HOME UPDATE
BIRTHDAYS- This month two birthdays were celebrated: Eustus on the 14th and Willard on the 3rd. They both turned 20 years old, and Willard celebrated his birthday at the farm as he resides there. As for Eustus, he woke up in a pool of water and love from Aunty Sandra and Mama Maureen who made him breakfast and he got his usual gift in monetary form. They both are excited to grow a year older.
Eustus is getting ready to go to university to Study Economics and Willard is getting hands on with different farming skills including fishing, farming, and growing various vegetables. It is our hope that every child who leaves Kwathu is able to stand on their own and support other people who are less privileged in his/her community.
SCHOOLS- Covid 19 is an in-house name now, after reporting to school in full spirit the pandemic could not allow the children to continue with school. The schools have remained closed even after the 21 days as an extension was added. Now the government has announced partial opening of schools next month. Only examination classes will open first before the rest of the grades open. The children continued to follow their home study timetable. On the July 11th, 2021, we were privileged to receive 4 Volunteers who were helping out with home schooling, to our children. This helped the children not to forget the things they learned and kept their minds
active in readiness.
EXTRA ACTIVITY- On July 10th, 2021, our friends from Checkers Hardware Store come through to donate bread and local drinks, which helped our kids with in between meals. Our partner organization Grace Klein Community in the USA has been helping the children through these volunteers. One of the staff members in this team “Natalie” was once a staff at Kwathu home and is now based in the USA as Kwathu advocate under Grace Klein Community. This was a great joy for us, as they were the first visitors this year who braved the pandemic to come and show us so much love and support. They came bearing gifts in form of cloths, books, candy, school bags and reusable pads for our girls and community. July 21st, 2021, was also a blessed day as WITR UK blessed us with medicine, face masks, school stationary, reusable pads, footballs, and candy. They also left some money to buy goodies for kids.
Gardening is going on well. Other than playtime, walks for the toddlers with the mamas has continued. Devotion is going on fine, and all the kids are participating fully and improving on attitudes and spiritual and general behavior reordering. Bonfire was added to the devotion. This is a time to reflect on the things that have learnt while sitting around the fire. It is a wonderful time of interaction with children and other staff. The Christmas music rehearsals are still ongoing whenever there is some time spared.
Pictures of playtime
Bonfire devotion picture
HEALTH- All the kids are enjoying good health except for the toddlers who seem to have allergies. The most affected one is Jane she had her hair cut in order to try out home remedies and on the July 26th, she was taken to the clinic. Medicines where prescribed and we
await to see if she improves.
VISITATIONS- As much as, the parents and relatives of the children are encouraged to keep the bond with the children here at Kwathu, unfortunately they do not come. For the month of July, Charity managed to visit her grandmother at the market where she sells her
merchandise. She enjoyed her visit and was able to meet some of her cousins. Theresa and Philp’s mother and father called to just check up on them. The mother promised to visit but did not show.
KWATHU SCHOOL REPORT- Schools have remained closed since the June 17th. The teachers have been coming to plan so that once schools resume, they will be ready. In the month under review, they put up a plan where a few students would come to get some work to do at home. This was in an attempt to keep the children busy at home not just playing but also doing schoolwork. On August 5th, examinations classes will open. Our 7th graders are expected to report for school. They have lost so much and so the remaining time will be busy so that they catchup and get ready for the examinations which will be written end of this year.
PROGRESS ON FARMLAND- In the next two weeks, there will be a lot of progress on our farmland to develop and make our virgin land habitable and productive. Last week, we successfully managed to drill a 60-meter size borehole with an output of 10 litters a second; “thank God for his favor on us”. This will make our farming activities a reality and kickstart construction works. Thank you to all who have and are giving towards Kwathu farm. The need is ever present, and we believe through farming, Kwathu will continue advancing its objectives in taking care of the vulnerable, but also contributing in a small way in food security in Zambia.
We have procured the following:
- Two water tanks with a capacity of 10,000 litters
- Four 300 watt each solar panels
- 40” 200 meters poly pipes
- 1.5hp submersible DC pump with control box.
- Building materials for the first housing unit
OLDER CHILDREN VISITING KWATHU HELPING FARM- As a home, we are so excited to have a piece of land where various agriculture activities can be done. The older children had some time to go see the land.
OUR NEED LIST: Contact us at [email protected]
- School bus (US $20,000)
- Pencils, crayons, sharpeners, calculators, pens e.tc. Clothes for ages 6-20
- Aircons for offices
KWATHU FARM NEEDS:
- Tractor, plough, secondhand utility vehicle
- 2-ton trailer