THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

ACTIVITIES

Field Trip

In April 2014 my husband Julian, myself and our dear friends Les and Bernadette Ellis travelled to Lusaka to visit Pastor Charles Banda and the children at NSCA.  The main purpose of the visit was to meet the new teachers and to love and encourage the children.  We wanted to interact and participate in their daily activities and introduce them to new crafts, puzzles and games.  Before we left for Africa a request was made by the children to take them to the zoo. How could we refuse! Another major reason for our visit was to see first hand how the project was progressing and in what other ways we could lend a hand.

Trip Activities

Official Opening

It was a privilege to officially open New Start Christian Academy on our visit.  It was a day of celebration, fun and festivities. The children danced, sang, read to us from their books and to hear them sing their very own school song and National Anthem was just delightful. We were so proud of them. Wow!  Who would have imagined from that very small beginning would come this grand opening.  God knew the plans He had for them when He started this work 2 years ago. 

EXCURSION TO THE ZOO

God really blessed our day at Munda Wanga Zoo; we all had a wonderful time of getting to know each other.  114 children, teachers and helpers all rode the two buses we hired. To enable the children to learn as much as they could about their native animals we organised their own private guide. Some of the children had never been to the zoo or seen any of these animals in real life so their excitement and enthusiasm was encouraging for us to see.

Food and drinks were prepared by the fabulous teachers who had stayed up all night to cook for us. Chickens, potato salad and coleslaw were on the menu and we enjoyed that on the beautiful grassy grounds of the zoo.  After our delicious lunch there were swings to play on.  It was such a delight to witness the children’s laughter and joy.

On their arrival back to the community of Garden House where they live, parents came rushing out of their homes to greet them making lots of noise, and arms waving in the air.  They were so excited that their children had spent a day at the zoo. Thank you to our faithful sponsors because without you this would not have been possible.

SUCCESSES

This is the first project visit since the school started in 2012 and since our partnership with Global Development Group in January 2014.  The school is progressing at a fast rate whereby there are now 130 children.  

The primary goal of Project J555 is to ensure a high level of education for the children of Garden House Compound and to provide Professional Development Initiatives, including in-service training by qualified professionals, workshops & seminars for all teachers. To date we have baby classes (Kindy) to Year 5.   

In 2014, through Global Development Group and our sponsoring program we were able to begin our professional development program by sending 3 teachers Violet, Luke and Margret off to Secondary school to further their education.  It has been a huge challenge for them but with hard work they caught up and are now enjoying learning new teaching skills. 

Three individual sponsors have graciously sponsored 3 more teachers to attend University for diploma studies. This is the second year of study for Alice and Bertha and they are progressing very well. They have expressed the difference they feel and confidence gained already in their teaching abilities which is benefiting the children.  Florence will begin her first year of studies at university in April.  

At the end of 2014, 9 students qualified to sit for their Year 7 entrance exams into high school which is a wonderful achievement. The first of our graduates!  They will now attend a local high school. 

An the end of the year a Graduation party was held and parents came to see how their children had progressed at school.  Activities the children participated in included drama, poems, dancing, reading and writing and debates. They shared in English what they dream of becoming after they have completed their education eg; teachers, doctors, nurses, pilots, soldiers, presidents and pastors. The overwhelming response from parents was so great that it brought Pastor Banda to tears.  The parents were gasping with surprise when they heard their children speaking in English so well, and so thanked the teachers for the good job they had done with them. They again thanked the sponsors from Australia for the support being given. 

GOALS FOR THE FUTURE

  • Nutritious Food for the Children
  • Business Opportunities for Children’s Families
  • Bus for the School
  • Higher Education for Graduating Students
  • Covered outdoor area for shelter and shade
  • Solar Panelling
  • Ongoing Vegetable Garden Cultivation
  • Ongoing School Resources
  • Generator and Projector