Agenda Highlights

AFRCAN CHILD DAY

KIDS CLUB

Feedback DEPARTMENT OF DISTRICT

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Challenges &

Opportunities COMPUTER COURSE

Prayer Requests STRIKE IN ZAMBIA

Acknowledgements JOHNSEN SIBULOWA

JOLANDA, NICK AND USCHI

Personal News VISIT TO CHOMA

Highlights AFRICAN CHILD DAY On 16 June 2009 was the event “Commemoration African Child Day” und

the theme “Africa fit for children: call for accelerated action towards child

survival”. The Mmabana Community Outreach Project of Choma (MCOP)

was appointed by the Department of District Community Development to

participate as a key stakeholder of the Organisational Committee of the

celebration in Choma.

As an agent in poverty alleviation MCOP was privileged to facilitate a focus

group discussion where about 250 students participated. They could voice

their concerns about the unstable environment of children in Zambia. The

successful participation of the MCOP was highlighted by the media.

MCOP’s media statement on SKY FM radio disagreed with the Day’s official

theme on „survival“: survival implies that conditions would get worse.

MCOP in Choma wants to raise awareness within the civil society of

Choma on important issues affecting the children and the community at

large. This is done in order to examine and become actively engaged on

advocacy and lobbying. The MCOP argument does not only focus on

government policies and programs within their countries – which affect

the living conditions of children – but also on international negotiations in

which their governments are engaged, and the international agreements

that they signed. Internal and international policies and programs are

intricately inter-linked.

(Quote: MCOP’s media statement with SKY FM RADIO at the celebration)

CHOMA | ZAMBIA

mmabana community outreach of Choma

ISSUE

JUNE

2009

Greetings “The Lord is faithful to

all his promises.”

Psalm 145 v 13

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AFRICAN CHILD DAY 2009

KIDS CLUB The kids club had its first

movie show on Sunday, 21st

of

June at the Mahogally hall.

Most of the children at our

kids club come from a poor

background. They do not even

have the basic necessities such

as water and electricity. A

movie show by MCOP would

offer them some amusement

and a chance to learn

something from it. The movie

was full of irony and action,

giving the kids an opportunity

to laugh and feel happy. MCOP

even handed out some

popcorn “on the house” (free

of charge) completing their

movies experience!

After the movie “Home Alone

3” we asked the kids to

respond about their feelings

and understanding of the

story: How do you react when

no one else believes you

anymore? Will you give up or

continue believing in yourself?

How can we defeat fear and

use our creativity? We were

amazed by their contributions,

through which the kids taught

us plenty of things. So

whenever you think a child

cannot teach you something

new, think again!

Feedback SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF

DISTRICT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The Department of District Community Development in Choma

acknowledges the MCOP of Choma for their efforts in supplementing

government programs.

In only a few months the organisation has been involved in “Youth Day”,

“Women‘s Day” and “African Child Day” events. The organisation‘s

involvement was of great importance, especially on African Child Day during

which it was part of the Organisational Committee. Part of this committee

was also the Department of District Community Development of Choma – a

wing of the ministry of social development.

During the preparation of the celebration MCOP has pioneered a new

concept of transformation where the citizens of Choma can interact with

government ministries and NGO in terms of social development programs.

The MCOP has shown the holistic approach of their work during the few

months that they have been involved in community development of Choma.

The involvement outlines:

• introducing recreational activities for the children and the youth

• encouraging women to participate in HIV/AIDS awareness activities

and economic literacy advocacy for community development

• offering free computer courses which has added value to the work

of the department of community development in the HIV/AIDS

programs and informal economic literacy programs for the

Women‘s Entrepreneurship Project

• sensitized youths and children on the value of education in the

Shampande community through the involvement of parents and

other stakeholders

• informing on the dangers of drug abuse and thus creating more

awareness among the youth, children and parents

• lobbying and advocacy programs for children’s right in Zambia

Our department considers the MCOP as a key stakeholder for the district of

Choma and wishes to continue to work together with the organisation for

their encouragement towards the most vulnerable in our community and

we thank all the people behind this great work whether they are in Zambia

or abroad. Their skills and commitment are highly appreciated in Choma.

MR NAKASAMU VICTOR

Assistant Community Development Officer

Department of District Community Development

Choma District

P.O BOX 630 445

Choma /Zambia

Registration number, (ors/102/52/686} under the societies rules of Zambia Section 7[2] of Societies Act cap 119]

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mmabana community outreach choma

Challenges &

Opportunities COMPUTER COURSE The organisation has limited resources to run

all its activities. We have only two

computers, donated by Monique and Nosiku.

There is a need to get more computers, so

that we can deliver the services we‘re aiming

for.

We will start a collection (Europe and RSA) of

old laptops that we can bring to Zambia and

expand the Computer Course offered by the

MCOP. Should you know of any old laptops

or want to donate towards this project, we

will be more than happy to hear from you.

Why laptops? The transportation and

running costs are far lower than that of a

desktop PC with monitor. More information

will come in next month’s Newsletter.

Prayer requests STRIKE IN ZAMBIA Currently there is a strike by the civil services

in Zambia which is has been going on for

more than three weeks. Many service

delivery activities are being affected - MCOP

prays for an agreement to be found solving

the situation between the government and

different stakeholders as soon as possible.

The very people of our community, the

children, the elderly, the sick and the women

are being deeply affected by this situation in

terms of

education

and health

service

delivery.

(Picture from

BBC.co.uk)

Acknowledgements JOHNSEN SIBULOWA Many thanks to Pastor Johnsen Sibulowa for his

technical support to the MCOP! He maintains the

computers free of charge for MCOP‘s Computer

Courses. Without his help the organisation wouldn’t be

able to manage the cost of the maintenance.

VISITORS: JOLANDA, NICK AND USCHI The MCO feels very privileged and humbled to receive

visitors. From May to end of June we received the visit

of Jolanda, a volunteer and medicine student working

on a project at Macha Hospital in Zambia. She came

with Nick, another volunteer and colleague from the

USA.

Then we received Uschi, one of our sisters with whom

we use to stay with in South Africa. She visited us at the

project in Choma with her friend John from the USA. It

was great to have them stay with us for a while. We

thank all of our visitors!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

WITH LOVE

THE MMABANA

COMMUNITY

OUTREACH OF

CHOMA ZAMBIA

Registration number, (ors/102/52/686} under the societies rules of Zambia Section 7[2] of Societies Act cap 119]

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mmabana community outreach choma

Personal News VISIT TO CHOMA At noon on the 17th of June 2009 my friend,

John, and I started our holiday adventure

into Africa. The destination was Lake Malawi

where our route took us through Zambia

with our small VW City Golf.

We would be driving through Botswana,

Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, so it seemed

appropriate to visit Nosiku and Patrick in

Choma. With our car loaded with food from

Monique we drove into the African sunset.

Ok, it was not quite that simple! We

experienced some problems with the

authorities and crossing borders was not as

simple as we had hoped. As a result we

arrived in Choma on the 21st of June 2009, a

little later than we had expected. It was

uplifting to be welcomed by Pat and Nosiku.

They introduced us to the children’s program

that they are currently running. We were

able to see about 300 children gathered in a

hall singing and dancing. The atmosphere

was exciting. The 50 leaders that were

present were attentive to the children’s

needs and it was clear that careful planning

and preparation preceded that day’s

program. The well structured and organised

nature of MCOP’s programs was again

observed when we set foot in the office. The

two computers revealed the skills that were

being taught and an impeccable filing system

displayed the concrete foundation that

Mmabana has started off on.

Later on in the day we were shown around the village.

This was all new to John and I, who were still trying to

get used to the idea that people should not drink the

tap water. The market was still open at night, children

were playing on the streets and the pubs were full of

avid soccer fans. We ate a delicious supper with Nosiku

and Pat and caught up on all the things that had been

happening. Nosiku and Pat welcomed John as if they

had known each other for years. John and I were highly

appreciative of the way in which we were received by

Pat and Nosiku and the hospitality that they showed.

The following day John and I were on route to Malawi

to continue with our holiday. The stay with Nosiku and

Pat was definitely a highlight on our journey. We have

become aware of the great need for organisations like

Mmabana and people who are able to selflessly give of

themselves for others who are less fortunate than they

are. We wish Nosiku, Pat, the MCOP and the Mmabana

Foundation God’s abundant blessings for the future.

Kind regards,

Uschi Froschauer

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Registration number, (ors/102/52/686} under the societies rules of Zambia Section 7[2] of Societies Act cap 119]

If you have any questions concerning the

project or ideas on how to improve this

newsletter, please feel free to write us at:

mmabana@gmail.com We will now offer the newsletters

in FRENCH, ENGLISH or GERMAN

simply email mmabana@gmail.com