News
We had all very much hoped that the school would open this past January (2023). However, work was still continuing on the classroom block throughout the period when approval could be granted and therefore the authorities were unable to certify the building at that time.
We are hoping though that by the end of the first quarter 2023 all works will be finished on the classroom block and the building will be inspected and passed. Whether the school opens mid-way through the school year or in January 2024 will be up to the education authorities.
With the help of some extremely generous donors, we have been fitting out the building throughout 2022. The floors are finished, the doors, windows, glass panes, grill bars, plastering and rendering have all been finished. The interior has had its first coat of paint and most of the exterior rendering has also been had a first coat of paint. Blackboards are in place.
Only the ceiling boards remain to be installed and the painting finished. To achieve this, we need to wait for the end of the rains, so that the ceiling boards can be transported up to the school from Lusaka as soon as the roads reopen.
The new roof has been raised on the first block of 4
classrooms, 4 teacher's studies and 2 administration offices. This building is huge...150 ft x 50 ft (43m x 15m) and with a shady, open verandah along the entire length of one side.
St Mary's Calne girls and their teachers entertained the villagers at the end of the working day with their attempts at cultural dancing the Zambian way and introduced the locals to "pop" dancing. They laughed and played football with the children and came home with wonderful stories about their amazing experience in Africa and a wealth of memories from their working holiday.
A second contribution in 2014 came from the Diocese of Edinburgh, which raised £10,000 through their Bishop's 2013 Lent Appeal. This paid for a borehole to supply fresh water for the very first time to Tembwe and replaced the small, deep and very muddy well, which had been the only source of water in the district and for the new school. Remaining funding went towards a building equipment and materials, ensuring a strong start to the construction phase I.
The Grassmarket Community Project volunteers and friends, led by Tommy Steel held a sleepout outside their community centre in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town to raise funds for their trip to Chama. It was a cold, wet winter's night following the Scotland vs Wales Rugby International. They raised a lot of money, with one young man donating a massive £7,500.
The Livingstone Initiative held a black tie fundraising evening in Edinburgh at Greyfriars Kirk in February 2018. It was a glorious and huge fun event, kicking off with a Champagne Reception, followed by Dinner and Scottish Dancing. An auction and raffle took place after dinner, with a great selection of wonderful prizes donated by Zambian and British partners and sponsors. Over £4000 profit was raised and handed over to The Anglican Children's Programme's Chama Project. Their next Fundraiser will be held on 17 February 2024. For more information, please email
Catherine Scott, a British doctor with family connections to Zambia, spent a day at Edinburgh's Meadows Festival selling bric-a-brac from her stall. She had had a good clear out of the family home and decided this was a great way to raise funds for charity. She generously split her takings between The Chama Project and one other charity. She is currently planning a trip to Zambia with her brothers and sister.
Ben and Alex Eaglestone visited Zambia in August 2019 to stay with Father Katete, ACP's Director, in Lusaka. They had an amazing time in both in Lusaka and Chama. These young men raised funds through JustGiving and by organising a charity football match in Gloucestershire. Both are now working with us on the marketing and social media side. Click here to find out more about volunteering.
Congratulations to Dr Alex Malambo on his graduation. In 2014, with the help of one incredibly generous donor, we brought Alex over to the UK for a 3-month clinical attachment in ENT medicine. The Zambian Government then sponsored his 5-year post-graduate ENT surgical training in Nairobi and now Alex has graduated in 2020 and is now working in Lusaka at the University Teaching Hospital but... also spending one week a month running the ENT clinic in Livingstone.
Alex was our first candidate in the Livingstone Zambia-Scotland Medical Exchange. Having approached Livingstone Central Hospital with the idea of an exchange, they told us they were keen to open an Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic so that the people living in Southern Province would have access to treatment without having to travel to Lusaka, which is very expensive. We wanted to help bring this about
Bishop William Mchombo (Chipata), Bishop David Njovu (Lusaka) with Father Katete, Director of the Anglican Children's Programme, are all working together to build a better future for the children of Chama District, north-eastern Zambia.
The villagers surrounding Tembwe are working hard making all the bricks needed for the new school in Chama. The bricks are made from clay and are being fired on site. Hundreds of thousands of bricks are being stock-piled ready for the bricklayers to use. Currently these bricks are destined for the classroom block.