The Start of the Partnership with Chipmebi School

Over the next two weeks we will publish extract from the Partnership Report document. Our first extract looks at how the partnership started.

South Leith has enjoyed a good relationship with Chipembi School, Zambia since 1998 so this is a particularly well-developed and mature project that has developed and which has held the church’s steady and continued attention over a very long period.

Mr Denny Lumbama, the then Headteacher, came to Scotland and successfully completed his Masters degree in education at Moray House College of Education, Edinburgh. He was supported by the congregation during that period.

At the start of the partnership the church looked strategically at the needs of the school and the community at Chipembi and at the resources available to them. The school had pupils, staff and land, but a shortage of food and few resources.

A decision was taken to invest in the land and to develop a viable farming community.

Bit by bit land was brought into use, for agriculture, 16 animals were bought to start with, now there are chickens, sheep, 100+ cattle, pigs, a fish farm and donkeys in a viable farm that supports the school. It has Orange, Guava and Lemon Trees, fields of maize and various root crops. The school has their own freezer for the cold storage of meat.