Project Proposal: Cedric School

The Limapela Foundation

The Limapela Foundation is a registered charitable entity (CC32616) in terms of the New Zealand Charities Act 2005. (For more information, visit the New Zealand Charities Commission.) There are four trustees: Matthew Raymond (Chairman), Ben O'Connor (Secretary), Terry Webster (Treasurer) and Bryan Ivamy. The Foundation is interdenominational.

The purpose of the Foundation is to initiate and implement specific projects for the benefit of education in poorer communities in Zambia, the first of which will be at Cedric School, near Kitwe in the Copperbelt Province. The initiative has been taken by Matthew Raymond and Terry Webster, who are both elders at Greyfriars Presbyterian Church in Mt Eden, Auckland.

Why Zambia?

Matthew Raymond and his wife Alison have worked as teachers in Africa for 15 years, 8 of which were in Zambia. Their heart is for the people of Africa, and their passion is for the education of African children. Zambia is a developing nation with an estimated population of 11.6 million, 45% of whom are under 15 years of age. Only 54% of children aged 7 to 13 years in rural areas attend school.

What motivates the Limapela Foundation?

The Foundation is motivated by the Christian principle of care and compassion for those less fortunate than ourselves, for in so doing we do it for God himself. “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” — Matthew 25:37–40 (NIV). 'Lima' means to cultivate, and 'pela' means to give in Bemba, the most widely spoken language in Zambia.

What is their vision?

• The Foundation sees that its primary challenge is to assist in providing the highest possible standards of practical Christian education in self-funding inclusive educational institutions within poorer communities in Zambia.
• The Foundation will strive for honesty, compassion and integrity amongst students from an early age, and will encourage the qualities of self-reliance, imagination and adaptability that are required for survival in a country where employment opportunities are limited.
• The Foundation will help to support orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) in schools, will support educational AIDS awareness programmes, and will promote Christian values of sexual faithfulness.

School Projects

Cedric’s School in the Copperbelt Province, is the first project to be undertaken by Limapela Enterprises Limited (the Foundation’s legal entity in Zambia), under the guidance of the Foundation. This primary school was established in 1979 by Cedric Whittemore to provide education for the children of his employees. Today the school serves the wider community and has a roll of 260 children. Limapela is expanding and upgrading the school facilities so that up to 500 children can be enrolled in grades 1-9.

Other schools will be assisted and new schools started by Limapela as funding and resources become available.

Agriculture and Agri-Business

Limapela Farm is being developed and other agri-business projects started in Zambia under the ownership of Limapela Enterprises Ltd. Profits will provide support for its educational projects and reduce dependency of funding from abroad.

Fund-Raising

The Foundation values the interest and prayers of its supporters, whether or not they are able to contribute financially, and undertakes to provide them with regular information about all Limapela activities.

The Foundation is raising funds for both educational and agricultural projects by means of student fee sponsorship, teacher salary sponsorship, project staff personal support, general donations and unsecured loans. It is desired that all Limapela projects will in time become self-sufficient and will not require ongoing financial support, unless donors wish to maintain their connection with the project by way of specific regular sponsorship.

Conclusion

Readers who would like further information are encouraged to read the Limapela prospectus. Those who wish to make a donation towards the fund-raising outlined may provide their details on the separate donation form.

View the Limapela prospectus (PDF, 1.3 MB).

(If you wish to download the prospectus to your computer,
right-click on the link above and choose 'Save' or 'Download'.)