Happy Easter from Kapumpe

At school this week the children at Kapumpe learned about Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. As it is a Christian school, we were able to openly talk about Jesus, his death and resurrection.

In our Monday morning assemblies, we usually tell a story from the Bible and involve some of the children in acting it out. This week some of them helped to act out the events leading up to Easter.

The crowd (Pre-School) waving leaves as Jesus entered Jerusalem

Jesus having the passover meal with his disciples

Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane

An angel at the tomb telling Mary that Jesus had risen

Pre-School and Grade 1 eagerly watching the assembly

Young children require lots of repetition to help them learn, even more so when English is their second language. This meant that Grade 1 re-read the story in their class with translation. In Grade 2, the class discussed the Easter story and tried acting it out to re-tell it themselves.

The Grade 2 teacher re-reading the Easter story

Grade 3 enjoyed making Easter gardens and were able to talk about the different features and what they represented within the garden of Gethsemane.

Planting seeds in the garden

Arranging features of the garden

Watering the garden

Easter gardens made by Grade 3

We have enjoyed the long weekend but have two more weeks of term to go before the end of Term 1. Wishing you all a very HAPPY EASTER from all the staff and children at Kapumpe Christian Primary School!

Our roles as advocates

I believe that one of the most important parts of our role in Arise is being an advocate for the children that we support. Many of these children don’t have an adult who can or will speak up for them. They might live with a widowed parent, an aunt or a grandparent, but often that person doesn’t have the knowledge, skills or capacity to speak up or take action on behalf of the child. I can think of two recent examples of how we have tried to do this within both education and healthcare.

As there is no secondary school in Kaniki, the local government primary school, which usually goes up to Grade 7 (equivalent to Year 6 in the UK), has been allowed to go up to Grade 9. If children meet a certain standard in the Grade 9 exams and have the means to do so, they can go on to continue their schooling at a secondary school in town. We encourage children in Arise who are starting secondary school to find a friend or relative that they can stay with in town, because it is cheaper than daily transport from Kaniki. Although we also rent a couple of rooms in town where some boys stay if they don’t have their own accommodation. It isn’t safe for girls to stay on their own.

Three boys supported by Arise who recently passed Grade 9 were offered places at a school which is located on the opposite side of town to their accommodation. They approached two nearer schools about a transfer but were refused, so they were unsure what to do. I imagine that most parents in the UK in this situation would arrange an appointment with the head teacher and argue their case for a place. That isn’t always possible here in Zambia. The boys are all from vulnerable families. For example, one of them is the eldest of three sons living with their widowed mother who has been ill and bed-bound for years. I would consider her to be suffering perhaps more than any person I know. Despite this, her sons are a real credit to her – they are polite, bright and hard working, and so I believe that her son deserves to be able to continue his education.

The eldest son who definitely deserves a chance to continue his education

In Zambia, people don’t seem to get anywhere by arguing or standing up for what they believe is right. Some people in authority are solely focused on power. There is a lot of bribery and corruption which is interwoven in the culture. It seems that a more effective approach to tackling these types of issues involves being humble, showing you are willing to listen and demonstrating that you are grateful for help.

I went with one of our Zambian volunteers to meet with the head teacher of the school that the boys wanted to attend. On the way, we prayed for God’s help and favour on our conversation. At first the head teacher said all their places were full but then suddenly said “I will do you a favour” and told us that they would offer all three boys a place at their school! Because nothing is simple and straightforward here, it took three trips to the Ministry of Education and another trip to the school before the boys were given written offers. They were all delighted.

Two of the secondary schools in Ndola

Another recent example is when Rosie took two brothers to the local clinic who are supported by Arise and have umbilical hernias. Aged 8 and 11, they have had the hernias since birth but their sick father and alcoholic mother had never taken them to for treatment. The clinic gave them a referral to the children’s hospital, and despite a ridiculous appointment system Rosie managed to make sure that they were seen by two clinical officers. Unfortunately the officers were rude and unhelpful, making it very difficult to find out any information. Rosie asked them questions about the procedure so that she would be able to prepare the boys for what was in store, but the officers said she didn’t need to know! Their behaviour was very unprofessional and they even asked her for talk time (phone credit) as a bribe. Without agreeing to the bribe, Rosie left the hospital not knowing whether the boys would be given a date for surgery or not.

Fortunately, the boys were later given a date for their operations and the younger brother had his last week. I went to visit him at the hospital the following day. There was a very poor standard of healthcare and it was not somewhere I would want to take a child. I was told the boy had been discharged even though he was actually lying on a bed in a lot of pain. He had only been given half a paracetamol tablet all day. I felt like I was making a fuss when I spoke to the nurse. However, she eventually agreed to give him stronger painkillers and keep him in hospital another night. There must be so many similar situations that take place because nobody speaks up for the child who is suffering. 

In the Bible it says “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9). I like the way that former teacher Rita Pierson explains it in a TED Talk: (https://www.ted.com/talks/rita_pierson_every_kid_needs_a_champion?language=en) - “Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power or connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be”.

Every child deserves a champion

Our Christmas hamper appeal - THANK YOU!

I'd like to extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who kindly donated to our Arise Christmas Hamper appeal. I was blown away by people's generosity and delighted to be able to bless so many children, guardians and their families over the Christmas period.

Some of the hampers we distributed to children and guardians



It was quite a feat purchasing all of the food and household items and treats to put in the buckets and bowls. Shops over here don’t always keep things in stock and often have limited supplies. There are also only so many bags of rice, sugar and beans that you can fit in the boot of a car!

Guardians in Kamalasha

We began delivering the hampers in November as it takes a while to get to some of the homes that we visit. With the rains expected towards the end of the month, we prioritised travelling to Kanfinsa and Mwkela first since it can be difficult to get to these places when it is wet.

Guardians in Kanfinsa

Rosie and I travelled back to the UK for the month of December but were glad that Naomi (another teacher from the UK who moved out here in October) was here to continue delivering the hampers with one of our Zambian volunteers. They came up with a plan which involved inviting a group of guardians from one area to gather in a local house where they could explain the reason for the gifts and distribute them in a more efficient way.



Naomi found a different way to travel within Sikania!

The money and the effort that we spent was totally worth it to see the smiles on the guardians’ faces when we arrived to give them their hampers. Some of these people often don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Fortunately the local community has a culture of pitching in to help who are really struggling, so somehow people manage to get by, but a surprise gesture is always very welcome.

A very happy lady receiving her hamper

The guardians who we support are predominantly single mothers (often widows), grandparents or aunts. They were all very quick to say thank you, some looking to heaven or closing their eyes to thank God. One lady was so happy that she even burst into song!

More grateful recipients



Word obviously spread among guardians. Once Rosie and I had returned to Kaniki in January, several other guardians turned up at the Arise Office asking if there was a hamper for them! Thanks to the generosity of many of you back home, we were able to give them all a hamper.

One of the guardians who came to the office to collect a gift

Thank you to all of you who helped make Christmas 2015 a happier one for a needy family in Zambia.

Change a life - Sponsor a child

This lovely young lady had a tough start in life. Orphaned at a young age and abused by her stepfather, she was raised by her elder sisters. She lives in Kaniki and fortunately for her, she's sponsored by Arise.

Meeting my sponsor child

This is the girl that I personally sponsor through Arise. My sponsorship pays for her to attend school and get an education that she wouldn't otherwise receive. She absolutely loves school. In fact, she was disappointed last week when she came into the Arise office and found out that due to transport issues she had to wait a few more days to go back to school!

In Arise, we try to consider the individual needs of the children and families that we support. This is why the girl that I sponsor actually lives at an orphanage in another town during term time where she attends school. It means that she can receive counselling to support her in dealing with the childhood trauma that she experienced.

Sponsoring a child can make a real difference to their life

It was amazing to have the opportunity to meet her and see the difference that sponsorship is making in her life. Some years ago I sponsored a 5 year old girl called Mercy through the charity Soapbox, and met her when I travelled to Kenya on a 
short-term mission team. Ironically she was the only child there who was scared of the 'muzungus' (white people), so she actually cried when she met me!

Mercy and her mum

With some children who weren't scared of me!

My sister, Rhi, with her sponsor child Nicholas
(and his friend in the background!)

When I was growing up, we used to sponsor children in other parts of the world as a family. I remember that we had photos of them pinned up on our kitchen noticeboard. At the time, I probably didn't really know how different the child’s life was to mine, or even where the country that they lived in was. However, it did make me aware that there were children who lived in less fortunate circumstances than me. Being linked to a sponsor child in another country can be a great education for children, learning more about the world around us and how different lives can be in countries many miles from our own.

Although many people won't get the chance to meet their sponsor child in person, it can still be both exciting and rewarding to receive a photo of the individual child you are supporting. You can read their school report and hear how they are getting on, seeing what a difference your support is making in their life.

We have many more orphans and vulnerable children needing a sponsor. The scheme costs £25 a month and pays for the sponsor child to attend Kapumpe Christian Primary School. Sponsorship also covers school fees, uniform, books and stationery for the child, as well as porridge at breakfast time and a snack during the school day. Each sponsor child is invited to attend our weekly kids’ club and their family or guardian is visited and supported by Arise volunteers.

If you sponsor a child through Arise, you will receive an email newsletter each school term to update you on Arise and Kapumpe. We will also send you a photograph and some information about your sponsor child, and their school report.

If you would like to change a life and support a child, please visit https://form.jotformeu.com/kaniki/arise and complete the form, or email me at kop@kaniki.dk. We would be delighted to hear from you!

We’ve also put together an information sheet about Arise child sponsorship which you can read below.

Click here to read our Arise Child Sponsorship information sheet

Thank you for your support.

A Tribute to Hope Cross

One of the hardest things about living in Zambia is being so far away from friends and family and missing important events. Today is one of those days for me. It's my lovely Nan's funeral. So I'm thinking of my family today as they gather to celebrate Hope Cross and a life well lived.

My sister Rhi has written a tribute to read on behalf of us three Cross sisters. It conveys some of our memories of Nan which I would like to share in tribute to her.

Nan & Grandad with seven of their eight grandchildren

There are many things we will remember about Hope. She had a way of making every person she spoke to feel like they were most important person in the world to her. She also had a great ability to find beauty in the smallest things.

The first time Nan and I met

Hope was one of the funniest people we knew. Even when her dementia had advanced and there was lots she couldn’t remember, her quick wit was still fully intact. She had an uncanny ability to drop jokes into conversation, and she often had us in stitches.

'Love and Laugh' was Nan' and Grandad's motto

Hope was the most positive person we have known. When asked how she was, she would always respond with a cheerful ‘I’m fine!’ even during the most difficult times. She once told us that when she was a young woman she decided not to say a bad word about anyone, so from then on she didn’t. She would interrupt strangers in restaurants or on the street to compliment them, and would give money to crying children to cheer them up. She unashamedly loved everyone that she came into contact with.

I loved being spoiled when I went to stay at Nan and Grandad's

Hope was a lot of fun. As grandchildren we would always want to visit her, no matter how old we got. We never felt that we were ‘too cool’ to spend time with her. In fact as we got older we realised that she, who at 89 came shopping with us at Dorothy Perkins and Topshop, was in fact much cooler than us.

Shopping with Nan

Hope was always tidy. She kept everything clean and in its place. She kept kitchen roll manufacturers in business by using it with every cup, plate and saucer, and another piece was always kept up her sleeve. She would clean before the cleaner arrived, and wipe down tables when she was leaving a café or restaurant. She would insist on combing my hair if she thought it was too messy, and would always look immaculate before stepping out the front door.

Nan and Grandad with my Dad at my parents' wedding

Hope was in love; Kenneth was the love of her life. After 65 years of marriage they were still very loved up and were often seen holding hands or affectionately teasing each other. Ken once said that Hope was “too good for this life”, a sentiment understood by all who knew her.

Hope & Ken

Hope had a faith. She loved Jesus. She talked about him and to him often. She prayed for each of her children, children in-law and grandchildren by name every day. She never missed an opportunity to thank him, and when saying goodbye to someone she would always add a “God bless”. Through grief, illness and frailty, her love for and faithfulness to her Lord were always evident.

Nan was always cheerful, even in hospital

Hope is an inspiration. When we look at her life and the legacy that she left behind her, we cannot help but be inspired. Anyone who knew her and loved her wanted to be like her. Life without Hope in it is hard to imagine. But we strive to become more like her by being kinder, more thankful and generous, and by complaining less, and therefore by doing so we bring a little more Hope to the world.

Nan and Grandad

I am really grateful that I was able to see Nan several times when I was back in the UK in December. The last time I saw her, she was on form. Despite being so sick and frail, her humour and cheerfulness were contagious, which was so typical of her. She made the ordinary extraordinary.

When I was interviewed for my previous job as Head of School, some of the children had an opportunity to ask me questions. 'Who is your hero?' they wanted to know. I imagine they expected me to say a well-known historical figure or a superhero, but immediately I said Nan! Her character and attitude towards others is something that has both inspired and challenged me. I know she would absolutely adore the children and all the people that I'm working with here in Zambia. Her faith in Jesus and the compassion she modelled set an example to me, and is something that has prompted me to get involved in the work I'm doing here.

96 hours and counting...

The rainy season is now in full swing here. This is great news for people living in the rural community who rely on the rains in order to grow maize, the staple food. Over the last few weeks I’ve experienced some of the loudest storms that I have ever heard! The thunder and lightning were very dramatic.

You never know how deep the puddles are until you drive through them!

On Saturday night, a storm raged and took down part of the wall around the compound where we live, as well as the transformer. This means that we’ve had no power for four whole days. That's 96 hours so far…

The wall which was damaged by the storm

I normally love weekends, but a whole Sunday of pouring rain and no power increased our sense of isolation here. At home, it would be pretty easy to pop round to a friend's or carry on with 'normal' life. But here when your laptop battery dies, it's dark and you don't have much food that can be cooked on a gas ring, there really isn't much to do. Feeling ill that morning with a sore throat and headache probably made me feel a bit more sorry for myself than usual!

In truth, these things don't often bother me very much. In fact, power cuts, water shortages and other frustrations have become part of the daily life that I'm now used to and have even come to (mostly) enjoy! Nevertheless, there are some occasions when it does just feel incredibly annoying.

I then remind myself that I live near many people who have no access to electricity at all, and yet I’m getting frustrated when my phone runs out of battery. Some people in Kaniki and the surrounding areas don’t have enough to eat, and here I am wondering how long my freezer food will last. I remind myself that we can’t always choose what life throws at us, but we can choose how we respond. As the saying goes, ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!’.

Hot chocolate and ice cream makes everything better!

I am so grateful for friends here who have invited us for dinner, to use their shower or do our laundry at their houses this week! I’m very grateful that we do often have access to electricity and we always have enough water to survive. I’m glad I have a warm place to stay and food to eat. I’m thankful for family and for friends here in Zambia and in the UK. I thank God that I’m healthy and have the opportunity to live life to the full. I’m thankful that I am able to live abroad and do a ‘job’ that I love. I find that being grateful always helps to lift my mood.

Friends who have helped us during the power cut

Some of the Arise guardians have really inspired me in this way. When we've taken them gifts of food, they immediately thank God and then thank us. They are quick to kneel, which is a Zambian sign of respect, and show gratitude. Many of them give us big smiles despite desperate circumstances. 

Many of the people I've met here have inspired me
with their respect and gratitude

Making a difference

There is no doubt that Arise and Kapumpe Christian Primary School are making a difference to the lives of people in Kaniki and the surrounding areas. There are many children receiving a good education who otherwise might not be at school; there are families with food who might otherwise go without and there are people working in jobs that they would not otherwise have had the opportunity to pursue. It is a wonderful privilege to be involved in this. However, I am learning that you do not have to give up your job and move thousands of miles away to make a difference and change lives.

Excited to be going on a school trip and for a new experience

My choice of teaching as a vocation was largely motivated by a desire to ‘make a difference’. I began my career working in a school in a deprived area, which fitted in with what I wanted to do. Later on I moved to work at a school in a very affluent area. To my surprise, I found there were just as many needy children but that their needs were different. Money helps to buy houses and food but it doesn’t buy time, care or kindness.

Me with some of the girls at Kapumpe who have hugely grown in confidence

A career in the caring profession is usually perceived to be very rewarding and fulfilling. In some ways it is, but it can also be frustrating! We are sometimes in danger of romanticising such professions when the reality is that a teaching job is so hectic, it becomes easy to rush through the day without stopping to ask how someone you are working with really is. I’m sure that this is not exclusive to teaching. It leads me to ask myself whether it’s more important to be highly productive and consumed with a to-do list of tasks, or to take more time considering the impact of our behaviour and attitude on the people around us, and what they may need from us.

The Zambian culture dictates that people should always take time to greet others. I love the way that people here make time to talk to each other. Of course, the pace of life is slower here compared to the UK, so it can sometimes be frustrating when little else gets done! But overall I think Zambian people are focused on the right priority.

There is a strong sense of community

Greeting others is very important in Zambia

As I gain life experience and come across a range of different situations, I become more convinced that what we do is not the greatest way that we can make a difference. I believe that instead, we can have a greater impact on others by how we treat them. For example it doesn’t matter how much charity work you do, if you are rude or grumpy with those you come into contact with, then instead of provoking admiration or inspiration, they will be left feeling insulted or that they are a burden. Likewise, even if you feel that the work you do doesn’t make much of a difference, the way you treat those around you may have much more impact than you could ever imagine.

I couldn’t think of a better example of someone who embodies this philosophy than my Nan, Hope, who passed away last week, the day before her 91^st birthday. I think everyone who met her would like to be a bit more like her. She didn’t ask for a lot or live a flashy, showy life, but how she lived had a huge impact on all her family and friends. She was the most positive person I’ve ever known; she saw the best in people, accepted them without judging, and loved and cared for people in a very genuine way. She had a strong and simple faith, knowing that God loved her and always sharing that love with others.

Me with my lovely Nan

When I consider the people that I admire the most, it does not tend to be the tasks they undertake that inspire me, but instead the attitude and character that is shown through what they do. Therefore, learning a lesson from the Zambians, I've come to understand the importance of making time for people, and that it is how we treat those around us that has the most enduring impact on them.