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| NEWSLETTER 49 - januari 2024 | |
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Take part in the future of ZAP How?  
They are happy to share their experience with you... Charlotte van Dixhoorn
So of course we visited the Nkulamaziba schools. It was a long and dusty drive after which we arrived in a welcoming oasis of development. Beautiful classrooms with physics formulas recognizable from my youth written on the chalkboards, fields for sports, vegetable gardens and the Zambian flag raised proudly. We were first warmly welcomed by the head of the school and teachers, and then by all the students who had gathered under the trees outside. It was impressive to see the number of students going to school here in what seemed to be “the middle of nowhere”. Whether they had to walk kilometers every day, were able to come on one of the new bikes or as girls were allowed to stay overnight in the newly built dormitory. It was clear that here lay the opportunity for a good future - from primary to secondary school and even afterwards via training in sowing and carpentry. The teachers were sharp and dedicated, living on campus together, and the community has taken ownership and ensures that they develop what is needed. I felt honored to be able to contribute!" Wens and Jan Willem de With
Imagine a landscape, reasonably flat, everywhere low trees and shrubs, mile after mile, with now and then groups of mud huts with thatched roofs. Unpaved red earth roads with potholes, in the rainy season bumpy and barely passable. Bigger villages are situated far behind the horizon. Here literally in the middle of nowhere ZAP decided to uncover a piece of land and to build a school there, an initiative that over time developed to a school complex which at this very moment offers education to 1,200 children (elementary level) and 800 young people (secondary level). We are welcomed at the secondary school, where a group of pupils is awaiting us in their dark blue school uniforms. First we meet the headmaster and teachers. They tell us with huge enthousiasm about the school and the subjects they teach, mostly recognizable for us. We especially notice the share of English language education, very important as many of the children speak primarily their local language, while English is the lingua franca in this country nearly 20 times the seize of the Netherlands. We are informed that in earlier days the pupils had to make every day on foot long trips, early in the morning, and again in the late afternoon in order to visit school (if they did already do so). With the arrival of the Nkulamaziba schools this has completely changed. There are dormitories for the girls on the secondary school, cooking meals is taking place for the pupils, and they have bicycles at their disposal making the journey back and forth home less strenuous. To accommodate the teachers and their families, often originating from far away parts of the country, houses are constructed. The availability of water was an issue. But during our stay the news came through that funds had been donated to dig water wells (70 meters deep)! This all together makes an impressive whole, set out in a well-thought-out concept, that impresses us deeply. The reception by the youth is really most heartfelt. They treat us to beautiful songs, some serious, some humorous, there is even a song for ‘Madame Josien’ (how right they are!), dancing and declaring poems. No doubt about it how proud they are on their country and their school! In front of us we see the spes patriae, young people who well educated and highly motivated waits the important task to conmit to the future of Zambia. For the children on the elementary school we brought small presents, which were very popular! All the things we encounter make us humble, but at the same time super enthousiastic! It is really very special to see with your own eyes what ZAP has achieved, and goes on achieving each and every day also with its projects on other places in this high potential country. The infrastructure ZAP offers is an indispensable element entitling the Zambian people to make their own future. Our huge admiration for ‘Madame Josien’ and her team of people working for ZAP will be clear from the above. It is a great incentive to continue supporting their work!" 
Emile and Els Verbunt
All these projects were financed with the sponsorship money that ZAP generated. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to educate children, enabling them to actively contribute to building their own country. The dedication of the teaching staff is striking. How motivated these people are! The recognition by the Ministry of Education in Lusaka shows that there is cooperation and coordination with the (local) government, which is crucial for the success and sustainability of such initiatives. A future project, namely a guest house for new mothers, demonstrates the comprehensiveness of ZAP. These types of initiatives can have a significant impact on local communities and improve the quality of life of the people in the region. Josien and ZAP have many future plans for these projects. In the short term, uniforms for the students will be produced locally on ZAP’s own sewing machines. There is still a lot to be built (there are plans for a fish pond to improve the diet), more PCs need to be purchased and various improvements and ongoing maintenance require her constant attention. It is an initiative whose cost structure is transparent and every Euro is used for the purpose for which it was donated. Commendable, efficient and very worthwhile, what has been accomplished here in sixteen years! We visited Nkulumaziba in October and were welcomed by Josien who introduced us to the staff and students. What are these people motivated and what cheerfulness. We were struck by how well organized the school was. It was a moving experience. Now back in the Netherlands, we often think back to this wonderful initiative in Zambia!" Many thanks for your attention, till next time!
With our heartfelt regards, ZAP (Zambia Allocation Program) Josien Dudok van Heel Email address: info@zap-foundation.com Mobile; +316-21224041 Zambia +260973676057 
 ZAP – Zambia Allocation Program – Jan Massenstraat 1 - 1411 RW Naarden - Netherlands P.Bag 41 Woodlands – Lusaka Zambia Kvknr: 34298178 Bank account: ABNAMRO NL75 ABNA 047.16.70.634   |
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