Muchelenje Development Project

MUCHELENJE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ~ KALONJE, ZAMBIA

 

December 2009 Newsletter

 

The rains have just started in northern Zambia, and the village is busy planting before the five month deluge sets in. Since July, when our project partners in the UK visited, we have been busy with infrastructure projects at the Muchelenje School. The new latrines in the school compound were completed in August, and September was dedicated to putting on a new roof on the school block. It will be the first time in years the teachers and students will have a dry classroom.

 

 

SCHOOL BLOCK ROOF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In October, with the help of St. Peters Global Outreach and Lewes-Rehoboth Association of Churches (LRAC) in Delaware, the village managed to complete the digging of a new well in the school compound to 18 meters, and with the proper tools and supplies, has been proclaimed to be the best and deepest well in the village. The well will be fitted with a new pump and proper seal to avoid contamination, and we will supplement this and other wells with simple, but efficient filtration stations as an added measure. Up to now, the students have gone to a nearby stream for questionable water, and the well, combined with new latrines and a dry school block, will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of the students and teachers at the Muchelenje School.

         

NEW SCHOOL LATRINES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the help of Carroll-Anne Heins, our Peace Corps friend in the Northern Province, the village and the local Rural Health Committee have started bi-weekly health education meetings to address many of the preventable health issues. The village participants are then charged with educating local families with pro-active measures in the areas of nutrition, pre-natal care, and precautionary measures to avoid common illnesses. We hope to involve local Zambian health professionals and officials to expand this program.

 

 

VILLAGE HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETINGS

 

 

 

 

 

Plans for the upcoming trip to Kalonje this May are being finalized, and will give us a much keener insight to the directions the project will take. Using the “Teach a man to fish…” philosophy, our main goal is to listen and learn so we can continue to develop projects and programs that empower the school and village. In an effort to break the chain of reliance on outside funding and resources, we will concentrate on school and health programs, teacher training, small micro loan programs, scholarships, organizing co-ops, and fostering connections with domestic resources. All these with the caveat that the fruits of these programs come back as a commitment to empower the school and village.

         

As always, the exchanges and personal connections we make are at the heart of the project. To this end, we invite all to contribute letters, photos, videos, artwork, and other correspondence to share and distribute when we visit. We’re especially keen to have school classes and church groups contribute to take these exchanges to the next level. 

Through a Rube Goldberg mix of solar panels, car batteries, cell phones and laptop, we have received our first emails from the village, and hope to have real time internet exchanges via Skype during our trip. Any groups or individuals interested in participating in these exchanges are asked to contact us so we can plan the particulars in advance.

We are planning our first bulk shipment to coincide with our arrival in Zambia, and are in the midst of filling four drums to be shipped by mid April. We are concentrating on school and educational supplies, health/hygiene, as well as infant and small children’s clothing and supplies. For our May trip we need;

    

 As the shipment is originating from Lewes, Delaware, a special appeal to those in the area who might help us fill the barrels.

 

100% of all donations and contributions go directly to aid the Muchelenje School and the village of Kalonje.

         

For those who may be receiving this update by email or post, the project now has a website, www.muchelenje.org .  The site contains an ever growing collection of project information, photo galleries, children’s letters, links, and newsletter signup. We always appreciate comments and observations, and invite all to visit the project blog.

 

UNITED KINGDOM-OUTLOOK EXPEDITIONS-KNOX ACADEMY- JULY ’09 TRIP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          We thank all who have embraced and supported the Muchelenje Development Project and look forward to sharing our upcoming trip.

                                                                                    Seth Price – Project Coordinator –U.S.A.

                                                                                    The Muchelenje School

                                                                                    & The Village of Kalonje, Zambia

30 Hoornkill Ave. Lewes, DE 19958 USA ~ 1 302-645-8791 ~

muchelenje@gmail.com ~ www.muchelenje.org

    Our infrastructure project for the May trip is a new well in the school compound. As the dropping of these wells has to coincide with the lowest water table of the dry season ( June-November ), we are trying to complete digging by mid November before the rains set in. This will be sealed off to prevent contamination until the spring when we will help install a manual pump and proper seal. In conjunction with the well, we will be teaching and helping the villagers to construct simple, but efficient water filtration systems. These systems can be used for all the wells in the area, and will be a significant step in reducing illnesses caused by contaminated water.

Discussion about the upcoming May 2010 Trip

                                 MUCHELENJE  DEVELOPMENT  PROJECT  

                                                                                   KALONJE, ZAMBIA 

     This coming May, the MDP is planning a trip to Kalonje village. We are putting together a group made up of teachers, students, health professionals, clergy, and those with building and engineering experience for eight days of service work in the village.

   

     We are seeking a diverse group to help with projects already established in the village as well as laying the groundwork for future programs and exchanges. There will be opportunities for all to work on school programs, health clinics, art and craft programs, church exchanges, and infrastructure projects.

 

     As this is our first group trip from the states, we are limiting our number to eight, and ask that those interested in joining the May trip reserve by Dec 31. We hope this is the first of many trips to Kalonje, and invite those who may not be able to join us in May to consider organizing or sponsoring a group for future trips. We welcome schools, churches, organizations, and individuals to become involved.

                                                                       PROJECTS

     Following a quite successful trip this past July by Outlook Expeditions and Knox Academy; our project partners in the UK, we will be working on projects and programs in a number of different areas. As our main focus is on the Muchelenje School, all will have the opportunity to interact with the students and teachers in and out of the classroom. School programs will include teaching classes, creating projects to foster school exchanges, and distribution and training on the use of educational materials and supplies we will ship ahead. The tech gods willing, the laptops, solar panels, and phone modems will be hooked up, and we hope to have real time exchanges with the States and UK.

 

     Those in the health profession will be able to hold clinics and health education sessions in conjunction with a program recently started in the village. With the help of Carol-Anne Heins, a Peace Corps volunteer based in the area, the MDP and NHC (  National Health Committee ) have started weekly health education and nutrition programs in the village. We plan to visit the Mpumba Clinic, the nearest health facility 40km south  of Kalonje, to begin the networking process with local health professionals to address the more serious health concerns in the area.

      Our infrastructure project for this trip is a new well in the school compound. As the dropping of these wells has to coincide with the lowest water table of the dry season ( June-November ), we are trying to complete digging by mid November before the rains set in. This will be sealed off to prevent contamination until the spring when we will help install a manual pump and proper seal. In conjunction with the well, we will be teaching and helping the villagers to construct simple, but efficient water filtration systems. These systems can be used for all the wells in the area, and will

be a significant step in reducing illnesses caused by contaminated water.

        In March, we will be sending our first bulk shipment of educational, health, and clothing supplies to the village, with its arrival to coincide with ours. To date, we’ve been beholden to the flat rate box, and this bulk distribution will have quite an impact. We will try to have the project fund a second checked bag for each of us packed with supplies for the school and village.  

                                                                                        TRAVEL

Tentative dates for the MDP trip are May 11 – 26, 2010 contingent on final travel arrangements. We will be leaving from either Philadelphia or Washington Dulles with the options of BA to London/ Lusaka, or SA to Jo’burg/ Lusaka.

 

     Once in Lusaka, we will be met by our project friends Pastor Levy Nyirongo and his wife Annie. Depending on our arrival time, we may spend the night in Lusaka before departing for Kalonje via the always entertaining – albeit long – bus ride. Don’t despair. Once in Kalonje, we will be using the Mutinondo Wilderness as our home base. This is a spectacular camp / lodge about 20km east of the village with basic creature comforts in a pristine slice of Zambia. Please visit the Mutinondo site at www.mutinondozambia.com

 

     We plan on procuring a vehicle locally to shuttle back and forth to the village. For those who might want to immerse themselves fully in village life, simple accommodations or a stay with a local family are easily arranged and encouraged. Along with our work in the village, there will be ample opportunity for treks, excursions, and participation in all facets of village life.

 

     For the final leg of the trip, we will fly from Mutinondo into the adjacent South Luangwa National Park for a well deserved three day safari before heading back to the states. South Luangwa is one of Africa’s little known treasures, and we plan on staying at the Flatdogs Camp on the banks of the Luangwa River. We will then fly from Mfuwe, the airport nearest the park, back to Lusaka for the flight back to the U.S. For more information on Flatdogs and South Luangwa, visit  www.flatdogscamp.com 

                                                                                        PARTICULARS

     We expect the total cost per person to run between $3700 and $4000 dependent on accommodation and meal choices at the lodges and possible overnights in Lusaka. This would include international and internal travel, visas ( obtained  at Lusaka airport ), and lodging and meals at Mutinondo and Flatdogs. For those interested in just the Kalonje trip without the excursion into South Luangwa, the cost would be in the $2800 - $3000 range.

      We are working with a couple of agencies that specialize in mission and ministry travel to secure the best group rates possible. As plans are finalized, we will constantly update information regarding fixed travel dates, deposits required, and trip logistics. A current passport and immunizations for travel to Zambia are required. It is recommended you consult with your doctor or local travel clinic to schedule an appointment at least six weeks before travel. More information may be found at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/zambia.aspx       

      Also recommended is the Bradt travel guide; Zambia 4^th edition by Chris McIntyre, which is an excellent primer for travel to Zambia. Available at Amazon

                                                                                                    ~

     The MDP welcomes those schools, churches, or organizations that might sponsor an individual, group, or support any of our mission projects. We hope you will join us in what promises to be a life changing experience

                                                                                                    ~

      For more information on the Muchelenje Development Project and the May trip, please contact Seth Price -  Project Coordinator -  at ( 302 ) 645-8791  or email us at muchelenje@gmail.com

Trip updates and specific project details will also be posted on the project blog  www.muchelenje.org/blog/

                         30 HOORNKILL AVE. LEWES, DE    +1 302 645 8791

                                   muchelenje@gmail.com     www.muchelenje.org

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