African Revival is delighted to announce that one of our schools which was visited by the Zambia Bike Ride participants in May 2011 – Lubombo Community School – has recently been accorded the status of “Basic” school by the Kalomo District Education Board!

This is excellent news as it means the facilities at the school are deemed to be of the necessary standard for it to come under the auspices of the Ministry of Education.

This change in status will have a number of positive implications for Lubombo School; it can register as an exam centre, meaning its pupils will no longer have to travel to another school to sit national examinations; the Government is obligated to post trained teachers to the school (provided sufficient accommodation is available); and it can now apply for modest funding from the Ministry of Education to carry out further development of school facilities and structures.

Right now, African Revival is using money raised by the Zambia Bike Ride Challenge 2011 to construct a twin staff house behind the school. When complete, this will provide much-needed accommodation for 2 teachers and their families. Other projects completed at Lubombo in the last 2 years include the drilling of a school borehole and construction of 4 double Ventilated Improved Pit latrines.

In January we were delighted to receive support from a foundation to build a girls washroom and deliver training for the girls at Akanyo primary school.

This project will have a direct impact on the girls at this rural school as they will be able to manage their menstruation with dignity, and will be able to increase their attendance at school.

We are pleased to report that this project is running to schedule. The construction of the girls’ washroom is due to be completed this week. The only jobs now remaining are to plaster the walls and cement the floor.

The workshop is due to be delivered to the girls of Akanyo Primary School on the 30th March 2012, in time for the opening of their new washroom.

We have already placed our order with Afripads for the re-usable sanitary products; these will be distributed to the girls as part of their workshop.

Zambia Bike Ride Funds 5 New Classrooms at Kasizi Basic School

African Revival is no stranger to Kasizi Basic School. Back in 2010, we built 2 staff houses in the school grounds and these have since helped to attract new and better teachers to the school as well as increasing the retention of existing staff who now have adequate and comfortable on-site accommodation.

The old classroom block

The new Block

Following the enormous success of the 2011 Zambia Bike Ride Challenge, African Revival has been able to fund more work at Kasizi – namely the completion of a triple classroom block and the renovation of another double block. The double block in particular was in a shocking state of disrepair and had to be almost completely demolished and rebuilt. The completion of these 5 classrooms and 2 offices means that there are now 8 classrooms at the school, which is almost enough for the schools 9 year groups.

African Revival is delighted to announce that one of the schools with which we are currently working and which was visited by the Zambia Bike Ride Challenge participants in May 2011 – Lubombo Community School – has recently been accorded the status of “Basic” school by the Kalomo District Education Board!

This is excellent news as it means that the facilities at the school are of a good enough standard to come under the auspices of the Ministry of Education. This change in status will have a number of positive outcomes for Lubombo School:

– It can register as an exam centre, meaning its pupils will no longer have to travel to another school to sit national examinations;

– The Government is obligated to post trained teachers to the school (provided sufficient accommodation is available)

– It may apply for modest funding from the Ministry of Education to carry out further development of school facilities and structures

Right now, African Revival is using money raised by the Zambia Bike Ride Challenge 2011 to construct a twin staff house behind the school (below left). When complete, this will provide much-needed accommodation for 2 teachers and their families.

Monday 11 February 2013

Luwero to Ziwa

We are getting used to these early starts. 5.30 alarm as usual.

Today, we are to cycle over 100 kilometres to the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, most of it along a good tarred road, boasting an adequate cycle track along its sides. The road takes us roughly in a north north westerly direction, with an arrow straight directness, no respect paid by its engineers to the undulating countryside. The bicycle bungee is soon back in service.

Although still early, just after 7, we pass many children also using the cycle track on their way to school, as we process out of Luwero. They have their school day on their minds, but still have time to greet this strange band of foreigners. The towing arrangement is a particular source of hilarity amongst them.

After being jogged and rattled about all day yesterday on the dirt track, it is good to have the feel of a metalled road under our wheels. But the downside is that we have to compete for road space with sundry vehicles exhibiting a variety of driving styles. The message emblazoned on one coach “BELIEVE IN DIVINE INTERVENTION” was more an instruction to other road users than a call to faith.

As we leave Luwero behind us, the homesteads along the roadside begin to fade out, and the small farming plots attached to them give way to swamp and marshland, conifer forests, and open savannah. Apart from the conifer forests, a rather surprising feature, there is no sign of cultivation on any commercial scale despite the availability of good, fertile land to support it.

By lunchtime, we cover over 60 kilometres of the day’s journey in three stages.The shade of a conifer forest gives us a welcome respite from the heat of the day. In everyone’s mind is the vision of our road, stretching in a seemingly interminable line to the horizon, as it reveals itself to us over every summit we climb. But we take comfort from the knowledge that two third’s of the journey is behind us, and we are making very good time.

After the lunch stop we continue through countryside that has now become more arid, but still supports plenty of vegetation. The odd little homestead, hidden away in the bush along side the road, is the only sign of human habitation here. There is a prohibition on building within 10 metres of the road, signed by white posts marked “UNRA”, the national road authority, and the houses are mostly hidden behind brush.

The last 40 kilometres we spend on this road passes relatively quickly, the team linking up in a series of pelatons that makes the ride less daunting, psychologically and physically, for everyone. In a rather bedraggled village, we take a left turn down a dirt track and, after a brief stop, finish the day’s journey in the rhino sanctuary. We see no signs of the principal guests as we struggle along the sandy path that eventually brings us to the Lodge, and plentiful supplies of well earned liquid refreshment.

We arrive before 4.00 pm, giving us time to look around the Lodge area, where several golden crested cranes, Uganda’s national symbol, are in residence. There is even a semi tame waterbuck, and a duiker, which both seem relatively unmoved by our presence. We celebrate the day’s achievements with a braai on the terrace of the Lodge. After a warning from the Warden to look out for rhino wandering about and some instruction on what we can see in the night sky from Henk, and momentary confusion of profuse fire fly traffic with a possible meteor storm. we make our way back to our rooms for the night.

Day 3: Distance covered 106 kilometres. Total ascent 625m. Maximum temperature (in full sun) 49C.

Thanks to Glen and William for the update

This years Christmas Parade was a great success.  Accompanied by the Hampton Hill Traders Association, 1st Express, Shooting Star, the Hampton Hill Cricket Club and many more, including the Scouts and dogs in fancy dress, African Revival enjoyed a fantastic night on the 43rd parade of this kind.

With support from the iconic Sean Blowers of BBC’s London’s Burning and the amazing African drummer Steven Kasamba of ACDArts.com, African Revival drew attention from thousands of onlookers as they mastered the Santa Conga.

The Parade was led by the wonderfully talented drummer, Steven Kasamba of ACD Arts, and the fantastically passionate local celebrity, Mr Sean Blowers

African Revival dressed for Christmas

The Elfs