The Limapela Foundation - News

Progress Report - 13 August 2012

2012-08-13T00:00:00Z

As we continue to improve the facilities at Limapela Cedric’s School I often think about the contrast between high standards at school but low standards of living at home — no running water in the house, no electricity, a mud floors and a pit latrine outside that is probably shared with other households in the community.

Addressing this imbalance seems beyond our capabilities at the moment, but the need is very real nonetheless.

Agri-business

We are very grateful to the New Zealand Government for making a substantial grant to Limapela Development through the Head of Mission Fund at the NZ High Commission in Pretoria. This grant is being used to install an irrigation system from the Kamfinsa River and expand our agri-business development to include five hectares of bananas and a chicken operation of 1,000 layers.

The chicken house is now being built and the first hectare of bananas, funded by another donor from Kitwe, is about to be planted. Cleopatra Muzimo, our very competent Zambian farm manager, has also established a beautiful vegetable garden at the school. Anticipated income from these projects will bring Limapela’s goal of self-sufficiency very much closer now.

Limapela Cedric’s pupils performing at the Fun Day

Library and Information Technology

Fundraising for the planned Library and Information Technology building has gone extremely well. The level of corporate responsibility is clearly high in Zambia, as around ZMK 70 million (approximately US$ 14,310) has already been raised, all from within the country. Visit the Library project page to see a list of these corporate sponsors. We would like to keep this momentum going so that we can reach our target of ZMK 341 million and get the building started in January 2013. Please contact us if you would like to contribute to this fund.

Special thanks to three local supporters — Sandra Rennie, Margaret Rennie and Gina Adams — who kick-started this initiative and organised a promotional and fundraising fun day on Saturday 28 July for the Copperbelt community. It was a successful and enjoyable day, spoilt only by a bee attack in the late afternoon. African bees can be very aggressive, so we share the pain of those who were stung.

Volunteers

Rob Bellingham has just arrived from New Zealand and will be helping us for a month or so. Rob has much experience in community development. He was the officiating minister at our wedding in 1973, so this is a special visit for us.

Thomas Duxfield plans to join us again for three months in November. Thomas came from New Zealand last year to build the children’s playground, and we look forward to having him with us again. His visit will also allow Alison and me to get home to New Zealand for Christmas.

— Matthew F. Raymond, Trustee

Maureen Kasemuka
grade 4, age: 10

Yorum Kasemuka
grade 6, age: 13

John Kasemuka
grade 6, age: 15

Innocent Daka
grade 1, age: 8

Beaverly Kabemba
grade 1, age: 7

Constance Kabemba
grade 4, age: 11

Fee Sponsorship

We now have 181 pupils sponsored. Please contact me (matthew@limapela.org) if you, or someone you know, would like to commit to a monthly payment of NZ$20.00 (US$15.00, Aus$15.00, £10.00 or ZMK80,000) for one of these students. Sponsorship from the USA and the UK is tax deductible, but not from NZ, Australia or Zambia.

Progress Report - 31 May 2012

2012-05-31T00:00:00Z

Water and Power

This month we have been encouraged to see the boreholes completed at school and 10,000 litres of beautiful clean water in the tanks. Our next step is to get reticulation and a toilet block under way, not forgetting to teach the boys and girls how to use the water wisely and not to waste it!

Hand-in-hand with installing the borehole pump was connecting the electricity to our primary building. Now we have lights and power points in some of the rooms. The rest of the school remains to be connected. We are looking forward to being able to introduce visual aids, electronic equipment and computers.

Agriculture

A hectare of land has been cleared at the school, and we plan to plant 1,700 banana trees in August as the weather gets warmer. Our days are cooler at the moment, with night temperatures going down to 9 degrees — quite early in the year for the cold weather, but very welcome just the same.

We are grateful to a donor in Kitwe for covering the cost of the banana plantation. You might remember that self sufficiency was a Limapela objective from the outset. This plantation has the potential to start generating significant profits in a year’s time to help cover our monthly running costs.

Library and Information Technology

One of our projects for 2012–13 is to build a Library and Information Technology facility for both school and community at an estimated cost of US$64,600 (NZ$84,000).

Children who live in poor communities are understandably deprived of books and educational material, and the modern world of Information Technology is likely to be out of their reach. Limapela’s objective is to provide standards for these children that are as high as those who live in wealthy communities.

We are very pleased that a local group of business people in Kitwe have embraced this proposed project and fundraising has begun.

Volunteers

Gemma Stewart, a volunteer teacher from Palmerston North, NZ has joined us this term. She is a reading recovery specialist — just what we need — and she will be with us until November.

Thank you for your interest and support. It has been a challenging few months during which we have sustained some quite heavy expenditure, all of which is necessary for ongoing progress, but higher than budgeted.

So please keep supporting The Limapela Foundation. If you would like to donate, drop us a line, or check our website for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.

— Matthew F. Raymond, Trustee

Naomi Tembo
grade 4, age: 10

Henry Njamba
grade 1, age: 10

Innocent Daka
grade 1, age: 8

Mofya Chintu
grade 6, age: 13

Constance Kabemba
grade 4, age: 11

Beaverly Kabemba
grade 1, age: 7

Fee Sponsorship

We now have 178 pupils sponsored, and this term there are another 166 who need sponsors. Please contact me (matthew@limapela.org) if you, or someone you know, would like to commit to a monthly payment of NZ$20.00 (US$15.00, Aus$15.00, £10.00 or ZMK80,000) for one of these students. Sponsorship from the USA and the UK is tax deductible, but not from NZ, Australia or Zambia.

Progress Report - 22 March 2012

2012-03-22T00:00:00Z

Opening of New Secondary Building

The rain stopped just in time on 17 February, and the official opening turned into a very happy occasion. Mr Bill Osborn, representing The Beit Trust, unveiled the plaque which gives credit to The Beit Trust and the many others who made the building possible.

The building has set the benchmark for future development in terms of quality and style — parents and community members did not imagine that classrooms would look so attractive. Well, they can, and they should!

Challenges and Problems

One of our supporters wrote in a recent email message, “I admire your seemingly boundless energy and great vision. You seldom seem to mention any real problems, though I’m sure you have your share of such.” Well, this set me thinking. Generally speaking, the encouragements far outweigh the frustrations, but, yes John, we do have our share of them! So, just to remind you all that we are indeed human, this month I would like to share five of them:

Educational standards — Few of our pupils read very well, and even fewer can hold a simple conversation in English. Yet English is the language of instruction and essential for ongoing education.
Lack of reliability — when people do not do the things they say they are going to do, or when they are tardy.
Theft — when some of the people you are trying to help steal from you. I believe that compassion should not be conditional. But that is hard to put into practise under such circumstances!
Driving — Alison and I live on the Limapela Farm at Baluba, which is 30 km from Limapela Cedric’s School. As a consequence we cannot be as available to the school as we would like, and we grow weary of the driving.
Lightning — we rely a great deal on expensive electrical equipment. Close lightning strikes on the Baluba farm this season have twice blown our water pumping equipment and our internet equipment.

Well, we learn good lessons from difficult experiences! And it is worth it for the sake of these young people you see in the photographs. Please keep supporting The Limapela Foundation. The needs are ongoing — personnel, more buildings, electrification costs, books, furniture, fee sponsorship and better salaries for our teachers, to name a few. And if you are a praying supporter, pray for us! We know our God is both faithful and gracious.

—Matthew F. Raymond, Trustee

Progress Report - 27 January 2012

2012-01-27T00:00:00Z

Limapela Cedric’s School

With names like Professer, Pilot, Proud, Nervous and Constavious, it would have been interesting to have been present at the time of birth, just to see how the parents arrived at the names they did! At least such colourful names are easy to remember.

Our new year started on 9 January with 12 teachers and some 330 pupils on the roll between Pre-School and Grade 9. And demand has been such that Head Teacher Mr Mwanza has opened a second grade 1 class. Grades 8 and 9 have moved into the new classroom block which will be opened officially in February.

173 pupils now receive fee sponsorship. We didn’t quite reach our target to get all sponsored by the end of 2011, but we are pleased that so many have joined the programme. Please drop us a note if you would like to be a sponsor.

Volunteers and Helpers

We are grateful to students from Lechwe School in Kitwe. Some spent several days painting classrooms and others put together Christmas presents for our students.

Miriam Raymond has put in a sterling effort with our Zambian workers over the wet season, growing an impressive market garden — maize, tomatoes, okra, green peppers, beans, potatoes and sweet potatoes, to name a few. Sadly Miriam leaves us very soon to take up a job in Australia.

Sarah Marty-Schlipf, a short-term visitor from Illinois, has just finished a large and beautiful mural in our nursery classroom. Our children are indeed blessed by the various contributions on the part of volunteers and visitors.

—Matthew F. Raymond, Trustee

Progress Report - 17 November 2011

2011-11-17T00:00:00Z

While on holiday in Zambia, visiting family and seeing first-hand what The Limapela Foundation is doing, we met 21 year-old Ringo Piliwe, who is a past pupil of Cedric’s School. He is a bright young man, speaks excellent English and has a winning smile.

Ringo’s parents were farm workers and he started school at 7 years of age. He attended Cedric’s School for 7 years, passing his Grade 7 exams and going on to Malela High School, 20 kilometres away, where he eventually completed and passed Grade 12.

Game Guide Ringo Piliwe at Nsobe Game Camp

Ringo’s two youngest siblings and a niece currently attend Limapela Cedric’s School. He commented that he is very proud of how far the school has come since his time there. When he attended, there were only 2 classrooms so most of his primary schooling was done under the trees, exposed to the harsh weather.

When we asked Ringo what he liked about the school he said that he learned how to be humble, from both the owner (Cedric Whittemore), and the teachers. The school has always had a good reputation and many families in other school districts prefer to send their children there. Ringo’s excellent English is due in part to playing with the children of English speaking settler farmers when he was young, and also from the encouragement of the headmaster, Mr Mwanza.

Ringo has worked at Nsobe Game Camp for a year now — he was lucky to get the job there because of his good school results. He enjoys all that he is learning in the job, particularly stock control and wildlife management. He commented that working at Nsobe is like being in another sort of school where the other employees are never too busy to teach him new things and help him to do his job better. He is saving hard in order to follow his dream of going to college to study either wildlife management or accounting.

We were inspired by Ringo — his educational background and drive to succeed have given him a great platform to work from. We hope that he will be a good example to other children in Zambia, and that he will continue with his education, contribute to his local community and build a great career in Zambia.

— Angus and Alana Ramsay, Auckland

The Limapela Foundation

Two trustees, Terry Webster and Bryan Ivamy have resigned, and we thank them both for their committed contribution over a number of years. We welcome Judy Maguire as a new trustee and accountant for the Foundation. She joins existing trustees Geoff Wiklund (now Chairman), Ben O’Connor, Gordon Stewart and Matthew Raymond. Please download the prospectus from our website if you would like to know more about these trustees, or more about the profile of the Foundation.

—Matthew F. Raymond, Trustee

Webby Malyo
grade 1, age: 8

David Sakala
grade 8, age: 14

Charity Siapeya
grade 3, age: 12

Ruth Nkhuwa
grade 5, age: 12

Christopher Chifwanikeni
grade 3, age: 10

Michael Kabwe
grade 6, age: 16

Fee Sponsorship

We now have 161 pupils sponsored, and are slowly reaching our target. Please contact me (matthew@limapela.org) if you, or someone you know, would like to commit to a monthly payment of NZ$20.00 (US$15.00, Aus$15.00, £10.00 or ZMK80,000) for one of the students shown here. Sponsorship from the USA and the UK is tax deductible, but not from NZ, Australia or Zambia.

Progress Report - 11 October 2011

2011-10-11T00:00:00Z

Helpers and Volunteers

It has been a blessed year for the Raymonds as we have enjoyed visits from family members, all of whom have helped the project — Luke Raymond and Angus Ramsay with internet improvements, Alana Ramsay in compiling fee sponsorship information, and Miriam Raymond as a volunteer, specifically with agricultural planning and supervision.

We look forward to welcoming Tim Christie, a teacher from Auckland, who plans to join us for a year in January. Gemma Stewart, a teacher from Palmerston North, is already in Zambia working with The Lifespring Foundation until we are able to arrange accommodation for her at Limapela Cedric’s. We are grateful for the interest and commitment of all these willing people.

Accommodation is an urgent need, both for volunteers and for our Zambian teachers.

Agri-Business

Our supporters will remember that one of Limapela’s fundamental aims is self-sufficiency, as a community development principle, and so that school running costs can be covered from locally generated profits. We are now seeking funding to expand the fledgling agricultural operation already started and turn it into something truly significant. Please write if you are interested in this.

Our small plot of potatoes is nearly ready for harvest. With the coming of the wet season, the ground is being cultivated and other crops will be planted very soon. Our long-term plans include bananas and chickens.

Capital Development

The electrical connection and bore hole drilling at Limapela Cedric’s have taken a long time, but happily, power is now on site, and one bore hole has been drilled. The final completion of the secondary classrooms has been on hold while we await funding, but it is close now, and we look forward to seeing our Grade 8 students move in soon. Special thanks to the Beit Trust for making this building possible.

Visit to Australia and New Zealand

I leave on 18 October for ten days in Canberra, and look forward to attending the Rotary District 9710 Conference as a guest speaker between 21 and 23 October. I will then fly on to NZ for a further ten days to report to our supporters. Please contact me if you would like to get together.

—Matthew F. Raymond, Chairman

UK SUPPORTERS: visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk

Alice Chipolo
grade 4, age: 12

Victor Ankolo
grade 8, age: 14

Luna Kunda
grade 1, age: 5

Annie Kamanga
grade 1, age: 8

Andrew Kamanga
grade 1, age: 8

Lackson Simwinga
grade 1, age: 8

Fee Sponsorship

Thanks to many of you, we now have 151 pupils covered by sponsorship. Can we cover another 100 by year’s end? Do drop me an email (matthew@limapela.org) if you, or someone you know, would like to commit to a monthly payment of NZ$20.00 (US$15.00 or £10.00) for one of the students shown here. Sponsorship from the USA and the UK (but not NZ) is tax deductable.

Progress Report - 20 July 2011

2011-07-20T00:00:00Z

During a lesson on Transport and Communication with Grade 7 this week I discovered that a significant number of the pupils have TV in their homes (battery operated), but very few of them have running water, electricity or books to read. The discovery made me wonder whether value structures in poor communities are really very much different from those in affluent ones! That aside, as poor communities today face modernity and rapidly advancing technological development, their choices are more complicated than they were in the days of David Livingstone.

In terms of capital development, the past three months have been a waiting game for us at Limapela Cedric’s — waiting for the electricity to be connected, and waiting for boreholes to be sunk. “This is Africa,” they say, which presents us with the challenge of applying firm but friendly pressure while maintaining a gracious attitude! The building of the new classroom block is progressing slowly.

A big thank you to Josh Davies, a talented young volunteer from Ohio, USA, who donated footballs and spent time this month coaching the boys and girls.

With the start of the new financial year we have been taking stock of school finances. Our school budget for the year is NZ$63,400. We are encouraged to see that the school income this year, which includes pledged fee and salary sponsorship, should amount to a minimum of NZ$44,000. It is a wonderful assurance to know that your support in this way pretty well guarantees a good portion of our basic running costs. If we achieve our objective to find sponsors for all the remaining 132 pupils on our roll, this income will increase to around NZ$75,000, more than covering the budget.

Agri-Business

Our supporters will remember that one of Limapela’s fundamental aims is self-sufficiency, as a community development principle, and so that school running costs can be covered from locally generated profits. Terry Webster has planted an experimental plot of potatoes. Our future plans include bananas and chickens. But we now need setup capital to get all these started on a profitable scale. Please help us with this.

Terry Webster has recently resigned from The Limapela Foundation in NZ and Limapela Enterprises Limited in Zambia. Terry was a co-founder of both organisations, and he has worked hard in financial management, building and agriculture to help get the work of Limapela established. This has been much appreciated. He and Carolyn are remaining in Zambia and will be moving in August to a new assignment in Ndola. We wish them well.

—Matthew F. Raymond, CHAIRMAN

UK SUPPORTERS: visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk

Morriet Simalyango
grade 3, age: 12
large family

Delisia Banda
grade 2, age: 11
poor family

Zeyada Nawale
grade 6, age: 14
large family

Mirriam Gondwe
grade 8, age: 18
large family

Maureen Chabala
grade 8, age: 15
large family

Fee Sponsorship

We are making progress! 145 pupils at Limapela Cedric’s are now sponsored. With your help, we will have sponsors for the remaining 132 by year’s end. Do drop me an email if you, or someone you know, would like to commit to a monthly payment of NZ$20.00 (US$15.00 or £10.00) for one of the girls shown here.

Progress Report - 26 April 2011

2011-04-26T00:00:00Z

Warm greetings once again from Zambia, where the rains have ended and night temperatures are dropping. Many of our children go down with malaria during the rains, so it will be good to see less of this over the next few months.

Playground

Could you picture a child who has never been on a swing before? It was quite a day when we opened our new playground two weeks ago. Hawkes Bay volunteers Thomas Duxfield and Stephen Willis had never built such a playground before, but with admirable kiwi ingenuity they completed it within two months, and within budget.

New Classroom Block

Passers-by have concluded that this new building must be a house for the Raymonds, as they cannot imagine that a mere classroom block could look so fine! Recent generous donations have kept this project going, and we should have one room ready for occupation soon after the beginning of term in May. Our thanks go to MTN Internet Zambia for donating sufficient funds to purchase the remaining new desks required for this room.

Reading programme

Alison Raymond has worked hard with teachers and pupils on the reading programme. ‘Rome was not built in a day’, but we are seeing steady improvements. We are very grateful to Ellen Henderson, a visitor from the Seattle, USA, and also to Anne Whittemore, who have both committed a morning per week to help with this.

Rotary Club of Canberra

We are also grateful to Paul Street and the Rotary Club of Canberra for donating to a total of A$3,500 from the sale of the Africa Calendars. I have been invited to be a guest speaker at the Rotary District Conference in Canberra over the weekend of 21–23 October. After the conference I expect to spend a week in New Zealand, and look forward to sharing about our work with supporters there. Please contact me if you would like to arrange a meeting.

—Matthew F. Raymond, CHAIRMAN

Gilbert Chikomba
grade 3, age: 11
large family

John Nkhuwa
grade 7, age: 15
poor family

Darius Mwansa
grade 6, age: 13
large family

Daniel Mwansa
grade 3, age: 9
large family

Rodgers Simpole
grade 2, age: 8
father deceased

Fee Sponsorship

Thank you all for your pleasing response to our appeal for more fee sponsors. Sponsorship effectively covers the true cost of educating the child. 135 pupils at Limapela Cedric’s are now sponsored, and eventually we aim to have sponsors for all 277 on the roll. With your help, I believe we could achieve this by the year’s end. Do drop me an email if you, or someone you know, would like to commit to a monthly payment of NZ$20.00 (US$15.00 or £10.00) for one of the five children shown here.

Progress Report - 3 March 2011

2011-03-03T00:00:00Z

It has been touching to hear Zambians express concern for the victims of the recent earthquake in Christchurch. We are telling them that this has been a tough time for New Zealand. But some of our pupils at Limapela Cedric’s are unaware; such are the limits of their world here in semi-rural Zambia. At Friday school assemblies I usually give a short spiritual and motivational talk. Some of the children understand me. I am praying for the day when they all will!

Encouragements this year

We have a settled and happy school with 273 on the roll, 28 of them in our new grade 8 class.
Alison Raymond and the teachers are seeing pleasing progress with the reading programme.
The school gardens are looking good. The children’s vegetables are now being sold — a small step towards self-sufficiency — and the maize will be harvested very soon.
The roof is now on the new grade 8-9 classroom building. Special thanks to our Zambian builder Moses Kabwe and to Mike Whittemore (Cedric’s son) for supervising this building project with such interest and enthusiasm. Funding is needed to complete the building, which we hope to occupy at the beginning of term 2 in May.
Our two kiwi volunteers, Thomas Duxfield and Stephen Willis from Hawkes Bay, have designed, and are now building, a children’s playground.
A team of workers from Zambia Electricity Supply Company (ZESCO) has started connecting the school property with mains power.

Working together — Benson, Thomas, Steve and Moses in front of the new classroom block at Limapela Cedric’s School.

Agriculture

Terry Webster has produced a draft Agriculture Business Plan that identifies a number of options for the Limapela Farm at Baluba. He is keen to start one or more of these options as soon as funding is available. The sunn hemp plants are growing well, and the seeds will be harvested soon.

Shopping Online

Our British supporters can raise extra funds for Limapela by shopping online via easyfundraising.org.uk. Check this out!

Thank you all for your interest and support. Young Zambian lives are being improved because of it.

—Matthew F. Raymond, CHAIRMAN

Progress Report - 18 December 2010

2010-12-18T00:00:00Z

Petronella Siamwenya, who is one of a number of Limapela Cedric’s pupils who need a sponsor

We send warm Christmas greetings to you all. Your contributions to the less privileged in Zambia are possibly the most precious gifts you could ever give. May God bless you.

Glamorous needs obviously attract attention, and so far contributions towards these have been considerable. The less glamorous needs are the ongoing ones — books and teaching resources, desks and book shelves, painting and redecorating, repairs and maintenance. Your donations towards these are much appreciated.

The Water Project

We were delighted to hear that the Rotary Clubs of Canberra and Kitwe were successful with the Matching Grant application for Stage 1 of the Limapela Cedric’s water project. This will cover two bore holes, pumps and water storage tanks. We thank the RC of Canberra, who are now preparing the way for a much bigger Matching Grant application for Stage 2, which will include a toilet block. The general health and wellbeing of our children will be much improved once all this is fully operational.

Agriculture

Work is continuing on the cultivating of a hectare of land for the planting of san hemp. San hemp is a preparation crop and planting will commence after the rains have fully arrived. All this preparation work is being completed by local workers, using manual tools.

Classroom Building

Limapela Cedric’s is on track to start a Grade 8 class next month. This class will be made up of many of the students who have just completed our own Grade 7, and their parents are delighted that they will not have so far to walk to other schools to attend Grade 8. In September we started building a new classroom block — two classrooms, an office and storerooms — and as I write, most of the required materials have been purchased, and the walls have reached 2 metres in height.

Rotary Africa Calendar

These are selling fast. See our website for details and email us on info@limapela.org for your copies. The price is NZ$15.00 each.

—Matthew F. Raymond, CHAIRMAN

Progress Report - 27 September 2010

2010-09-27T00:00:00Z

Just over a year since the project began seems like a good time to reflect, count our blessings and reassess the continuing needs of our work here. We are grateful to all our supporters. As you join hands with us, we are seeing improvements in the lives of the children, their teachers, the workers we employ and many other seemingly casual bystanders. May God bless you for the part you are playing in this.

Blessings

We have reliable and well-motivated teachers, and an enthusiastic local community.
The pupils have more books and their reading is improving.
127 children are now sponsored.
Funding is available to pay monthly salaries and wages.
Thanks to the Beit Trust, building has now started on the new classroom block for grades 8–9.
The Rotary Club of Canberra has pulled out all the stops to complete a matching grant application for the water project.
The Limapela Cedric’s PTA has taken the initiative to make bricks for a staff house.
Generous donors have provided funding to connect the electricity.
Another generous donor has given funds for a new children’s playground.
In January we expect our first volunteer, Thomas Duxfield, to arrive from New Zealand to help design and build this playground.
The Websters and the Raymonds have enjoyed good health and are now comfortably installed in the completed guest houses.
A hectare of land at the Limapela Farm is now being prepared for cultivation.

Needs and Concerns

Our ten-year plan for Limapela Cedric’s School envisions a school of 500 pupils from pre-school to grade 9. To achieve this, the building programme will need to continue each year for eight years. Attaining satisfactory academic standards for our children is a challenge, requiring sustained work with our Zambian teachers. We need sponsors for more of our students, many of whose parents struggle to pay even the nominal fee of NZ$8.50 per term.

Thousands of other Zambian children in the Copperbelt Province alone do not have access to good schools in their communities. A Limapela primary and secondary school in the Baluba community where the Limapela Farm is situated is a future possibility. All this will require faith, funding, resources and personnel.

Self-sufficiency through agri-business profits has always been our aim, so that we can reduce dependency on overseas donors. Start-up capital is required, as well as funding to pay the next instalment on the Limapela Farm purchase. Zambians with skill and who share the Limapela vision are needed to help get the farming going.

Some of these challenges might seem impossible, but they are not. We believe in miracles, and we know that when miracles happen, cynics wonder and the needy are blessed.

—Matthew F. Raymond, CHAIRMAN

Progress Report - 14 July 2010

2010-07-14T00:00:00Z

Warm greetings to you all from Zambia. Our nights are now cool but daily temperatures are in the early 20s — a very pleasant time of year. It has been two months since we sent the last progress report, and it seems best that from now on we send the reports bimonthly, rather than monthly.

The Limapela Cedric’s Basic School

Zambia celebrated Heroes Day on 5 July. We gathered in the morning with the PTA, staff and students to honour and thank Cedric Whittemore for his contribution of 30 years to education in the community. It was a happy time of speeches, poems, singing and dancing.

This past week all the teachers participated in a two-day seminar at Lifesong School in Garneton with visiting Canadian teachers. The fresh ideas and resources they were able to pass on have given a wonderful boost to our teachers’ knowledge and skills.

The term has been dogged by poor attendance as we have resorted to sending children home until fees and arrears are paid. This has been very disruptive, but has been having the desired effect. I guess human nature is the same amongst both rich and poor — many people will avoid paying until they know they have to! Fee Sponsorship has been a great help, and we could do with more sponsors.

Despite this, Alison Raymond and her team of teachers are beginning to see pleasing results in the reading programme they have been working on in grades 1–4.

We are most grateful to The Beit Trust for a recent grant of £16,200 (about NZ$34,000) for the construction of two classrooms for Grades 8 and 9. Alfred Beit was a mining magnate and contemporary of Cecil Rhodes. The trust disburses funds to educational and medical establishments throughout Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. We would like to start building as soon as possible and have a room ready for the new Grade 8 class in January. We are also grateful to some private donors who have pledged to cover the cost of getting the electricity connected to the school.

After a sterling effort by Rotarians Desmond Woods and Paul Street in Canberra, Australia, the matching grant application was submitted to Rotary International on 1 July. If successful, stage 1 of the water project will begin — two bore holes (one for the school and one for the community) pumps and storage tanks. What a difference it will make to have clean water flowing from shiny new taps! Stage 2 will include a toilet block. Approximately NZ$80,000 (US$56,500) will be required for this, and we are hoping that our sponsoring Rotary Clubs will be willing to drive this through also. If you are thinking of contributing to this, remember that your donation has the potential to be matched 50 cents to the dollar.

Project Staff Housing

The guesthouse for the Raymonds is now finished. Terry Webster has completed the interiors to a superb standard, and our workers have learned a great deal in the process, so we are all blessed indeed.

Travel

Carolyn Webster will be travelling to New Zealand at the end of July for family commitments, and Terry will join her a month later. They will return to Zambia at the beginning of November. Alison and I expect to be in New Zealand in December. We all look forward to the break and to meeting up with some of you.

—Matthew F. Raymond, CHAIRMAN

Progress Report - 26 April 2010

2010-04-26T00:00:00Z

Warm greetings to you all from Zambia, where the rains are tailing off and the nights are getting slightly cooler. We are grateful for good health, protection from ever-present local dangers and for the resources to get on with the job here. Thank you to all our supporters for your interest and generosity.

Project Staff Housing

Terry has had to come to terms with lower standards of workmanship here in Zambia, and by the unavailability of building supplies that we take for granted in New Zealand. But he has been encouraged by the progress of two inexperienced young men he took on late last year. They are now learning new skills and achieving excellent standards under his guidance. One is a very good singer and the director of his local church choir. There are only 120 singers in this choir!

Terry and Carolyn moved into the first guesthouse this month, even though it was not quite complete. Those finishing jobs always seem to take the time — tiling, painting, plumbing and electrical connections — but the end is in sight.

The Limapela Cedric’s Basic School

The school has closed for the four week Easter break, but quite a number in grade 7 opted to return for two weeks of the holiday for extra lessons. Alison has been doing reading assessments, and this has been very helpful in deciding the best way forward at this level with reading recovery. Other pupils returned to work with their teachers on their entries for the art competition held annually at the Kitwe Agricultural Show in June. So the school has been a busy place.

Getting parents to pay school fees has been difficult. We charge a nominal NZ$9.00 per child per term (NZ$4.50 for those sponsored.) The principle is that everyone should play a small part with school expenses, and by so doing will appreciate better the service they are getting. There has been a history of defaulting, so we now have to insist that arrears will not be allowed to mount up.

The Water Project

We are grateful to several Rotary clubs, and especially to the Rotary Club of Kitwe as our sponsoring club, and to Rotarian Desmond Woods, who from Canberra is brilliantly coordinating the fundraising and the application to Rotary International for a matching grant. Our aim is to get the costs completely covered for the school water supply and one toilet block. Drop us an email if you are interested in making a donation towards this. If your donation is channelled through one of the participating Rotary clubs, and if the application is successful, it will be matched.

—Matthew F. Raymond, CHAIRMAN

Progress Report - 15 January 2010

2010-01-15T00:00:00Z

Taking Full Responsibility

Having made the commitment, there is now no turning back! The school has now been renamed The Limapela Cedric’s Basic School, and we are now fully responsible for all its needs — books, furniture, teachers’ salaries, capital development and maintenance. Some of our friends and supporters still express some mystification as so why we would want to do this. I can only continue to answer, “We cannot turn our backs on the needs that we see among the least of these.”

Setting up Home

Terry Webster has worked incredibly hard. Water, electricity, drainage and sewerage are now connected. The 1 km access road is being rehabilitated, and paths and lawns are now being laid out. The house interiors need finishing and security fencing needs to be erected. Although it is difficult to pinpoint a completion date, we are hoping to have moved into these homes before Easter.

Donee Status in New Zealand

We were disappointed, though not entirely surprised, to receive a letter from the Inland Revenue Department indicating that they will not be recommending to government that the Limapela Foundation be recognised as a charitable donee organisation at this stage. The IRD cites two concerns:

The extent of the Foundation’s religious involvement
The ability of the Foundation to account for funds applied to overseas recipients.

This decision means that we are still unable to issue tax receipts in New Zealand. We will be seeking clarification from the IRD about government policy on religious involvement, as we do anticipate applying again in due course. It must be said that our stance for Christian values will not be compromised simply for the sake of obtaining donee status for the Foundation.

Project Needs

We are most grateful to those who have supported The Limapela Foundation so generously. As a supporter, you can also be an ambassador for the Foundation in promoting our work among your friends and family members. Here are some of our needs for this year:

Capital to start farming and agri-business on the land that we have purchased so that self sufficiency can be more quickly achieved.
Fee sponsorship at NZ$12.00 (US$10.00) per month for at least another 150 children. Head Teacher Mwanza has now received 46 applications for Grade one alone — this is many more than anticipated.
Regular contributions towards the salaries of our teachers, who must be paid monthly.
Books — we have just spent over NZ$1,300 (US$1,000), but children will still be sharing three to a book.
Funding for connecting the electricity and water at Cedric’s.
Funding for a toilet block, and for the new classroom block that is required for expansion at Cedric’s.

—Matthew F. Raymond, CHAIRMAN

Progress Report - 12 December 2009

2009-12-12T00:00:00Z

12 December 2009

The Limapela Cedric’s Basic School

“What makes you happy?” was my question to the Grade 6 class. “Playing football with my friends,” was one reply. “Reading stories,” was another. The children and staff were delighted to receive donated desks, chairs and boxes of books when our container arrived from New Zealand. It was the last week of term, so all has gone into storage for the holidays. Even so, the clearing out of old or unsuitable books sparked off a flurry of interest. The children sat on the school verandah for hours absorbed in pictures and print alike.

The students and their teachers moved quickly to plant maize as soon as the rains started. Cedric Whittemore’s son Mike has been very generous with pig manure from his farm. The smell is appalling, but the maize will flourish!

Caroline Seitz, another local supporter who has green fingers, spent a morning helping to replant the main flower bed, and the students have spent hours making small fences to protect 20 native trees that we have also planted.

Our three month transition to new ownership will come to an end on 1 January. It has been a useful time, and we now feel more confident about the way forward. Establishing a comprehensive reading programme is imperative, and fluency in English must be improved. Our teachers have signed their new contracts. We would like to have increased their salaries by more than we did, but we trust further increases will be possible as we get established.

Setting up Home

Terry Webster is a good Kiwi match for some colossal challenges — establishing a small compound on the Limapela Farm without the tools and machinery that we take for granted in the developed world. Our cottages, erected by ACS, South Africa, look nearly ready, but flooring, glazing, painting, electric fittings, kitchens and bathrooms remain to be completed. Pictured here is the erection of the water tower, expertly designed and built by our friend Conrad Klingenberg. Water tanks have been purchased and will soon be lifted into position. Terry is working on the electrical connections and the septic tank, which fills with muddy water, frogs and the odd snake with each rainstorm.

Project Needs

We are most grateful to all our faithful supporters. The ongoing needs of the project are many — farming start-up capital, development of the compound, electrification of the school, books and equipment — so please continue to support us.

—Matthew F. Raymond, Chairman

Progress Report - 10 November 2009

2009-11-10T00:00:00Z

Independence Celebrations at Cedric’s

It was a day of jubilation to mark Zambia’s 45th year of independence — unrestrained singing, energetic drumming and colourful dancing. The day was dry and hot, and the dust rose in clouds from the dancers’ feet. The sweat glistened on the faces of the performers while the onlookers sheltered in the shade of the trees or under their umbrellas.

Cedric’s School has hosted this celebration on 24 October for many years. Sadly, founder Cedric Whittemore was hospitalised with pneumonia on the day, so was unable to attend. However, we were able to honour him for his thirty years of provision for the school, and we plan an event in January, with Cedric in attendance, to mark the formal transition to Limapela ownership.

Current Needs

The rains have now started in Zambia, bringing welcome relief from the October heat and sending Zambians scurrying to prepare their fields for planting. In church on Sunday our minister called on all farmers to stand while prayers of dedication were offered and requests for a good harvest were made. We are reminded that God “sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45—NIV) and that in this country, if the rains fail, many will go hungry.

As so often happens with pioneering projects such as ours, costs are exceeding the budgeted figures. Please continue to support the Foundation. Funds for building, setting up costs, teachers’ salaries and books are all urgently needed. Student fee sponsorship is still required. Or you might consider contributing to the agriculture fund, so that Limapela Enterprises can more quickly get farming established and achieve self-sufficiency. Productive farming has the potential to fund all the teachers’ salaries at Cedric’s and reduce dependency on overseas giving, but solid capital is needed to get this going.

Your contribution, whether large or small, will bring improvements and blessing to the lives of the youngsters here in Zambia.

—Matthew F. Raymond, Chairman

Progress Report - 10 October 2009

2009-10-10T00:00:00Z

The Limapela Cedric’s Basic School

Starting the school day at 7:30 am makes good sense in Africa, especially at this time of year when by midday the heat saps both energy and motivation. Although there was heavy rain a week ago, the rains are not usually expected until late October. They will be very welcome when they do come!

Alison and I are visiting the school regularly now to prepare for the transition to new ownership. This will take place officially on 1 January 2010. In the meantime we are observing, consulting and listening. Among the many needs for improvement, four stand out: more books, running water, electricity and higher salaries for the teachers. But in spite of the constraints under which they work, the headmaster and staff are running a fine and happy school of which the community can feel justifiably proud.

Accommodation

Terry Webster is hard at work with the building contractors who are building the two guest houses for us to live in. They are small, but should be adequate until larger dwellings can be put up. These are being built on a bushy 50 hectare block of land that we are buying for the Limapela Farm, next to the Baluba community and about 30 km from Cedric’s School. In the meantime we are grateful to John and Kendra Enright for providing temporary accommodation for all four of us at Kafakumba.

Meeting Financial Needs

Do continue to support the work of the Foundation. Funding is needed for unexpected expenditure in the building programme and to cover the cost of sending the container from New Zealand. Donations can be sent to our NZ postal address. Cheques can be in any major currency, payable to The Limapela Foundation. British and American donors who would like a tax receipt can view detailed donation instructions.

— Matthew Raymond, Chairman

Progress Report - 2 September 2009

2009-09-02T00:00:00Z

Travel

Matthew and Alison left Auckland on the 21 August and are now spending time with family in Dallas. They will be travelling on to Zambia via the UK, arriving on 15 September.

Terry and Carolyn arrived in Zambia on the 24th August after a very long flight. They spent 3 nights resting in Lusaka, and then travelled to the Copperbelt on the 27 August. They have now recovered from jet-lag and are settling into temporary accommodation.

Please remember the Raymonds and Websters in your prayers as they settle into responsibilities in Zambia, and pray too for their extended family members in New Zealand and other parts of the world.

Container

A 40-foot container has been packed with a lot of items including personal belongings, office equipment, desks, shelves, classroom furniture, milking plant and tools. The container has been sealed and will be leaving Auckland shortly. It is expected to take approximately nine weeks to arrive in Zambia. Please pray that it will arrive without delay and without any damage.

Housing

The concrete slabs for both one-bedroom project staff houses have been completed, and the erection of the walls has commenced. It is expected that the houses will be completed by the middle of September. Terry will be responsible for the provision of the power, water and sewage connections to the houses. We will move in to these houses after the container arrives.

Meeting Financial Needs

Two fundraising dinners for the Cedric Project were held in Auckland recently. The first was organised by Howick Presbyterian Church, and NZ$1,500 was raised. The second was organised by The Foundation with singer Tina Cross as our guest artist, and just over NZ$2,500 was raised. We are grateful to all those who contributed so generously to ensure the success of these events.

Fundraising for the project must continue of course until self-sufficiency is reached. Detailed information about how to donate can be found at www.limapela.org/donate/. Our application to the NZ Inland Revenue Department for donee status is still being processed, so donations made in New Zealand are still not tax deductible.

— Matthew Raymond and Terry Webster

Progress Report - 5 August 2009

2009-08-05T00:00:00Z

Cedric’s School Project to Start

We are delighted to report that the Cedric’s School Project will officially commence next month. We are all grateful to all our supporters for helping us to reach the target of NZ$440,000 for the first year. The Websters expect to arrive in Zambia on 24 August, and the Raymonds on 15 September. The purchase legalities will need to be completed, and although we already have many plans for the school, we expect to meet with the staff and the PTA to get their thoughts. A water system and toilet blocks will be high on the agenda, with assistance from the Kitwe Rotary Club. We value your prayers as we face a heavy workload during what will be the hottest time of year in Central Africa.

Accommodation Needs

Upon arrival in Zambia we expect to stay temporarily in guest houses provided by John and Kendra Enright at Kafakumba. Construction of the one-bedroom guest houses that we have planned for the Limapela Farm is due to begin later this month, so should be under way by the time we arrive in Zambia. Power and water will need to be connected. This is not as straightforward in rural Zambia as it might be in New Zealand, but when all is finished we expect to live in these guest houses until funding allows us to build larger homes.

Orphans at Cedric’s School

You might remember reading in June that most of the orphans enrolled in January were withdrawn because their care-givers could not afford the fees that were introduced that term. We are pleased to say that every attempt is now being made to get these children back into school. We are grateful to those of you who are now committed to fee sponsorship. This scheme will be implemented as soon as Limapela takes charge of the school.

A Tribute to Cedric Whittemore

British settler farmer Cedric Whittemore started the school in 1979 when a teacher came to him looking for work. It had not been Cedric’s plan to start a school, but he realised that the children of his employees needed an education, and so did the many children of other employees in the farming block. Once things began, Cedric’s enthusiasm grew, and he used to come and sit at the back of a classroom from time to time to watch the children learn. Until this year, he did not charge fees, so all running expenses were funded from his own pocket. Today 260 children are enrolled in grades 1–7 and the school enjoys a very good reputation for its standards of teaching and achievement. Where would these children be today without Cedric Whittemore’s generous heart and vision for his community?

— Matthew Raymond and Terry Webster

Progress Report - 1 July 2009

2009-07-01T00:00:00Z

Meeting Financial Needs

The Foundation has now been blessed with a total of NZ$419,100 in funds and pledges. This leaves an estimated shortfall of NZ$18,000 to get started in September and run for the first year. We are grateful to our many generous supporters. Thanks to Peter and Tracey Thorp, who raised NZ$3,750 by hosting a fundraising concert in their home on 12 June with virtuoso pianist Jason Bae. What an honour, and what a performance!

Fundraising for the Cedric Project for succeeding years must continue of course until self-sufficiency is reached. The project will begin on 1 September. We now have fee sponsors for 80 children at Cedric’s School, and many of these sponsors have already started quarterly payments. If you would like to be a fee sponsor, please let us know. The commitment is NZ$12 per month per child — the same price as three cups of coffee in most cafes! Sponsors will receive a photo and information about their sponsored child in September.

Preparations for Starting in Zambia

If you would like to send items that are on our shopping list, please get in touch with us so that they can be sent by container. Items can be new or used, but if the latter, they need to be in good condition. We will not be sending used computer hardware, as it is generally not worth the cost of transport.

If your organisation, club or church is in New Zealand, and would like to hear more about The Limapela Foundation before the Websters and the Raymonds leave the country, please contact us so that we can arrange a visit.

Supporting the Limapela Foundation

Donors may send cheques to our NZ postal address in any major currency, payable to The Limapela Foundation. Our application for donee status is still being processed, so donations made in New Zealand are still not tax deductible. British and American donors may send their gifts to the following agencies, who are processing donations on our behalf. When sending through other agencies, please record your name and address clearly, and indicate that your gift is intended for The Limapela Foundation. These donations will be tax deductible.

British Donors may send donations to this address:

Echoes of Service,
124 Wells Road,
Bath BA2 3AH
(cheques payable to Echoes of Service)

American Donors may send donations to this address:

Enright Flight Ministry
c/o Eileen Ledgerwood
1919 Jackson Lane
Port Orange,
FL 32128
(cheques payable to Enright Flight Ministry)

Progress Report - 4 June 2009

2009-06-04T00:00:00Z

Orphans at Cedric’s School

In May we learned that most of the 60 orphans enrolled in January had stopped attending when school fees were introduced in term 2 by the current owners. These fees are the equivalent of only NZ$10 per term, but that is clearly more than some families are able or prepared to pay. Our fee sponsorship scheme is well subscribed to so far, so we should be able to get some of these children back into school when we take over. If you would like to join this scheme please get in touch. The commitment, at only NZ$12 per child per month, will reduce the risk of these disadvantaged children losing their places through the non-payment of school fees.

The Limapela Farm

We have now signed an agreement to purchase 50 hectares of farmland from John and Kendra Enright about 30 km from Cedric’s School. The Limapela Farm will be developed on this land, to provide an income support base for the Limapela educational projects, reducing dependency on financial support from abroad.

The agreed price is attractive at US$1,500 per hectare (NZ$2,343 at today’s rate of exchange), or around NZ$117,187 for 50 hectares. The agreement requires a deposit of NZ$31,250, and the balance to be paid off over three years.

Starting in Zambia

Terry and Carolyn Webster are now preparing to leave New Zealand and plan to fly direct to Zambia at the end of July. Matthew and Alison Raymond expect to arrive in Zambia in September. Terry’s first job will be to supervise the building of two small guest houses at Limapela Farm for themselves and the Raymonds to live in until larger houses can be built.

Financial Needs

To get started, the Foundation estimates that it needs to raise a further NZ$97,000. This will help to cover the deposit on the farmland and the cost of building the guest houses for project staff. If you would like to contribute, please get in touch with us. The exchange rate is moving in our favour at the moment, and we are praying that this will continue!

Progress Report - 20 April 2009

2009-04-20T00:00:00Z

Cedric’s School

What a pleasure it has been this month to see the children of Cedric School once again and to meet with their headmaster Mr Mwanza, a dedicated man who understands the numerous needs of his students and staff. The Foundation will have to address these needs one at a time — running water, better toilets, more books, more classrooms and the installation of electricity, to name the most urgent. Mr Mwanza could enrol at least 100 more children if he had enough classrooms and teachers, and this is true of many schools all around Zambia.

The Rotary Club of Kitwe

We have received a very warm welcome from this club, and their interest in the Cedric Project has been most encouraging. With the help of other international partner clubs they are willing to apply for funding from The Rotary Foundation by way of a matching grant for a water project and new toilet blocks for Cedric’s School. Such assistance will greatly improve the standards of hygeine in the school — a need that we feel is urgent. The club have also suggested that we install a second water tank at the same time to make water available to the wider community.

Establishing Limapela in Zambia

We have now signed a formal agreement with the owners to purchase Cedric’s School and the 11 hectare block on which is is built. As soon as the legal requirements have been met, which is expected to take another 30 days, the transaction will take place and the school will be signed over to Limapela Enterprises Ltd, the private company that the Foundation has now set up as its legal entity in Zambia.

Buying farmland from Cedric Whittemore is not legally possible at the moment. But we have had an unexpected offer of 50 hectare subdivision of Rivendell Farm near Luanshya. John and Kendra Enright, who are close friends and keen supporters of the Foundation, are the owners of this farm. They are offering the land, on very attractive terms, to provide a base for Limapela Enterprises as well as a production unit to support our endeavours. While considering this option, our attention has been drawn to the needs of the huge impoverished Baluba community next to the farm. There is one community school in this community, and one government primary school. The government school has a roll of 1,200 children, but only six classrooms. Another school sits unfinished and unused in the middle of the community because the NGO responsible for building it ran out of funds ten years ago, and so far no organisation has been willing to complete it. Representatives from the community and the Luanshya City Council met with us last week to discuss our possible involvement. At this stage we can only register our interest, but it certainly would be a worthy challenge.

Plans have now been finalised for two small houses to be built for the Raymonds and the Websters to live in, and we are awaiting quotations from a building company in South Africa.

Progress Report - 27 February 2009

2009-02-27T00:00:00Z

Trustees’ Visit to Zambia

Matthew Raymond and Terry Webster will leave on 16 March for a six weeks visit to Zambia. During this time they aim to finalise the purchase agreement for Cedric School and the 8-hectare plot on which it is built. Other plans for the visit include:

setting up Limapela Community Development as a private limited company in Zambia.
applying for employment permits for the Raymonds and the Websters.
meeting with the school headmaster and the Parent Teacher Association to assess school and community needs.
drawing up a site plan for the school property.
designing on-site reticulation of water and electricity.
quantity surveying for building of accommodation for project staff.

Purchase of Vehicle

We were very pleased to hear that John Enright, one of our advisors in Zambia, has purchased on our behalf a one-owner Nissan Patrol in very good condition for US$9,600. This is an excellent price for such a vehicle in Zambia. The Raymonds and the Websters will own this vehicle, and its early purchase will allow Terry and Matthew to be independent transport-wise during their upcoming visit.

Purchase of Farmland

Although the Foundation has insufficient funds as yet, purchasing the farmland is still very much a part of the project proposal. In the meantime, leasing land may be possible so that agricultural projects can begin.

Fundraising

Funds raised or pledged by 22 February 2009:	NZ$296,300
Shortfall required to start by August 2009:	NZ$66,300

The Foundation is grateful to the many who have contributed so far. The New Zealand dollar is worth only US$0.50 today, but we feel we should not be deterred by this. Please contact us if you would like to contribute to the project. Your contribution could be a loan, a gift, or a contract to purchase shares in the project at NZ$500 per share. Deposits can be made directly into the Limapela Foundation account. Please contact us if you would like those details. Donations from the UK may be sent to Echoes of Service, 124 Wells Road, Bath BA2 3AH, and will be tax deductible in this case.

Progress Report - 22 January 2009

2009-01-22T00:00:00Z

Starting at Cedric School

It remains the aim of the Foundation to get started at Cedric School after Easter. Trustees Matthew Raymond and Terry Webster are to fly out to Zambia on 16 March for 6 weeks to finalise the purchase arrangements and other legalities. The volatile international currency market and the worldwide economic downturn have so far prevented us from reaching a formal agreement with the vendors, but it is clear that both we and they wish to see the Foundation take over the school.

Support from Long Bay College

Some of the staff at Long Bay College on Auckland’s North Shore have donated a large number of books and school resources that are surplus to their requirements. We can well imagine the excitement and gratitude of the Cedric staff and pupils when these eventually arrive in Zambia. We want to express our thanks to Long Bay College.

Fundraising

Despite the more diffficult economic times, we are encouraged to see the funds coming in steadily. Since fundraising began last April we have received NZ$280,500 in donations and pledges — NZ$94,600 for operational expenses and NZ$185,900 for capital expenses. It should be said that the NZ dollar, at US$0.52, is today as low as we have seen it in recent months. This adversely affects our fundraising targets, and we would need another NZ$66,400 at today’s rate of exchange to get started in Zambia, but an additional NZ$276,400 would be required to buy and establish 30 hectares of the farm. The long-term plan is to purchase the full 60 hectares of farmland that has been offered to the Foundation, so that self-sufficiency for the school can be achieved eventually.

Please contact us if you would like to contribute to the project. Your contribution could be a loan, a gift, or a contract to purchase shares in the project at NZ$500 per share. Deposits can be made directly into the Limapela Foundation account. Please contact us if you would like those details. Donations from the UK may be sent care of Echoes of Service, 124 Wells Road, Bath BA2 3AH.

Slide Show of Pupils at Cedric School

See a short slideshow of the boys and girls at Cedric.

Progress Report - 7 December 2008

2008-12-07T00:00:00Z

Starting at Cedric School

Trustees Matthew Raymond and Terry Webster have taken advantage of Qantas’ recent offer of two for the price of one, and will fly out to Zambia on 16 March for six weeks. During this visit they would like to finalise the purchase of the school and farm, and lay some groundwork for the start of the Cedric School Project. They will attend to legal requirements, meet with the school headmaster and staff, and get started on some of the most urgent priorities such as water reticulation, electric power and foundation slabs for chalets to live in.

This is a step of faith.

The Foundation is aware that these are not easy times economically, and we are very grateful to all who have contributed so far. We ask you to pray with us that in the remaining four months the balance of the required capital will be provided, and that when the time comes to transfer the funds the exchange rate will have improved.

Fundraising

The funds are coming in steadily. We have reached over 76% of the target for operational expenses for the first year, but only 28% of the target for capital requirements. We would need another NZ$72,000 at today’s rate of exchange just to get started in Zambia, but an additional NZ$274,000 is required to buy and establish 30 hectares of the farm. The long-term plan is to purchase the full 60 hectares of farmland that has been offered to us. Please contact us (info@limapela.org or phone +64 9 629 4884) if you would like to contribute to this. Your contribution could be a loan, a gift, or a contract to purchase shares in the project at $500 per share. Deposits can be made directly into the Limapela Foundation account. Please contact us if you would like those details. Donations from the UK may be sent care of Echoes of Service, 124 Wells Road, Bath BA2 3AH.

Why are we doing this?

We are burdened about the needs of young people in poorer communities in Africa, and taking on Cedric School will be of significant long-term benefit to this particular community. We have sufficient funds now to purchasing the school, but not enough yet to purchase the farm. Taking on the school without the farm would lead to long-term dependency on funds from abroad, and this we would prefer not to do. Please join hands with us so that we can achieve sustainability for Cedric School by the fourth year as originally planned.

Progress Report - 4 November 2008

2008-11-04T00:00:00Z

How Stable is Zambia politically?

Recent media coverage from other African countries is raising understandable concerns. But Zambia has shown remarkable political and economic stability since the country embraced democratic reform in 1991, and this year has performed extremely well in a remarkable test. On 29 June President Levy Mwanawasa suffered a serious stroke and was hospitalised in Paris. It appears that the Zambian government continued normally under the vice-president, and the country remained peaceful during the time that Mwanawasa was incapacitated, and until he died seven weeks later on 19 August. Three weeks of national mourning were then peacefully observed, followed by campaigning for a fresh presidential election held on 31 October. We feel this reflects very well on Zambia’s stability. Such a scenario would have been unimaginable in Africa several decades ago.

The Cedric School Project

The fundraising is going well, considering the current worldwide financial crisis. The New Zealand dollar remains weaker, having lost 25% of its value against the US dollar in the past few months. The effect has been to increase the total we need to raise in NZ dollars. But God is bigger than any world financial crisis, and we can ‘move mountains’ if we have faith.

We have made significant modifications to our agricultural plan, reducing the operational requirement for the first year from US$120,000 to US$66,000. Our giving community has been most generous — 33% of the capital requirement target for the first year (US$314,000) has now been achieved, and 73% of the operational requirement target (US$66,000). Funding for the capital requirement remains our most urgent need, especially as we anticipate that very soon the property will need to be paid for.

Communications with Zambia have been slow, but the vendors have given verbal agreement to our offer, and the survey of the school property has been carried out. The settlement arrangements and dates are being negotiated through the lawyer in Zambia, who will set up the new private company (to be called Limapela Community Development) as soon as the agreement has been signed.

Charity Registration

The NZ Charities Commission has now processed our application, so The Limapela Foundation is now a registered charitable entity (Registration No. CC32616) in terms of the New Zealand Charities Act 2005. Our application to the Inland Revenue Department for donee status is now being processed, and will be referred to the government to request listing under Schedule 32 of the Income Tax Act.

If the application for donee status is successful, all subsequent donations will be tax deductible, but not those received prior. In the meantime, donors might consider lending instead of giving. This would allow their loans to be converted into a donation later, if and when donee status has been granted, keeping open the possibility of a tax rebate in the future.

Progress Report - 23 October 2008

2008-10-23T00:00:00Z

The Foundation

The Limapela Foundation is now a registered charitable entity (Registration No. CC32616) in terms of the New Zealand Charities Act 2005. (For more information, visit the Charities Commission) Our application to the Inland Revenue Department for donee status is now being processed, and will be referred to the government to request listing under Schedule 32 of the Income Tax Act. If the application is successful, all subsequent donations will tax deductable, but not those received prior.

Progress Report - 10 October 2008

2008-10-10T00:00:00Z

The Foundation

The Foundation is now an Incorporated Charitable Trust in New Zealand. Our application for registration under the New Zealand Charities Act has now reached the Quality Review stage, which is expected to take several more months. It would seem that applications from charities whose work is for the benefit of people outside New Zealand are referred to the Quality Review stage for closer scrutiny before being decided upon. If the application is successful, all New Zealand donations received after 25 June 2008 will be tax deductable.

CORRECTION: Because our application for donee status has now been referred to the government for listing under Schedule 32 of the Income Tax Act, only donations received after the application has been approved will be tax deductable, not donations received after 25 June 2008 as previously stated. (23 October 2008)

Fund-raising for the Cedric School Project

You can make a difference to the lives of these young people at Cedric School. Because of the generosity of many, the Foundation has already achieved 38% of the capital requirement target for the first year (US$317,000), and 48% of the operational requirement target (US$120,000). You will see that our most urgent need is now for the capital requirements.

The Foundation is also seeking committed sponsors for all 260 students at NZ$12 (US$10) per student per month, and sponsors for the 8 teachers at $400 (US$320) per teacher per month. This sponsorship will ensure that the school running costs are covered while the farm is being established.

Cheques should be made out to The Limapela Foundation, or you may use the Pledge Form. Feel free to contact us if you are interested in assisting in any other way, or if you require further information. The full project proposal can be viewed or downloaded here.

Agreement to Purchase

Our lawyer in Zambia is now arranging a meeting with Cedric and Mike Whittemore, the owners of the school and the land, to secure their written agreement to sell for a total of US$171,000. Once signed, a 10% deposit will be paid into a trust account in Zambia, and the balance will be required some time in 2009. This is a step of faith, and we encourage you to assist us in meeting this significant target.

The lawyer has been instructed to set up a new private company in Zambia to be called Limapela Community Development. This company will own the property and will be the legal entity responsible for the running of the project. The company directors will be Mpundu Mutala (Lusaka), Rev Patrick Chanda (Kitwe), Terry Webster and Matthew Raymond. The project will begin as soon as the property has been paid for and immigration permits granted.

Priorities for The First Stage of the Project

Modest chalets for the Raymonds and the Websters will be built, using local materials, on a plot to be surveyed close to the school.
Water and electrical supplies will be established and the farm land will be prepared for cropping.
School books will be purchased and the teachers salaries and conditions will be reviewed.

Progress Report - 3 September 2008

2008-09-03T00:00:00Z

The Foundation

The Foundation is now an Incorporated Charitable Trust in New Zealand, and application has been made to the New Zealand Charities Commission for tax-exemption on donations. Because of recent changes to the New Zealand legislation, the Charities Commission has been inundated with applications from both new and existing charities, and we understand it will be some months before our application is considered. However, if we are approved for issuing tax receipts, the approval will be backdated to the time the application was lodged, ensuring that those who have made donations since 25 June will receive tax rebates.

Fund-raising for the Cedric School Project

It has been encouraging to hear from new donors and to see opportunities for promotion appearing almost daily. We have now reached 27% of the target for Capital and Development (US$317,000) for the first year, and 47% of the target for Operational Costs (US$120,000).

The New Zealand dollar has dropped in value against the US dollar in recent months, and because all our projections have been pegged to the US dollar, we will be somewhat disadvantaged unless the kiwi dollar gains ground again.

Our most urgent need is for the capital funding necessary to buy the school and the farm land.

In addition, the Foundation is seeking committed sponsors for all 260 students at NZ$12 (US$10) per student per month, and sponsors for the 8 teachers at $400 (US$320) per teacher per month. This sponsorship will ensure that the school running costs are covered while the farm is being established.

Agreement to Purchase

Formal purchase offers for both the Cedric School and adjoining farm land have now been drawn up, representing a total of US$175,000. Once signed, a 10% deposit will be paid into a trust account in Zambia, and the balance will be required early in 2009. This is a step of faith, and we encourage you to assist us in meeting this significant target.

The property will be owned by Limapela Community Development, which will be established in Zambia as a private limited liability company.

The Foundation anticipates that Terry Webster and Matthew Raymond will need to go to Zambia early in the new year to attend to the business formalities, purchase arrangements and immigration applications. Their wives Alison and Carolyn will join them soon after.

Contributing to the Foundation

Please support this project. Cheques should be made out to The Limapela Foundation, or you may use the Pledge Form. Feel free to contact us if you are interested in assisting in any other way, or if you require further information.

Progress Report - 25 July 2008

2008-07-25T00:00:00Z

The Foundation

The Limapela Foundation has now been incorporated in New Zealand as a Charitable Trust. At present the trustees are Matthew Raymond (teacher), Terry Webster (consultant) and Ben O'Connor (teacher), all of Auckland. Application is being made to the New Zealand Charities Commission for tax-exemption on donations. There have been recent changes to the legislation in this regard, resulting in a high number of applications from different organizations around the country, so the application is a lengthy process.

The Cedric School Project

The Foundation anticipates that Matthew and Alison Raymond and Terry and Carolyn Webster will be able to move out to Zambia early in 2009 to start the project. Prior to that the purchase and legal land transfer will need to be arranged with the Whittemore family, who are the current owners, and this may necessitate a preliminary visit by Matthew and Terry. A private company will need to be set up in Zambia and immigration permits applied for.

Fund-raising

Fund-raising for the Cedric School Project is gathering momentum. Many thanks to all who are contributing to this ambitious venture in one way or another. We are encouraged to report that we have now reached 22% of the target for Capital and Development (NZ$495,000) for the first year, and 42% of the targeted Operational Costs (NZ$160,000).

The Foundation is seeking committed sponsors for all 260 students at NZ$12 (US$10) per student per month, and sponsors for the 8 teachers at $400 (US$320) per teacher per month. This will ensure that the school running costs are covered while the farm is being established.

The Limapela Farm

Establishing the new Limapela Farm will be the most important priority. 60 hectares will be available for cultivation, and the sooner the crops are planted, the sooner the course towards self-sufficiency for Cedric School will be set. The company will ensure that the school will continue to run smoothly under its current headmaster and staff during the time of transition.

Contributing to the Foundation

We can assure you that your contribution will make a real difference to the education and well being of the children at Cedric School. Please use the Pledge Form if you wish to contribute financially, either with donations or on-going sponsorship. Do feel free to contact us if you are interested in assisting in any other way, or if you require further information.