Bright Future
Two hard-working students, Mulenga Kalulu and Golden Musonda, both of whom were sponsored by Kaloko Trust Zambia (KTZ) until they completed their education at Mpongwe High School, are now
looking to a bright and fulfilling future.

This year, Mulenga embarked on a university degree in Education, while Golden was accepted to study Medicine at the University of Zambia having achieved nine points in Grade 12 last year, the highest results in the country.

Early Learning
25 small “graduates” of the Kaloko Crèche moved up this year to Luansobe Upper Basic School which, valuing pre-school education, accepts these children a year earlier than the usual entry age of seven.

Teacher-in-Charge at the Crèche, Josephine Kalokene, says 23 children, aged three months to six years, are currently under their care, and she hopes numbers will rise with new enrolment. Parents pay a modest monthly fee to the crèche but most funding comes from sponsors whose donations are used for salaries, equipment and teaching materials, refurbishment and improved nutrition and hygiene provision.

Teaching the four to five year olds, Josephine is supported by Kalumba Chinzena, in charge of the three to four year olds, and Florence who looks after the babies and toddlers.

Low-cost Latrines
Kaloko Trust Zambia has been host this year to several Finnish university students studying the construction, acceptance and use of dry toilets. Under Sari Huuhtanen of the Global Dry Toilet Association of Finland, six Environmental Health students, as well as Sari and her family, have been working on the project with the Luansobe coordinator, Michello.

60% of the people in the region, says Sari, do not have latrines, and schools often have no or very poor sanitation. The ecological double-vault latrine is well-suited to conditions in rural Zambia, and several dry toilets have now been built near schools and clinics in the area. With the original design costing over £300, however, the challenge is to bring costs to under £100. “The key,” Sari stresses, “Is to make the toilet affordable.”

The primary aim of the three-year project, funded mainly by the Finnish government, is to improve sanitation and hygiene awareness. Waste products, which are pathogen-free if treated correctly, can be also used as a natural fertiliser, however, and trials are underway at Kaloko. While the initial phase of the project will end in late 2008, it is hoped that a second phase will receive funding.

Healthy Handover
Kaloko’s Rural Health Clinic (RHC) is now able to store patients’ records, reports and immunisation data, thanks to the gift of a second-hand computer from Mrs Juliet Bullock and Mr Alan Hopper of the UK. On his visit to Kaloko in June, Kaloko Trust UK Director Renato Gordon presented the computer to Nurse-in-Charge Chisah Mulenga, with colleagues Osman Mutabishi and Rosemary Kawina. Alan Hopper’s son, Rob, also attended the handover.

McMillan the Mechanic
We always like to spread success stories at Kaloko, and thought we would share with you the achievements of McMillan Chisano, who began his education at the Kaloko-sponsored Luansobe Upper Basic School. Through hard work and the support of sponsors in the UK, McMillan progressed through LUBS and on to secondary school. He performed exceptionally well in his final year, Grade 12, exams and moved on to further education. McMillan trained in Lusaka as a mechanic. He came back to Kaloko Trust Zambia on work experience, where he got stuck in helping to repair the tractors.

He has now completed his City & Guilds Certificate in motor vehicle systems thanks to financial assistance from UK sponsor Sylvia Jones. Expressing his
gratitude, particularly to his sponsor, McMillan, 23, says, ‘Only through Kaloko Trust have I been able to reach where I am today.'