The flame trees are in bloom, looking like they've caught fire from the sweltering sky - 33 degrees today in Kitwe. Internet connection is as rare as cool breezes, but there is equal warmth in the messages that the children and teachers in Bwafwano and here in Kitwe have asked me to give you. Misozi, whose name means 'tears of sorrow' because her brother died the day she was born, says "My name is now tears of joy." because of the support that has enabled her to become the trainee teacher she now is. As an orphan who had lost both parents by the age of seven, her chances of success were very slim. Now she is a smartly dressed young lady, on teaching practice at her old school. Her smile, as she leads a class of nine year olds through their maths and then a song about being assertive and standing strong when friends try to lead you astray, is dazzling.
I've visited five or six schools and been to the homes of some of the orphans to meet their adoptive families and everywhere I've been, the message has been the same. "Thank you so much and may God bless you richly for helping us. Please continue the good work you are doing. Without it I don't know where I would have been". Children in neat uniforms, revising for their end of term exams, have told me of friends who dropped out of school and turned to alcohol, and said how easily that could have been them.
Being here in person, you really get a sense of the overwhelming level of need. For every child we support there are many others who need help. But it's also so gratifying to meet not only the children, who talk about education with such appreciation, but the dedicated teachers who co-ordinate our support for them. Like Mrs Kaira at Mukuba High School who said "I think of the children as my own. I think if my children were in their situation, would there be someone to support them?".
The most moving messages came from trainee teacher Violet Mwaba who is featured in our 2008 Annual Report. She said "I am very grateful for where I am - and i know I'm going somewhere and it's because of you." And trainee teacher Brave who said "With education Zambia will definitely improve. I feel proud and happy about where I am now. We have our final exams in December and I promise we won't let you down!"
