Preparing to return to Monze

 

I think it is time to put another post on my blog!

We are just coming to the end of a September heatwave, no doubt sent to get me acclimatised in preparation for my next visit to Zambia - in a month's time.

I am looking forward to getting back to Monze and catching up with my many friends. As usual there have been many challenges. Luke – a friend for many years continues to need medical treatment. Luke was a young man who I starting working with at Monze Mission Hospital in 2004. We were developing a database to record transactions at the hospital stores. In 2004 I stayed in Monze for 4 months and returned over a number of years to develop the computer systems at the hospital. In 2006 he joined Dilys and myself for a trip to Lochinvar – a national park renowned for the rich variety of birds – including the Maribu Stork, Secretary Bird, African Fish Eagle, hornbills, hummingbirds and very many others. Unfortunately on this occasion we spent much of the time stranded in the sand – fortunately Luke helped me to get moving again. This trip took place not long after the terrible accident when two members of staff, including my friend Bentoe, died when a hospital vehicle was involved in a crash. Luke's uncle was also in the crash and was badly affected.

For me Zambia has always been about the people. For 20 years I have made friends and shared experiences. Diven continues to struggle along! One day I will write his story! He has allowed me to understand a bit more about the day to day challenges faced by so many in Zambia. He rang the other day to say that his lights no longer work. He thinks that the sun is too strong and the power from the solar panel is making the wires burn out. £10 should enable him to sort out the wiring! He needed to buy some salt a few weeks back to reduce the level in his toilet! His solar fridge is no longer working properly – probably because a new battery is required! Children regularly need new uniforms, school fees etc. His shop still struggles to raise an income. There will be a lot to discuss and hopefully my understanding of the issues will grow.

There are so many people who have enriched my life and continue to do so. My involvement with Monze, Zambia has been truly lifegiving.

I went to Slimbridge last week. I wanted to take some time out, to relax to think and enjoy the nature. Some people seem to visit Slimbridge to chase rare birds and tick them off their list! While the twitchers waxed lyrical over the “Med Gulls”, I enjoyed watching the swallows swooping over the lake hunting insects. Swallows were some of the first birds that stirred my interest in birdwatching. They joined housemartins and sometimes swifts joyfully playing around our university halls of residence.

They have an added interest for me now because they also make an annual trip to Africa! When I saw them last week I realised that they would set off for Africa before I take flight. As I left the hide I was greeted by a small flock of swallows that performed in front of my shadow.

I often realise the importance of my faith in God. My relationship with God changes, but at its best it is a very personal friendship. I feel close to my God with my friends in Zambia. Particularly the poorest and those who are sick. Often when I feel at my lowest my God reminds me that he (or perhaps she) is still present. At Slimbridge I felt that.

I moved to another hide – my favourite! It looked particularly promising because the usual wet areas had largely dried up – all that was left was a pool in front of the hide. I like this hide because most people take one look – see nothing – and move on. Without the wetlands, it looks even less inviting. Leaving me to sit in peace and isolation!!

Over the years I have enjoyed a number of interesting sightings. A few years ago our grandaughter Cheyenne spotted a crane making a nest – the first for over 100 years. I was sceptical – but in fact it was the start of cranes breeding again in the UK. I once spotted a kingfisher in front of the hide and on another occasion I saw a Great White Egret – a bird that I had only previously seen in Zambia.

I had a word with my God and said perhaps he could send me another Great white Egret and maybe another kingfisher. I seemed to get the answer that I can't dictate to God and expect to get what I want.

The joy of this particular hide is that it provides a wide horizon looking across the River Severn. I love to watch the movement of the birds. Ducks, geese, herons and cranes can be beautiful birds, but when they take flight they become very special. At this hide I once saw 7 cranes fly from a distant field straight towards me then take a sharp right turn to treat me to a very special fly past.

After a good amount of peaceful time I spotted a couple of birds flying past side by side. I immediately though of Great White Egrets. They were that beautiful bright white. They had their necks extended in front and their legs trailing producing a wonderful streamlined form. I then realised that Great White Egrets don't have large black wing tips! I looked for Great White Egrets in my bird book, but instinctively looked up White Storks – and they fitted my recollection.

A number of vistors came in, took one look and went out again! A visitor came and settled while a twitcher took a look and left, but bumped into a Wetlands Trust volunteer and started talking outside the hide. At this point a Kingfisher perched in front of me! I focussed my telescope and had a wonderful view as the chatting continued outside!

The volunteer came into the hide and saw the kingfisher. I took the opportunity to ask if it was possible that I had seen White Storks. She said that it was very unlikely and checked to see if anyone else had recorded a sighting. The answer was no.

The kingfisher left, but returned in another place on the pond. I refocussed my telescope. The volunteer left and the kingfisher left again. However, once again it returned. I refocussed my telescope. I looked away very briefly, but the kingfisher was still in the same position, however it now had a fish in it's mouth! On three occasions the same thing happened – I only looked away for a few seconds, but obviously enough time for the kingfisher to dive, catch a fish and return - pretending to me that it had not moved!

There have been times in my life when my God has just reminded me that he/she exists. There have been other times when I have known that I could expect something rather special and have always been amazed at the result. This wasn't one of those times, but White Storks (seen in Zambia, not usually in the UK – though some have recently been released in Norfolk) and a kingfisher seen fishing and eating it's prey in a place not known for kingfishers counts as a bit special for me!

So next month I will set off once again for Monze. We now have a new charity to support PIZZ – the project supporting vulnerable children through a school and pastoral support. We will have challenges to provide sufficient money to enable the children's dreams to be fulfilled, but the project is so good and the outcomes so positive that I am sure the school will develop and the children will be transformed.

I will spend about 6 weeks in Zambia on this visit which I hope will give me a bit more time to meet old friends as well as plan the future for PIZZ school.

With love and prayers,

 Chris.

The Story of PIZZ School – A Fantastic Project

The beginning

When I first met Mrs. Sianga in 2003 she was a full time nurse providing Home Based Care. One memorable afternoon she took me out to meet some of her patients. I was invited into the homes of women who were dying because of AIDS. The houses were invariably single roomed properties built mainly of mud bricks and thatched with elephant grass. Mrs. Sianga had a few paracetemol tablets to dispense to these ladies, but nothing that would prevent their imminent death. I felt very privileged to be welcomed and very humbled.

These women died, together with many more of Mrs. Sianga's patients. Having come to know the families, Mrs. Sianga was keen to support the orphaned children. In particular she wanted to keep the children from going onto the streets – with all the associated dangers.

Some volunteers from Italy wanted to help. Mrs Sianga set up a small local charity “Maluba Orphans and Vulnerable Children” - Muluba being a Zambian word meaning “flowers” . With the volunteers help, Mrs. Sianga started providing some extra food for the orphaned children and with assistance from her family she started a small school which became known as PIZZ School.

 

Growing the school

Soon the children had outgrown the small school buildings. Thanks to a wealthy benefactor, introduced through Hands Around the World, the school buildings were improved to provide more security and shelter from the rain. Another benefactor agreed to buy land for the purpose of building extra classrooms etc. for a school for orphaned and vulnerable children. The local chief agreed to sell some land specifically to be used for a school for orphaned and vulnerable children. It is important to know that the aim has always been very clear. The school was to provide a safe space for the most vulnerable children and to give them an opportunity to gain an education that could remove them and their families from poverty and also provide benefits for the wider community.

I have had the pleasure of working alongside Mrs Sianga to help develop the project. It was obvious to me that the buildings were
of little use unless there were teachers – and they needed to be paid. The school would need maintaining and stationery, books etc. needed to be bought. I persuaded the benefactor to pay the teacher's salaries and persuaded Hands Around the World to cover the other costs.

There are some projects which enable a community to generate income and therfore become more self - sufficient. A school for vulnerable children is not one of them. When I visited those ladies in 2003 I remember that a young girl (probably 8 or 9 years old) went out to see if a neighbour would give a little sugar to make her mother's nshima porridge a little more tasty. To expect families who have difficulty providing sufficent food for their children to raise funds to pay for education is unrealistic to say the least.

I have battled over many years to obtain sufficient funding for the school – always wanting to be able to do more, despite being told that money could not be raised. However, over the years the children at the school have flourished and there has always been money in the bank.

 

The need for a school specifically for orphaned and vulnerable Children

PIZZ was established as a Basic School.

At that time the Government schools were split into Basic Schools which taught grades 1 to 9 and were “free” and Secondary Schools which taught from grade 10 to 12 and charged school fees. Although “free”, government schools required school uniforms, shoes, notebooks etc.

Even these costs made government schools too expensive for the familes of the orphaned children, but the main reason that a school specifically for orphaned and vulnerable children was needed was the need for a system of pastoral care which PIZZ could provide. The children at the school have suffered the trauma of the loss of one or both parents – sometimes followed by other bereavements and disturbances to their lives. Problems regularly happen at home which result in the children not attending school. At PIZZ these issues are addressed, the family homes are visited and invariably a way is found to enable the children to continue with their education. There are few children who drop out.

 

A Success Story

Eventually the first children at the school reached grade 9. They took exams to qualify for secondary school. The results were good and some passed. I have always thought that if children have potential we should do whatever we can to help them reach that potential. Hands Around the World funded some children to attend secondary school.

The success of the project means there is a tremendous story to tell. The successes have continued. Many children have passed grade 9 exams and some have been funded at secondary school. Children have passed their grade 12 exams. 2 or three have been funded at university and more have been funded to train as nurses.

I met Mawini when I visited in October last year. She told me that she never expected to have a chance of any education, coming from such a poor family. She was delighted to be given a place at PIZZ School and even more delighted when she was given a new school uniform. She told me that she was about 8 years old when she first met me. Mawini is now a veterinary surgeon at the University of Zambia in Lusaka. After I returned to the UK, Mawini went to Kenya to attend a conference - her first flight and trip outside of Zambia. She is hoping to do a master's degree in Japan!

Not all the children have achieved academic success, but when I visit I see lively, happy, healthy and well behaved girls and boys. Many of whom I have watched grow up over a number of years. I see the change from the traumatised, timid, frightened children who enter the school.

PIZZ is a truly amazing project which has transformed the lives of many children and their families. It has given hope to the most vulnerable in an impoverished country. I believe that it will be very hard to find another project anywhere which provides a better return for relatively small donations.

I last visited the project in October 2022 and, despite the huge challenges presented by COVID, found the school and the children looking great. I will return very soon to support Mrs. Sianga through these difficult times.

Withdrawal of funding by Hands Around the World

In June last year two representatives from Hands Around the World visited the project and told Mrs. Sianga that, unless she changed the status of the school to a Community School – effectively handing the school to the Government – Hands Around the World would stop providing funds.

The PIZZ project has always been much more than just a school. The reasons for setting up a school specifically for orphaned and vulnerable children still apply. Mrs. Sianga believes that the suggested change of status would mean the end of the project. In addition the land was given only on the basis that it would be used for a school for orphans and vulnerable children. To hand the school to the government would be contrary to this agreement.

The current position

Mrs Sianga has refused to transfer the school to the Zambian Government and Hands Around the World has carried out its threat, stopped sending funds for the project at the end of December and says it will not send any more money.

The project has been highly successful in producing wonderful outcomes for the children. This success has resulted in plenty of support which has generated considerable income for Hands Around the World.

At the end of 2021 Hands Around the World reported that they has restricted funds specifically reserved for PIZZ School amounting to £39K, in addition there was a lot more money reserved for specific activities in connection with the project. There are currently more than 70 children at PIZZ School being sponsored by donors through Hands Around the World – paying £15 each month to support children at the school, I am sure that these sponsors would want to continue to support the schoolchildren. This money is not currently being passed on to the school.

HATW is currently refusing to release any of the money they have been given for the project, but the teachers need to be paid, the school needs to be maintained and the children need school meals to allow them to learn without constantly being hungry.

I will do all I can to keep the school from closing. If HATW released the money they are holding, there could be time to establish new funding streams.

I want the project to succeed because I don't want to see the children, to whom I have promised a better life, ending up on the streets. I believe this project can provide even better outcomes for the children than in the past. I will need a lot of help, but with your support we can make lots of dreams come true.

Chris Barrell