We are celebrating ten years of FCTrelief Zambia Foundation! Looking back, we are filled with gratitude for what we have been able to accomplish. When we look at the many lives that have been transformed by our work, we are encouraged to continue and do more. Here is an overview of FCTrelief Zambia Foundation as we celebrate our first decade.
"Showing the World to Children" Chris Merk with zambian children
2010: First Visit to Zambia
In April 2010 Heiner and Chris Merk visited Zambia for the first time, which proved to be life-changing. On that trip, they also visited Nigeria and had been to South Africa the year before. They had always had a heart for Africa and now the time had come to take action in more practical ways. Swiss charity organisation FCTrelief, founded by Heiner and Chris, at first supported a Zambian charity which at the time was working in Linda Compound, just outside Lusaka, Zambia’s capital city. That organisation supported children from vulnerable backgrounds with education. Apart from that, one of the first major projects was the transportation of a medical container donated by the Swiss army. It is still in use today and serves many in the community.
Medical Container donated by the Swiss Army, transported by FCTrelief
2014: FCTrelief was founded
In 2014 it was time to start our own charity organisation in order to be more efficient and effective. After learning a lot about the country, FCTrelief Zambia Foundation was ‘born.’ From humble beginnings with only a handful of children in both Linda and George Compound, FCTrelief supports over 90 children at present and 22 students in higher education and skills training. These range from medical education, nursing and business administration to engineering and agriculture. Mishek is studying computer science in India. Several have already graduated, such as Gift and Memory, and, notably, Dr Winnice Nyirenda. She was helped to finish her medical degree. We also organised a trip to Switzerland for her to see Swiss medical facilities.
Dr. Winnice Nyirenda in Switzerland
Our current project manager, Eugene Mtonthola, and his mother, Hilda Iombola-Phiri, started out by helping poor children from vulnerable backgrounds to read and do basic maths. Mr Daka, now well over 80, was also one of our first part-time teachers. He is a retired teacher with a heart of gold for educating children. He still comes by to visit us. Tabea Zuber, a nurse from Switzerland was part of the original team to pioneer and establish our charity in Linda. She worked for FCTrelief for around ten years and her work especially in the prioneeringphase was very important.
Various young people came as volunteers to support the work in Linda during the first five years. Hanna Dürger and Christopher Bauer have made many visits to Zambia over the years and been a great support. Sponsors and friends of FCTrelief have also made visits in Zambia and have fond memories. Erich Vracko and Gordon Merk have accompanied Heiner and Chris is recent years to support them. This with the motto, ‘Team Work makes the Dream Work.’ Gordon has taken on an important role to support both the staff and the pupils and to take the organisation forward.
Mr Daka and Febian - humble beginnings
Building Infrastructure
‘The Plot’—at the time an empty plot of land on the edge of Linda Compound with its surrounding wall and gate, plus 3 trees for shade—was purchased and is now the base for FCTrelief. Now, ten years later, we have one large main building, and two houses (accommodation, offices, kitchen), as well as a large grass sports field (a rarity in Linda) with a shower and toilet unit. The work to educate children first took place in tents and under trees. We also sent containers from Switzerland with aid, notably clothes, bedding, furniture, whatever else that could be useful and a great number of second-hand bicycles. We accommodated a bicycle workshop for a while, and one volunteer, Mike Wigert, trained Zambian bicycle mechanics to assemble, repair and sell the bicycles.
Classes in the tent despite modest infrastructure
The infrastructure was built step by step, thanks to generous donations. We managed to raise money to install solar panels, which are essential in a country with limited electricity supply and increasing loadshedding. Among other aid, school furniture and PCs were donated so our children can be exposed to ‘the world of computers’ in practical ways and learn vital skills. The plot also gives the children, many from vulnerable backgrounds, a safe environment, and a place to simply be, play and enjoy activities.
Happy pupils in front of our main building
At first FCTrelief operated on three days a week. As funds made it possible, we increased to five days. The teachers now had full-time work. The classes were divided into ‘morning’ or ‘afternoon’ pupils, depending which half-day they were otherwise at school, often in classes of 80 or more pupils. In much smaller classes on the plot, the children benefitted greatly from the extra half-day tuition and their school performance improved. As word spread of what FCTrelief was doing, the number of pupils steadily increased. School fees were paid, uniforms made and shoes bought, plus books, pens and schoolbags.
Racheal (right) with grateful pupils
2017: Feeding our Pupils
We realised that the lack of food in our children and youth was a problem and had negative effects on their health and education. Malnourishment is a major factor in Africa that hinders development and growth in all aspects of life. We decided to start cooking lunch to feed our pupils. This was ‘a big step of faith’ in terms of the additional costs to maintain such an endeavour—but it worked out! We also added a small breakfast—a wholewheat bread bun, baked locally, and a banana—so the children don’t have to go to school with an empty stomach. The improvements in the children by feeding them has been remarkable. Their general health and school performance has improved no end. It was the right choice. These nutritious lunches are often the only proper meal a day for many of our pupils. Increasingly, we were also able to have medical checks done and care for these children beyond educating them. We have recently launched a fruit tree campaign to provide additional fruit for our pupils.
Blessing and Tamara with lunches
The Farm
To support our charitable work, a farm was purchased by FCTestates Zambia with the vision to produce good quality food for FCTrelief and raise funds to support it financially. We also wish to provide work for those who choose to learn agriculture. This is a much-needed profession in a poor nation with over 20 million people, more than half of them children. Zambia was a successful farming country and was one of the richest nations in Africa when given its independence by Great Britain in 1964. However, today it is among the poorest. Zambia has a national debt towards China in the billions, and an inflation of 50% and a devaluation of 30% of their currency. Things are tough for many and not easy to improve. Having a farm gives us a measure of food-independence. Although farming has its challenges, we are pursuing our vision.
Heiner and Chris Merk at the Farm
Another volunteer, Boas Hvalic, who is a trained vegetable farmer, came for seven months at the beginning to help set up the farm, and again for two shorter periods. He was a great asset and is still fondly remembered by our farm workers. We have also established a good cooperation with a skills training institute in Chikupi, originally founded by an Italian organisation and run by a Swiss man. This partnership has proven valuable for those young people who we sent to enrol in their programmes. Several have successfully completed their training.
Heiner and Chris Merk visiting Vocational Training Centre Chikupi
Our Team and Work Today
Our team today consists of four teachers, Eugene, Ernest Mubanga, Peter Zulu and Racheal M. Chikopela. Our female teacher Racheal is also a guidance counsellor and cares for the girls in a personal way. Danny Chikopela, a trained Public Health Officer, joined the team last year and is a great support to Eugene, our project manager, as well as carrying out his various other tasks. We have several cooks and a cleaner, a team led by Marian Bwalya-Mtonthola, Eugene’s wife. Peter Musenge is our caretaker and responsible for the grounds and infrastructure. Brian Mulenga has been a legal and financial advisor for FCTrelief since the start and has been vital to the positive development, both of the foundation and the farm.
Our team of teachers with Gordon, Sämi and Erich
Our work focuses on improving the children’s educational development and general health. We teach them good values and principles for life, with a general thrust of motivational inspiration to do well, dream big and succeed in life. During school holidays we often organise workshops that specialise on these aspects of education. We see the positive effects of this now in the 22 students in higher education and skills training at present and those who have already completed their courses. The personal touch and care in everything we do is making a huge difference in the lives of youth from difficult family environments. FCTrelief Zambia has become a family for many of the pupils and staff, past and present.
Chris Merk with students at Universities and Colleges
Vision and Gratitude
Our vision to help people in practical and relevant ways has been worthwhile. We are grateful to the many sponsors who supported us over the years. Your donations made this possible. We are grateful to everyone who made a contribution to what FCTrelief is today. We look forward to many more years of practical and constructive cooperation. Improving people’s quality of life and advancing education for young people makes a great difference. Our motto 'a future through education' is important to us. We will continue to be a charity with ‘A Heart for People’ to make dreams come true.
Heiner and Chris Merk with many grateful pupils
Comments