18 May 2009

Classes full at four Adult Literacy Schools

Following the success of the pilot project with Satemwa School, 3 further adult literacy schools have now opened in Mwalanthunsi, Chawani and Sabankhanga divisions.  This ensures that all workers and their dependents from Satemwa have access to free evening classes.

550 workers are registered to date with over 70% attendance each day.  Schools run from Monday to Friday, 4.30 – 7pm.

Satemwa Headmaster, overseeing the project, commented “the schools are very popular and the teachers are also happy.  We have a high attendance even though it is harvesting time”.  The JB currently employ 25 teachers to manage all the different levels of classes in each school.  Some students are planning to write their Standard 8 exams next year.  Others, including some grandmothers, are starting in Standard 1.

JB Vice-Chairman, Connex Banda, commented “there are parents studying Standard 1 ..and their grandchildren are in Standard 6, or 7.  The children are helping them…the parents are happier now for the children to go to school, not staying in the village or helping in their gardens”

Satemwa Tea Estates management are helping the JB improve the schools by painting all the new classrooms.

Banda, discussing the latest school in Chawani, comments “we are carrying down new benches and desks each night until we can organise a watchman” .   Satemwa’s main school already benefits from new desks donated by the JB.

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A standard 2 class at Chawani school opening night

12 May 2009

Water projects Update

The Joint Body have completed the first 12 boreholes and planned for a further 6 to be drilled, completing all compounds and villages around Satemwa.

Following a meeting with Chizinja village, a new project to pipe water from the mountain is in planning to help with safe drinking water and irrigation in the area.

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11 May 2009

Satemwa sports kick off again with the Fairtrade Premiership

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By popular demand the Joint Body purchased 6 sets of sports kits.  3 Netball kits and 3 football kits – giving each division area there own teams.

After a few weeks of training, the first matches were played yesterday, drawing hundreds of people to support and enjoy themselves at Satemwa Football and Netball grounds.

Final scores were:

NETBALL

Mwalanthunsi 1
Satemwa 12

 

FOOTBALL

Mwalanthunsi 2
Satemwa 0

 

Aside from the sports, people used the event to enjoy some music, dancing and socialising!

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Satemwa Division Netball team

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Mwalanthunsi Division Netball team

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JB Chairman, Rabson Kalowa, greeting players

 

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whoaaa…

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Satemwa Division Football team

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Mwalanthunsi Division Football team

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a bit of dancing at half time

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it was meant to say ‘fairtrade premium’…but now we have a name for the league..