Unfortunately it is difficult for the orphans and vulnerable children to regularly contribute to CONTESA due to the lack of computers and internet access, hopefully this will improve with time as CONTESA builds and manages the Peter McDermott Skills Block in Kabwe.
However the orphans have made some contributions through testimonial letters, comments and videos. These have been highlighted here so friends and supporters can hear and or see directly from those being helped.
Watch orphans in these 3 videos celebrate the official opening of their new school in Kabwe, the Futures Community School.
Grade 9 Kabwe Students practice singing the Zambian National Anthem for the CONTESA official opening of the Kabwe Futures Community School or click to watch the orphans celebrate the official opening with traditional singing and dancing or watch the orphans talking about and rehearsing their drumming for the opening.
Join in with the orphans choir at Messiah Mission Community School who greeted CONTESA visitors with a traditional song.
13 year old ‘Orphan Sarah’ a double orphan living in Kabwe with her 8 orphaned cousins. Sadly Sarah passed away suddenly on 24th August 2011 due to a AIDS related illness. However her wonderful determination and attitude will live on through CONTESA and inspire us and her friends to help as many orphans as we can and to give them hope through our feeding and educational programmes.
‘Agatha and Kaluba’, Agatha is a 4 year old girl with club feet and Kaluba a boy with cerebal palsy, who we have featured several times in our newsletters .
The poignant poem below entitled ‘AIDS’ was read by orphan Gift to CONTESA trustees and supporters during their April 2011 visit:
My name is Gift Chalungumana. I am going to present a poem entitled ‘AIDS’
Aids, aids, I hate you, I hate you
You are rotten and you stink
I hate to see you stretching your long finger into innocent blood
Men and women murmur and watch you in terror
Children tremble at your sight
Babies scream
Oh! No! Who is safe with you, Aids?
No one, no one at all
Aids, aids, you have grown into a giant like a tower
You are taller than the highest
The whole world is watching you in terror
No one has an answer
No one has a solution
Mum and dad, watch out!
My brother let us run away
My sister let us run away
From this mysterious creature
Aids, before it catches us, run faster, don’t look backwards
On listening to the devil on the bush, it may strike you
Run, run, control your behaviour and shame Aids.
LETTERS FROM ORPHANS
Click here to read a letter of thanks from orphan Christopher Mambo
Justine Kalunga says Thank you