The Nursery School at Chamba Valley provides pre-school education for about 90 young children, in three classes. The current premises comprise an old bungalow, built over 70 years ago and a 2-classroom block. In 2025, several teams of short-term volunteers from the UK led by Mission Direct's country manager Geoff Spiller plan to build a 3-classroom block and office, which will allow the classes to move from the unsuitable bungalow into modern accommodation and expand to cater for more than 150 children.

The new premises will allow more children to be prepared for primary school at age 7 and will act as an income-generating venture for the Evangelical Church in Zambia, which will run the facility. The estimated total cost of this summer's project is £28,000. The project is currently about £6k short of this target.

Cathy and I went to Zambia with a Mission Direct team in 2018 and to Zimbabwe the following year. We've witnessed the poverty of the compounds (think "townships" in South Africa), the cheerful resilience of the people and the transformational work that some churches do in such places. We've worked with Geoff and know his dedication and wisdom and we've worked alongside other volunteers who give a big chunk of their annual leave and cover all the costs of their trip to bless these beautiful people and to be blessed by them.

I don't want them to be making bricks without straw! So as I'll be 80 in July, (vainly?!) I thought I'd try another sponsored walk in an attempt to bridge the funding gap. My 2021 walk followed the Norfolk Coast Path from Hopton near Lowestoft to Hunstanton (84 miles in 4 days). I'm now looking at the Angles Way long-distance footpath along the southern boundary of Norfolk, which follows the Rivers Waveney and Little Ouse. I'm hoping to complete the 90 miles from Hopton to Thetford in four and a half days (June 9 to June 13) and hoping that you might cheer me on by giving something to help get the Kiine School project over the line.

The beauty of a project like this is that 100% of your gift gets to Zambia. It directly benefits the recipients, 100%. I've seen how valuable these building projects are, giving huge value for money (how much would it cost to build 3 classrooms and an office in the UK?). I know how much time (all free) Geoff puts into recceing these projects, working with local partners and leading volunteer teams. You'd find it hard to find a more worthy or rock-solid cause.

I was humbled by people's generosity last time - nearly £4500 from 106 supporters, with Gift Aid taking that well beyond £5000. Can we do it again? I'm training in an attempt to do my bit. I know that some can’t, but I’m hoping that friends who are able will be moved to make an enduring gift to children whose life chances can only improve if they have more and better education. That’s why so much of Mission Direct’s effort goes into getting classrooms built and why I’m praying that together we can help to provide the “necessary” to enable it to happen.