Roofing of the Mwambezi Village School Block. The iron roofing sheets were sourced from Kasama the Capital of Northern Provice  located 153 km from Mbala. 

The Three-Classroom Block Under Construction

Photo by Wisdom Simbeya / Ntungo Noble Images

Construction of the three-classroom block foundation

Photo courtesy of Wisdom Simbeya / Ntungo Noble Images

The main activity during this month is gathering materials for the construction of the school building. Ntungo Noble provided funding for purchasing sand, cement and foundation bricks.

Men offloading sand from the truck

PHOTO courtesy of Wisdom Simbeya/Ntungo Noble Images

Men loading cement for the school foundation

PHOTO courtesy of Wisdom Simbeya/Ntungo Noble Images

Men offloading bricks for the school foundation off the truck

PHOTO courtesy of Wisdom Simbeya/Ntungo Noble Images

A pile of offloaded bricks for the school foundation.
Still more loads of bricks to be brought in

PHOTO courtesy of Wisdom Simbeya/Ntungo Noble Images

Friday, August 9, 2019 marked the end of the second term of school. Ntungo Noble wanted the kids to have good memory of school and look forward to coming back. With the help of Roselind Santos of Winnipeg Ntungo Noble was able to sponsor end of term party for the kids. 

Dishes of delicious rice and chicken covered with some gravy prepared for the Mwambezi village preschool children by a couple of volunteer mothers from the village.

Photo courtesy of Wisdom Simbeya/Ntungo Noble Images

Each preschool child is served with a dish of delicious rice and chicken

Photo courtesy of Wisdom Simbeya/Ntungo Noble Images

For a desert a cake was ordered from a bakery 12 km away in Mbala town

PHOTO: Courtesy of Wisdom Simbeya/Ntungo Noble Images

Although the children received school supplies on July 3, 2019 they did not have chairs to sit on in the rented church. Son on July 7, 2019 Ntungo Noble provided funds for purchasing preschool chairs and tables for the kids, courtesy of Roselind Santos of Winnipeg.

The preschool children enjoying a Ntungo Noble sponsored breakfast to celebrate the receipt of the preschool chairs and tables

PHOTO: Courtesy of Wisdom Simbeya/Ntungo Noble Images

On Wednesday, July 3, 2019 the preschool at Mwambezi village finally received the shipment of school supplies. The teachers distributed the supplies to the preschool pupils. Each pupil received a plactic pocket carrier, a notebook, a pencil and an eraser. The school supplies included teaching aids for teachers as well.

The preschool class showing off the school supplies just received. Courtesy of Roselind Santos. Look at the joy on the faces of these kids. It's all worth it.

PHOTO by Wisdom Simbeya / Ntungo Noble Images

The preschool class showing off the school supplies just received. Courtesy of Roselind Santos. Look at the joy on the faces of thes kids. It's all worth it.

PHOTO by Wisdom Simbeya / Ntungo Noble Images

THE MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT

Yes, the preschool is up and running at Mwambezi village. The major thing that remains is shelter. Ntungo Noble is working on ensuring that the preschool has a two classroom building with an administrator's office. For this Ntungo Noble is looking to raise $34,000 between July and September 2019

On June 18, 2019 the two teachers of the preschool at Mwambezi village were gifted with two bicycles by one of the Friends of Mwambezi village Roselind Santos, who donated money for the two bicycles. Each bicycle cost $130. Ntungo Noble, the teachers, the preschool class and the community are really grateful for this show of generosity and support for the Mwambezi village preschool.

Having a bicycle makes it easy for the teacher to commute to and from school, run to town to pick up any supplies that the school needs and move around the village meeting with parents of the preschool children.

Ntungo Noble continues to mentor the community at Mwambezi village. In May 2019 Ntungo Noble asked the community to establish a school committee to oversee the running of the preschool. The community responded quickly and here is the established Mwambezi Village School Committee:

Maybin Chungu

Mwambezi village School Committee Chairman

Brave Kalumbi

Mwambezi Village School Secretary

Jane Mpange

Mwambezi Village School Committee Treasurer

The Ntungo Noble office received an update that the community had started work on making bricks for building a preschool structure consisting of two classrooms and an office. The community is not looking to continue renting church space for the preschool as the space is not tailored for classroom use.

Draft of Preschool Room Layout Plan

PHOTO by Wisdom Simbeya / Ntungo Noble Images (c) 2019

Men slashing off bushes and grass from the work area

PHOTO by Wisdom Simbeya / Ntungo Noble Images (c) 2019

Men and Women clearing off the work area

PHOTO by Wisdom Simbeya / Ntungo Noble Images (c) 2019

Men digging the pit for getting the clay for making bricks for the preschool building

PHOTO by Wisdom Simbeya / Ntungo Noble Images (c) 2019

Ntungo Noble organized a musical fundraising to benefit the preschool at Mwambezi villlage. This was the first fundraising event ever held by Ntungo Noble since its inception in 2017. About $1400 was raised from ticket sales and donations made by friends of Mwambezi village and supporters. Ntungo Noble leadership appreciates everyone who participated in this fundraising drive. The money is earmarked for supporting the preschool at Mwambezi village.

PHOTO by Chrispin Ntungo / Copyright 2019 Ntungo Noble Images

The hardworking Teachers of the Mwambezi village Preschool. These are volunteer teachers working so hard without being paid a dime just to ensure that the children are literate and have chances at the opportunities life offers.

Wisdom Simbeya

Mwambezi village Preschool Teacher

Tyness Chungu

Mwambezi village Presschool Teacher

The Ntungo Noble Office received news through Facebook and WhatsApp that the preschool class had been started at Mwambezi village with 60 preschool children attending. This is the best news ever received by the Ntungo Noble office in its short history. Of course as a new preschool, it needs everything from shelter to books and supplies.

PHOTO by Wisdom Simbeya / Copyright 2019 Ntungo Noble Images

Dr. Chrispin Ntungo, the Executive Director, visited Mwambezi village and held a meeting with the community. There were 122 people in attendance. A crucial vote was taken to embrace the Mwambezi Village Development Program and prioritize the projects. The community wishes to begin development with the water project, followed by the school and the medical clinic. 

 
Picture showing the display of blue prints for the school. Picture by C. Ntungo

 The Mwambezi village Headman Mr. Gavieson Chungu showing the 14 hectares of land secured for the School and Medical Clinic.

On the same day, the Program Director Dr. Henry Silungwe commissioned the making of bricks. Villagers have been divided into seven groups. Each group will make 10,000 bricks for a total of 70,000 bricks.

The fundraising strategy and the web site content completed just waiting for final approval by the Board of Directors of Ntungo Noble Projects, Inc. The fundraising goal is $710 000 for investment in poverty relief infrastructure. 

December 31, 2017

Wrapped up coordination and consultation with the village headman and Ntungo Co-operative Society Board and Management. The sites for the K-4 school, medical clinic and the grain storage facility have been identified. Electric poles for a step down transformer for the village have been erected. Fundraising goal $710 000 for physical projects implementation.