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"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 |
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| Chipembele
Newsletter...
Chipembele
produces
regular
e-mail newsletters
informing
supporters
and interested
parties
about life
at Chipembele
and updating
them about
all the
projects.
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you would
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to Chipembele
News please
type in
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will then
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list.
Your
details
will not
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party without
your express
prior permission.
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Chipembele News
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March 2006 |
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 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.
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 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! |
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 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
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Newsletter
08/12/2006
