From February 13th thru March 3rd, I had the privilege of being in Ndola, Zambia. As a board member of both Give Hope for Life, the sponsoring entity of the Mapalo Academy, and Northrise University Initiative (sponsor of Northrise University), I was returning to Ndola, where I’d last visited in 2005, to serve both Mapalo and Northrise University and to assess the progress that had been made.
When I’d last visited Mapalo, the classroom building was just nearing completion; now it was completed and had been occupied for over 6 years, hosting classes for 350 students during each of those years. Additionally, there is a dining commons, serving a meal to the students in 3 shifts, seven days per week; a new restroom facility for both boys and girls with sinks, toilets, urinals, and showers that was nearing completion; and, in back, a new building and concrete slab hosting Mapalo’s very own concrete block making business, producing blocks for the building trades.
concrete block making business building
The restroom facility was constructed by the Rotary Club of Ndola, under a Matching Grant provided by Rotary International in conjunction with the Ketchum/Sun Valley Rotary Club. With a budget of just under $11,000, the Ketchum/Sun Valley Club leveraged $3,400 of local funds into the total, with matches from District 5400 in Southern Idaho and Rotary International. Rotary of Ndola managed the project on the ground in Ndola, and oversaw the construction, along with Mapalo’s Head of School, Emil Mukuka. As I write this, the project has been completed and the facility is being utilized! My thanks to my fellow Rotarians for supporting and completing this project!
Since December, Colin Sichande, has been overseeing the production of concrete blocks, utilizing our two employees, a cement mixer, wheelbarrow, and hydraulic block making form/press to inventory just over 4,000 blocks. At a cost of just under $.60 each, and an estimated sales price of $.74 each, profits from this venture will be utilized to offset the costs associated with educating and feeding the kids. Marketing and Sales is ongoing and with the end of the rainy season looming, the sale of our inventory and corresponding production should pick up dramatically. Colin, Emil, and I spent considerable time developing our cost accounting and reporting methodology, and determining our production and inventory strategies, and we’re all extremely confident that sales are imminent. My special thanks to those who boldly invested in the support of this venture!
I’d also like to commend all who work at Mapalo, including our teachers, cooks, custodians, and, especially our Head of School, Emil Mukuka. Emil’s dedication to the administration of Mapalo is obvious. Over and above this, though, is a love for the kids, as demonstrated by his taking a student to the hospital who had broken his arm, overseeing his care, and ministering to the student’s grandparents and his help with food, shelter, and family for all of the students.
My time there in service was most rewarding, and my assessment of the progress: SPECTACULAR! My, how the Lord has provided through the support you have provided!
-George Kirk
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