In April 2023, two large toilet buildings for the primary school in Namwala were put into operation. The school's previously usable toilet facilities were far too few. Most children use the rural environment to defecate. Two years ago, teachers and head teachers at the school requested new facilities. Now the wish has come true. About 50% of the project was financed with funds from W.P. Schmitz Foundation in Düsseldorf. WSZ paid the remainder. The Parents and Teachers Committee (PTC) once again proved to be a reliable local partner. This is quite a large investment. The new facilities will offer the students 14 toilets, 4 latrines and 6 washbasins. The buildings are centrally located and the entrances for girls and boys are separate, as are the washing stations.

In order to improve the hygienic conditions, the users and the cleaning staff were trained accordingly after the work was completed. The floors and sanitary facilities are equipped with smooth surfaces, so that they can be easily maintained and there should be no build-up of moisture, mold growth and bacterial foci.

Unfortunately, there was a break in construction due to flooding in the construction area. 19,000 people were affected by this.

On the occasion of the trip in July 2022, we closed with the Gossner Mission, represented by the chairman Dr. Helmut Kirschstein a cooperation agreement for the joint implementation of a school garden project.

After a successful pilot phase in 4 schools, this joint school garden project will start at 14 educational institutions in July 2022 and is currently planned to last until December 2023.

The aims of this project are to improve the nutritional situation in schools and to provide instruction in organic gardening. In addition, additional income is generated for the schools through the sale of the products. For this purpose, infrastructure measures are taken (water supply, fences, garden tools).

Attended St. Kizito Secondary School

In May 2022 it was finally possible again to travel to Zambia without much fear of corona. So Kerstin Hälker, project manager, and Steffi Greuel, a young dedicated photographer, started together to visit the projects in north-western Zambia.

In Solwezi we contacted the bishop of the Catholic diocese of Solwezi, Charles Kazonde, to discuss joint projects with him. We visited the first of 3 class blocks of the new Kizito Secondary School in Solwezi. FCF will support this school by financing the equipment of the school with 50 desks and chairs each (planned as a single place).

Activities at Lishima Primary School

The main focus of the trip was the visit to the Lishima Primary School in the Manyinga District. We were able to convince ourselves of the following successfully completed projects on site:

   - Construction of a teacher’s residence at the end of 2021

   - New construction of a toilet building with 2 additional latrines in 2022

    - Father Vincent completely hands over the original receipts for the projects carried out.

    - Finally, on July 11, 2022, the well for the school will be drilled. Now the construction of a school garden can be

       planned.

Attended the sewing school in St. Kalemba

The donations of sewing and handicraft utensils that had already been collected in 2019 could finally be handed over to the head of the sewing school. Discarded buttons (6 kilograms!), threads, fabrics, zippers, needles, ... - a suitcase weighing 22 kg was happily taken over by Lilian, Banji and Brian.

All of the donated wool went to Glückskäferlein e.V. Kyritz and arrived at the Lishima School in the form of knitted hats. Thanks to all Lellichow donors!

Mooya Silweeno, pastor of the Diocese of Monze in Choma, was the contact person for the continuation of the measures in the Simoonga Primary Community School this year. Unfortunately, there were no plans that could be included in the foundation's budget. Establishing a self-help group of women in Siameja who want to learn sewing could be an interesting step in supporting women in the Choma region.

For the children from the preschool area at the Lubanga Shabongwe Primary School there were no separate rooms and places where they could stay and be taught. In cooperation with the preschool teachers, the headmistress Mecelinah and the Parents Teacher Committee (PTC), the Preschool Project was developed and implemented in spring this year. Construction and planning were carried out by a local craft business.

The repair of a no longer usable building was the first step towards a functioning infrastructure. Then it was possible to separate an area of the school grounds for the preschool and to bring it to life with swings, seesaws, slides and climbing opportunities. In late spring we were finally able to hand over the grounds and the associated opportunities for development to the children.

The teaching materials, chalkboards and school desks ordered in 2020 were delivered in February and are being used immediately

Unfortunately, there was no meeting with the school and in front of all the local helpers this year, as the current Corona situation did not allow this.

Actually, new toilets should be built in 2021, as the school only has a single latrine (2 places) available for them. Heavy rain in the spring of 2021 ruined these plans: the teacher's home was so damaged that it became uninhabitable. The teacher therefore had to move into one of the two classrooms. This means that now 120 children are taught in just one classroom or outdoors. Therefore the board of the foundation decided to take over the material costs for the construction of a house for the teacher instead of the toilets. The construction work is carried out by the municipality itself. In the meantime (the procurement was very tedious due to the corona), the majority of the materials for building the house have been delivered and construction of the house can begin shortly.

Together with Mooya Silweeno, a pastor of the Diocese Monze in Choma, a first project was developed and carried out for the remote Simoonga Primary Community School.

The condition of the school, in which 270 children are educated, is catastrophic. There are partly open buildings made of pressed stones, there are no school desks, blackboards or teaching materials. Unfortunately, a personal inspection could not take place in 2021, so that the purchase of 55 school desks, 4 teachers' desks and 4 blackboards was decided as an emergency aid.

Due to the smooth cooperation with Mooya, we started another project in 2021: the school is planning to set up a school garden from which the students could get a small school breakfast in the future. Unfortunately, there was not enough water to irrigate the garden areas. So we provided the financial means for the construction of a well with a hand pump on the school premises.

At the beginning of the year, textbooks for 7 grades were ordered for this small school in the middle of the bushland and, thanks to the active support of Father Vincent, a minister from the St. Kalemba Mission, handed over to the school. So that the total of 690 school books can be properly stored in the teachers' room, 2 large bookshelves were bought from the carpenter on site. The joy in school was great, but a bit clouded, as not all children were allowed to go to school due to Corona.

Unfortunately, further measures at this school could not be discussed on site in spring 2020, as the trip had to be canceled due to the corona pandemic. Nevertheless, active support continues via email or WhatsApp: more school desks will be bought this year (with the 10 school desks delivered in 2019, 35 pieces are still missing), the blackboards are to be renewed and there are still missing teaching materials (atlases , math sets, story books etc.) have now been ordered.

Aims:

The school, which is tormented by vandalism, theft and attacks, is to be better protected in the future so that children and teachers can develop and carry out their activities fearlessly and freely. For this purpose, a 1,600 m long fence will be erected around the campus and will be monitored by security guards around the clock. Two secured gates are the only entrances to the campus. From the idea to the completion of this measure, the Parents and Teacher Commettee (PTC) was / is our decisive partner on site. With him, the first analyzes took place but also the complete planning and implementation of the project. The second partner for this project is the Schmitz foundation in Düsseledorf Germany www.schmitz-stiftungen.de/en The foundation actively participated in both the project procedure and the financing (10,000 Euros) and with advice and action at all times. This creates important prerequisites for future investments.

Medium to long-term approach:

For the Lubanga Shabongwe Primary School, not only investments in the infrastructure but above all a joint offensive in the desired improvement of teaching are planned. A pedagogical concept to be drawn up on site with experienced specialists from the education sector should be consistently pursued and implemented.

 Due to vandalism and theft, half of all students have been sitting on the concrete floor during class for years. In a campaign with a local craft business, 350 old frames were repaired and re-covered with high-quality wood. In addition, the decision was made to buy 200 new table-bench combinations. This means that in future all children will have a seat and can concentrate better on class.