HOME
On 3rd May, Obet turned 14 years old. Everyone gathered to give him wishes and prayers were petitioned for the Lord to continue granting him blessings.
Mapalo also turned 10 years old on 26th May and, as per tradition, all gathered for the celebration.
During this time of quarantine and the schools closed, the children have continued to learn via television lessons to help catch up and revise on some lessons. These lessons cater from primary to secondary level. Also, schools will be opening for those in examination classes. The children have already started with preparations, while putting in place materials to be used to keep themselves safe during the pandemic. The children writing examinations include Rhodia (grade 7), Rosaria, Purity and Obet (grade 9), Eustus and Gertrude (grade 12 final exams.)
On another note, to help our children not to lag, the teachers from Kwathu school have been coming to teach the children from the home, including those in preschool and primary levels. The children are excited with the lessons as they miss school so much.
The boys have helped with painting the container (soon to be clinic.) This is a great activity as they use their skills and help with handy works. The container has reached 70% of its completion. A few things like window pens, floor and furnishing is what is remaining. As soon as these are done, the ministry of health will be contacted to come and do a thorough inspection in readiness for its operation.
The new children received last month, Theresa and Philip, have adjusted in staying at Kwathu. They enjoy spending time with everyone here especially their brothers and sisters of their age.
They are also being taught at the home with reading, writing, counting through various educational activities. The mother’s case is still in process and we await to hear about the proceedings.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
We ensure the children at the home always have something fun to do to keep their minds busy, but refreshed. There were a series of social activities that happened in the month of May. One of these activities included a Bon-fire – a social activity in which our adult children find time to discuss several matters affecting their social, emotional and physical aspect of their lives whilst eating ground nuts to make discussions more fun and exciting.
Toddlers were not left out. They had their own share of activities such as sack-races and water racing which were full of excitement as well.
DONATIONS
The children’s home has received a donation of 9 bags x 25 kilograms of mealie meal to the home. This came from Ashok Surati, a Director at Saro Agro Investment in Livingstone. Ashok has constantly been helping the home in monetary form to help boost up the budget at the home. These bags of mealie meal will go a long way in helping feed the children at the home especially with the number of children that has increased thereby stretching the budget further.
We have also received 50 face masks from First National Bank FNB Livingstone Branch. The Branch Manager, together with 2 other members of staff, visited the home. These reusable masks were distributed to the children going to boarding schools, children at the home, staffs, and mamas at the home. He thanked the Directors, management, and staff of the children’s home for the good job they are doing in taking care of these precious children which he termed as a ‘noble cause’. He has also promised to spread the news to other cooperate organizations about the need to donate necessities towards the home, especially during this period.
SCHOOL: RE-OPENING OF EXAMINATION CLASSES
Through his excellency, the President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the government of the republic of Zambia announced a month ago about the re-opening of examination classes on June 1st. The announcement included strict adherence to public health measures such as observing social distancing of at least 1 meter, masking up every time they are in class/public, washing of hands with clean water and soap or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and to cough in a flexi-elbow or tissue and dispose it immediately.
Kwathu has a total number of twelve grade 7’s who will be writing their junior examination this year. In readiness for the re-opening On Friday, May 29th, administrative staff, teachers, and general workers took time to thoroughly clean and disinfect all classrooms, toilets, walls, chairs, desks, and tables.
Furthermore, one room has been set aside with the mattress for those who might show symptoms of COVID-19 for further observation. All necessary requirements such as hand sanitizers, hand wash, re-usable facemasks, buckets, gloves for cleaning purposes and disinfectors have been purchased already.
We have also put up posters showing symptoms of COVID-19 so that our learners can easily read and understand fully. Some of our teachers will be trained by the Ministry of Health in the quick detection of the symptoms.
OUR NEEDS:
- Thermo-guns (Thermometers) for temperature detection of COVID-19 now that the Grade 7’s are opening on 1st June.
- Hand Sanitizers (alcohol-based ones)
- Toilet paper
- Pencils, crayons, sharpeners, calculators, pens, etc.
How you could help if you would love to give a donation towards our feeding program please follow this link: (https://www.givengain.com/cc/kwathu-school-feeding-program/)
