Greetings from South Luangwa! 

As the temperatures start to rise in the valley, we continue to push forward with new and exciting projects, while strengthening and developing our core work. 

While we can't quite believe that it's the end of September already, looking back at everything we have achieved this year is really very inspiring. We are so energised by the incredible work we've seen across all of our projects, and humbled by the unbelievable support and encouragement we've received from donors, sponsors and other organisations. 

What's more, we have loved to welcome back so many old and new friends alike. The past two years almost seem like a bad dream as we open up our doors to the international community once again, sharing in all of the wonderful experiences and positivity that we each bring. 

DigiLearn

The launch of our new Digitruck programme in January this year has met with huge success.

The pilot project saw 96 children from Chiwawatala Primary School begin learning the national curriculum with the help of digital tablets. Dedicated Teacher Coaches (all qualified teachers and ex-sponsored students of Project Luangwa) have overseen the programme, under the direction of experienced Headteacher Graph Evans. The results have shown a steady increase in all subjects, and a high level of class attendance. 

Huge thank you to one of the key funders and supporters of Digitruck - Nina Patel - who we were thrilled to welcome to the valley this month!

Edulution

Educational impact continues to be a huge driver for Project Luangwa. As we deepen our direct involvement in the classroom through DigiLearn, we also continue to support 1,200 children through our four Edulution centres. 

This year has seen some of the highest attendance since the project started, with learners across all grades improving at significant pace. 

A huge thank you to Livingstone Foundation, Chiawa Trust, Lyons Trust, Leanne Bell and a private donor for sponsoring each of our centres and continuing to improve the learning opportunities of disadvantaged rural kids. 

Foundation Programme for Young Achievers 

The launch of our Foundation Programme for school leavers has been one of our most successful and impactful projects to date.

All of the students on our course have come through our sponsorship programme and as a result stem from disadvantaged backgrounds. Despite often being the first in their families to complete school, their education system is still deeply under resourced, and suffers from a lack of teachers and staggering class sizes. The Foundation Programme is about filling in those limitations and preparing students for tertiary education and later life.

The course is made up of three key pillars - English and literacy, numeracy and technology, and career development.

English is the key that unlocks not only tertiary education but also the wealth of information on the internet. As such, the students are undergoing an intensive literacy curriculum. They submit and receive feedback on short compositions and essays multiple times per week. They read every day and practice unfamiliar vocabulary using digital flashcards. They give oral presentations and watch videos and documentaries in English. There is still room for improvement, but progress has been fantastic, and it is a pleasure to watch the students gain hard-earned confidence.

As school graduates, the students are accomplished in mathematics. However, they have acquired their knowledge largely by rote, and often cannot apply it to unfamiliar situations. Therefore, we seek to deepen the students' existing knowledge of mathematics through exciting online resources such as Brilliant and Kahn Academy.  In addition they are becoming used to working with technology everyday. All of the students had minimal exposure to computers before starting the course, but are now comfortable across the basic Microsoft Suite, Gmail, Google Classroom and Google Docs. They also conduct independent research for classwork and their personal interests. The average typing speed of the class has also risen to 20-30 words per minute! These essential skills will allow the students to succeed in tertiary education, college, employment, and everyday life.

Finally we are spending a great deal of time in supporting the students with how to develop their future careers. We have benefited from wide ranging career talks from inspiring medics, veterinarians, hospitality and leisure managers, NGO workers, teachers, agricultural experts, entrepreneurs and business leaders. We also took the students on a field trip to Lusaka and continue to develop their skills in CV writing, job applications and cover letters. 

With this course we feel that Project Luangwa is now tackling education with a fully holistic approach. From primary level support through digital learning and mathematics, secondary school development through sponsorship, supplies and investment, and now foundational development post school, we are seeing an incredible impact across all levels. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us on this journey, and in particular Hermione Holmes who has hugely helped Project Luangwa this year, and the Mills Family, whose generosity will allow us to expand the programme next year. 

The field trip to Lusaka was the first time then the majority of students had ever left Mfuwe 

South Luangwa Hub at Lusaka National Park 

Collaboration is a hugely important part of improving communities and conservation across South Luangwa. 

We are so pleased to partner with other local organisations - Chipembele Wildlife Trust, Conservation South Luangwa and Zambian Carnivore Programme - to design and develop our new South Luangwa Display Hut at Lusaka National Park. 

Game Rangers International have created a truly exciting, beautifully finished and creatively designed education centre, which will greatly support local tourism while promoting conservation and community development across Zambia.

We're so pleased to be a part of this project and please do take the opportunity to visit when next travelling through Lusaka!  

Developing the Team! 

We are so grateful to have such a fantastic team at Project Luangwa, with truly dedicated individuals who deeply believe in what we are striving to achieve. 

Over the last few months we are sad to say goodbye to Mubita who has left to take a research and teaching position at Eindhoven University in the Netherlands. This is a fantastic opportunity for him, and we're very grateful for all of the work he has done for us in setting up our new Monitoring and Evaluation systems. This work will now be continued by Deborah, our new Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant. Deborah brings wonderful energy and new skills to the organisation, and we're pleased to welcome her aboard. 

In addition Martin Veron, our Volunteer Course Coordinator, has worked tirelessly over the past few months to build a fantastic course curriculum and develop the skills and education of the Foundation Students. He has now finished his six-month post with us and has travelled to Kenya to teach at an International School. We are truly indebted for his dedication, passion and enthusiasm for driving forward this exciting new project, and wish him all the very best on the next stages of his career. 

We are very fortunate to have brought Mwila Mazunda into the Project Luangwa fold however, who steps into the new role of Education Manager. Mwila has already displayed a strong aptitude and has quickly and efficiently got to grips with her wide role. On top of sponsorship, she will also be overseeing the administration of the DigiLearn and Foundation projects, something that she has taken to with alacrity. 

In addition to our newest members, I'd also like to express deep gratitude for the continued hard work of the Accounting and HR Team, under Cosam Phiri, and of course the tireless dedication, and incredible expertise of Fwilane, our Head of Operations and Gender Support!  

From left to right, James Mwanza, Fwilane Banda, Cosam Phiri, Deborah Ndonji, Levy Mwansa, Mubita Simataa, Martin Veron, Mwila Mazunda and Ian Macallan 

Sponsorship

The generosity displayed by our sponsors is truly staggering, as we continue to support 129 children through secondary school, and 51(!) through University.

The start of September saw the children return to school for their final term and with the help of Fwilane, Mwila, Deborah and a number of our Foundation Students, we helped the children to improve the level of information they are providing in their letters. Offering their sponsors a deeper insight into their daily lives. The feedback from this has been really positive, and the students have really enjoyed sharing more of their experiences. 

With the incredible support of our volunteer sponsorship coordinator in the UK, Yaz, we're also so pleased to see that our level of communication with sponsors has finally got back to normal. 2021 saw some incredible challenges, not only due to covid, but due to emails bouncing and being delivered to junk mail. While many of you have already done so, please help us to insure our emails get through by marking communication from Project Luangwa as 'safe'.

We are continuing to work hard in order to also raise funds for our scholarship programme. Many students who attain good marks at school, are still unable to go to University as Project Luangwa or their sponsor cannot afford to support them. We know what a huge commitment University is, and as such we are trying to set up a Scholarship Fund, that will allow those students with the best results to be guaranteed a place in tertiary education. By clubbing together, individual donors can therefore help to support very deserving students on the next stage of their progression. Thank you so much to everyone who has already supported this initiative. 

Students come to the Project Luangwa Clubhouse to write their letters before returning to school

Feeding Schools in Malama

The trip to visit the remote schools in Malama is always an uplifting one. With the incredible support of Rotary Club Meerbusch, we were able to deliver mealie meal (Zambian staple), cooking oil, soya pieces, salt, sugar and menstrual hygiene pads, across each of the three school terms, helping children who otherwise receive no additional support. 

There are no other school feeding programmes in Malama Chiefdom, so the food we have been able to provide not only provides the children energy, sustenance and motivation, it also helps to raise attendance. 

We were pleased to be able to bring some of the Foundation Students with us on the trip, and despite three flat tyres and having to send back to Mfuwe for spares, they all had an incredible experience, saw some amazing wildlife, and learnt a lot about social responsibility!  

We're truly indebted to Rotary Club Meerbusch and its members for all of their help.  

A Tribute to Katherine 'Mary' Jephcott 

Last month we were informed of the sad passing of Mary Jephcott, a passionate traveller and committed missionary and teacher. Mary reached the incredible age of 99, and was the heart and soul of the her local Peak District community. 

Her niece, Maggie, very kindly selected Project Luangwa as the chosen charity at Mary's Thanksgiving Service, and we are truly humbled by the number of donations raised. 

We would like to share the moving tribute from Mary's niece, and thank everyone who contributed. 

"My Aunt Mary Jephcott was an inspirational lady who was born in 1923 and died in 2022, 99 years well lived. She had many interests however was passionate about wildlife and helping others.

In her late twenties her heart led her to South Africa. In January 1950 she set sail to Cape Town to work in Orlando outside Johannesburg, for two years  at The Nursey School,  Dikonyaneng teaching  young children and training student nursery school teachers. The memories of her time in South Africa at such a difficult time remained in her heart forever.

When I returned from Zambia we chatted on many occasions about our African experiences and my visits to schools supported by Project Luangwa. Following on from Mary’s death supporting the charity was the right choice."  

Welcome Back to the Valley!

The return of tourism to the valley after nearly two years has been truly wonderful!

As restrictions finally lifted, we have seen a major influx of visitors, and it has been fantastic to welcome donors and sponsors back into our community after such a long absence. 

The return of tourists has not only provided a critical boost to the local economy, it has also meant that much needed school donations are once again getting through to us. We have been able to donate chalk, pens, pencils, maths supplies, sports equipment, menstrual hygiene pads, reading glasses and electronic items to so many schools and communities this year, as a result of the incredible generosity of our guests. Thank you so much for all that you do. 

Visitors to our Craft Shop and Café also offer vital revenue to the Project, with 100% of the proceeds going back into our programmes. In addition the local craftspeople that we support by providing a platform for their goods, have finally been able to make a living from their art once more. 

We'd especially like to mention Pack for a Purpose, who do so much to organise supplies being brought out to schools, communities and children in need. 

In addition Expert Africa have been incredibly generous in their support, donating $10 to our Eco-Stove Project, after every review they receive from a visitor.  

It is so good to finally see everyone again, and we hope that this will continue into next year and beyond! 

We're ready to welcome you!

Eco Stove Expansion

Over the past few months, the stove team have been working farther a field and tackling some of the remotest communities in South Luangwa.  

The Eco-Stoves are made from local materials and communities all get involved in their building, creating a sense of ownership. Each stove significantly reduces carbon emissions and only requires a small amount of wood to cook on, reducing deforestation and producing a far more efficient flame. This saves (predominantly women) a lot of time in cooking and reduces the risks of going deep into the bush to collect firewood. We're also seeing a reduction in pulmonary illnesses as a result of less smoke inhalation. 

As part of our monitoring and evaluation, we carried out a survey of 450 households in April, and were pleased to see that 90% of the stoves were being used correctly and were in good working order. With the help of visitor funding we are continuing to go back into communities to re-sensitise and insure that all inoperable stoves are repaired. 

To date we have built and registered nearly 2,500 stoves and planted 750 trees, in local villages and households. With this early success we are now seeking to expand the programme, bringing in additional staff and splitting the team into three in order to cover the widest area possible. 

We are also seeking funding for a new Stove Supervisor and a second-hand motorbike, to allow the teams to be better connected once spread out in the field. 

Thank you to C-Quest Capital and Expert Africa for the incredible support of this project. Without C-Quest in particular it would simply not be possible. 

How Can you Help?

For those who would like to get involved, there are a number of initiatives we are currently raising funds for. These include: 

• $3,000 for a new motorbike for the Stove Supervisor
• $3,500 for a new school roof at Nsefu Primary School 
• $700 for new desks at Uyoba Primary School to allow Grade 7s to sit exams
• $400 for Chiutika Primary School to reconnect their electricity 
• $750 to support the Girls and Boys Football Teams for the rest of the season 

If you would like to donate even a small amount for any of the above projects then please follow the link here, or email info@projectluangwa.org. Thank you so much for your support!

In addition, to those visiting the valley, please check out Pack for a Purpose's website, as any donations are so gratefully received. 

Finally, if anyone is booking their trip through Expert Africa, then please remember to leave a review as $10 goes to our Eco-Stove Project. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout the past few challenging years, your generosity is having such a positive effect on the lives of disadvantaged children and communities. 

Livingstone Foundation have very kindly covered the costs of the renovation of a classroom at Nsefu Primary School. However as the work was underway we then discovered that the roofing timbers were also rotten. We're seeking $3,500 to replace these and to renew the roof sheets. 

Incredible Support 

We continue to be humbled by the incredible support from all of our donors. It is so wonderful to welcome everyone back to the valley after so long, and we are truly indebted to everyone who has donated or provided school supplies for disadvantaged children during their trip.   

We're also incredibly grateful to the organisations that have continued to work with us during these challenging times, and a big thank you to Africa Hope Fund for their match funding  of up to $10,000 for digital learning! Thanks also to Expert Africa, for donating $10 to the Stove Project for every review. 

In addition, the commitment of our lodges to support local communities has continued to be outstanding. Without the critical relationship between tourism-community-conservation, then South Luangwa would fail to exist as we know it, and we are so grateful to all our members, Flatdogs Camp, Kafunta Safaris, Shenton Safaris, Green Safaris Shawa River Camp, Njobvu Safaris, and Chichele Safaris Puku Ridge, for all they do. Please follow the links below to learn more about these wonderful operators. 

As always we can't thank all of our child sponsors enough, for allowing disadvantaged children the opportunity of an education. If you'd like to know more details about this, then please take a look at our website. 

We're also incredibly thankful to the Patel Family for driving our newest initiative DigiLearn, and to C-Quest Capital for allowing us to implement our stove project. In addition the generosity of the Mills Family and the Nelde Family has been unbelievable in allowing for expansion of both the Foundation Programme and DigiLearn next year. 

Finally, thank you to everyone who has chosen 'Project Luangwa' as their charity of choice through Amazon. As a reminder, for those of you who shop on Amazon in the UK, please remember to login through Amazon Smile, rather than the usual login page, and select Project Luangwa as your supported charity. That way every time you shop, a portion of the cost is donated for free. 

If you would like to know more about our activities then please click here or look below for a link to our annual reports. 

A special thank you to Chiawa Trust and the Lyons Trust, for their support of Edulution and Sponsorship and Livingstone Foundation and Partners for providing funding and sponsorship for a number of school projects, sponsorship and Edulution as well! 

As always, we are also so grateful to everyone who has chosen to sponsor a student or donate to one of our programmes. You are the reason we are able to continue our work in South Luangwa and help to empower the people living here. The good you do cannot be overstated. 

Thank you

If you would like to get involved, or continue to support Project Luangwa and all of our programs, please click one of the links below.

Visit our website for more info www.projectluangwa.org

Project Luangwa is proudly supported by local Member Lodges:

Flatdogs Camp, Kafunta Safaris, Shenton Safaris, Green Safaris, Njobvu Safaris and Chichele Safaris Puku Ridge