Mpika Newsletter - Visit to Mpika

2024
VISIT TO MPIKA
VILLAGE

In April Alison and Brian from our UK team recently embarked
on an exciting trip to Mpika to visit the children and team at the orphanage and school, as
well as checking the progress of the new build and the farm.
These visits are important to help foster relationships and ensure we are doing
everything we can to support them and carry on June’s legacy.
Gideon and Brian at Lusaka Airport
Alison enjoying a meal with Gideon
and Jenny
After 2 days of travelling by plane and car they were warmly greeted by the staff and
children at the orphanage and treated to a delicious home cooked meal.
The first couple of days were spent meeting the children and having discussions with staff
about how the orphanage is progressing and any areas we could further support them.
Mpika is currently facing several issues including cost of living crisis, severe droughts,
frequent power cuts and Cholera outbreaks which are having a negative impact, however
we are supporting them where we can.

NEW
ORPHANAGE
BUILDING
Alison and Brian visited the new site of the orphanage which is a couple of miles
away from the current home.
It is still under construction, however the structure and internal walls have been
completed.
The building will have a large open plan communal area, kitchen, dining room and
living area with a television for the children. There will also be designated nursery
rooms and separate shared bedrooms and bathrooms for the boys and girls. The
orphanage will house a maximum of 50 children.
New furniture will be purchased for each of the rooms and a modern kitchen ran by
gas bottles (an important improvement due to the power cuts).
They hope to have the building completed within the next 6 months, should
everything go to plan.

FARM
Alison and Brian travelled with Gideon to the farm which is 70 miles away from
the orphanage.
Whilst there they met with the farm workers and explored the vast perimeter
of the farm.
Sadly, the maize crop and the sunflower crop have failed completely due to
the drought. The orphanage require around 7500 kg of maize as a food source
and any surplus is sold at the market to help with additional funds.
On a positive note, the sweet potato, ground nuts, bananas and mangoes have
been successful.

BETHEL PRIMARY
SCHOOL
B e t h e l P r i m a r y s c h o o l i s l o c a t e d o n
t h e s a m e s i t e a s t h e o r p h a n a g e a n d i s
w h e r e t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e c h i l d r e n
a t t e n d s c h o o l .
E v e r y c h i l d a t t h e o r p h a n a g e w h o h a s
a t t e n d e d t h e s c h o o l h a s p r o g r e s s e d
t o s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l .
I n Z a m b i a , p r i m a r y e d u c a t i o n u p t o t h e a g e o f 1 3 i s
c o m p u l s o r y . S e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n i s n o t c o m p u l s o r y , h o w e v e r
i t ’ s a g r e a t o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e c h i l d r e n t o g a i n h i g h e r
e d u c a t i o n a n d p r o g r e s s o n t o U n i v e r s i t y a n d e v e n t u a l l y a
p r o m i s i n g c a r e e r i n t h e i r c h o s e n f i e l d . C h i l d r e n s i t a n
e n t r a n c e e x a m t o s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l a n d a t t e n d f r o m 1 3 - 1 6
b e f o r e t a k i n g t h e i r G C S E s .
A l i s o n a n d B r i a n w e r e a b l e t o a t t e n d t h e e n d o f t e r m
c e r e m o n y w h i c h f e a t u r e d p e r f o r m a n c e s i n s i n g i n g , d a n c i n g
a n d p o e t r y .
T h a n k y o u t o B e t h e l P r i m a r y S c h o o l f o r y o u r h o s p i t a l i t y a n d
w o n d e r f u l c e r e m o n y !

LWITIKILA CATHOLIC
SECONDARY BOARDING
SCHOOL
Alison and Brian had the pleasure of visiting the boarding school (a school for
high achievers who have passed their exams at 13 years old) where currently 4
of our children attend (Judith, Marianna, Ebeneza, and Mwansa).
Judith is head girl of the school and has been at the school for five years since
the age of ten, having skipped two grades at primary school due to high
achievement. She is looking forward to studying medicine for five years at
university, taking her exams this year. She has been in the orphanage since the
age of three.
The boarding school view applications from Bethel Primary School and the
orphanage in a positive light due to the children’s good behaviour and
excellence in school.
The fees are 2,500 Kwatcha per term (£73) plus groceries and toiletries which
are included our monthly maintenance payments to Mpika.

BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATIONS
To finish off the trip, the staff and children at the orphanage very kindly threw a
party for Brian as he celebrated his birthday whilst visiting.
He was treated to homemade cake and the children put on a special
performance of singing and dancing.
Overall, Alison and Brian were blown away by the kindness and hospitality
shown by everyone they met. They understood more about the issues they face
and how much work and dedication goes in to ensuring the children have the
best possible upbringing and access to quality education.
We are so thankful to the team in Mpika for all their hard work. The trip has been
a great success and has given the UK team a much better idea of what we can do
to further support Mpika moving forward.
We hope this newsletter has given you a better insight into our charity aims and
goals. Thank you for your continued support!