
Anna
usually
finds
them
waiting
at
the
side
of
the
road
for
her
in
various
places
and
the
vehicle
becomes
a
mobile
office!
To all those sponsors
who
have
not
yet
received
a
form
and
photo
of
their
pupil,
we
apologise
for
the
delay
this
year.
The
floods
have
frustrated
much
of
our
administrative
work
us
but
we're
catching
up
fast
and
they
should
be
e-mailed
to
you
soon. |
|
| |
|
 The financial toll
of
the
flood
has
been
great.
The
trustees
of
Chipembele
Trust
in
the
UK
have
established
a
Flood
Appeal
to
help
raise
funds
for
the
renovation
of
the
Centre
and
well
and
replacement
of
damaged
equipment,
and
the
purchase
of
a
boat
and
outboard
for
Chipembele.
Having
been
completely
cut
off
for
3
weeks
due
to
the
floods
and
again
for
another
week
due
to
a
collapsed
bridge
Steve
and
Anna
never
want
to
be
in
that
position
again.
A
boat
will
enable
them
to
easily
reach
Mfuwe
by
river
throughout
the
rainy
season
where
they
can
then
administer
all
the
projects,
purchase
fuel
and
food,
and
generally
keep
in
contact
with
the
rest
of
the
world!
The boat that is being
earmarked
as
suitable
for
Chipembele
could
also
carry
20
pupils
and
2
teachers
so
could
be
used
to
ferry
the
pupils
to
Chipembele
or
take
them
on
river
safaris
as
an
exciting
extension
to
the
Chipembele
Programme.
If you are interested
in
making
a
donation
please
contact
us
via
e-mail
for
further
information
or
follow
the
instructions
on
the
How
to
Donate
page
of
our
website,
ensuring
you
mark
the
donation
for
the
Flood
Appeal.
If
you
have
a
preference
you
can
also
specify
whether
the
donation
is
for
the
renovation
of
the
Centre
or
for
the
Chipembele
boat
fund.
Many
thanks...
every
penny
will
help
ensure
Chipembele
gets
fully
back
on
its
feet
again
as
soon
as
possible. |
|
|
|
|
Wishing you all a moderate
weather
pattern
wherever
you
are
in
the
world!
And
many
thanks
once
again
to
all
our
supporters.
With very best wishes, Steve and Anna
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
©
2007 Designed and hosted by Webdoor
|
|
|
|
Newsletter
08/12/2006
