Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Monica and I are currently traveling the world and blogging about our experiences http://twomelovelos.blogspot.com/

One of our goals is it raise awareness around the North West Development Trust (http://nwzdt.org/) in Zambia where I was born.

Since building a low impact hydro-electric scheme, the trust now has the challenge of extending power lines to the clinics, families, schools, and businesses. Having access to electricity will greatly impact their lives. For example:

The local Kalene hospital now has 24-7 power for surgery, X-rays, sterilisation and other equipment – people travel hundreds of kilometres from 3 countries for treatment.  Soon a school will be connected which has over 500 primary and secondary pupils, who have no option but to walk up to 15km in each direction every day to receive their education. As well as lights in classrooms, they can now have computers and other facilities. It will also address a critical challenge to the hospital and school - attracting and retaining qualified staff who have been reluctant to live in the bush in darkness and with no basic facilities. 

he next stage is connecting more schools, clinics, families and businesses. Encouraging entrepreneurship is critical to stimulating the economy in an area where there is almost no formal employment and there is little option but subsistence farming. Currently, the villagers use paraffin lamps, candles or poor quality batteries to provide light after darkness at 6pm. As well as non-polluting lighting, electricity will allow fridges, radios, pumps etc, greatly improving qualities of lives – 1 house can include up to 15 people.

If you would like to help bring light, education, health and employment to genuinely needy people then please consider a donation – every penny donated goes to equipment or local labour, there are no admin costs – and every £20 makes a difference.

So please sponsor us!  Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Echoes Of Service and then North West Zambia Development Trust gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.