Term 1 Jan - Apr 2003
Volume 7.1
Tongabezi Trust School, Private Bag 31, Livingstone, Zambia
E-Mail: vanessa@tongabezi.com                 www.tongabezitrustschool.com

Tujatane Tales

DENNIS THATCHER VISITS US

Dennis Thatcher came yesterday at our school. We were very happy when we saw him. We did songs for him, and we went one by one telling him our names. At last it was me, I said "my name is Mundia, I am 10 years old, when I grow up I want to be an engineer and you are very welcome." To me I will say Mr Thatcher wherever you go be proud, us we are proud at our school. All pupils at Tujatane were proud of you
(by Mundia - 10 years)

Engineering Services at Tujatane
Mr Ripper, a guest at Tongabezi kindly donated time on his holiday to draw plans for our water tower and also donated the steel.  The tower looks strong and smart.  Many thanks Mr Ripper. Our new water tank and pump donated by Mr Robbins are now installed and our showers are never ending!
(picture by Stafford)

(picture by Arnold)

WHEN WE WENT TO ST RAPHAEL'S
On 26th March we went to St Raphael's Secondary School in Livingstone to challenge them at chess. As we were going we saw some elephants. Mrs Parker stopped the vehicle so we watched. The elephants went then Mrs Parker started the car. We reached St Raphael's, we got out of the car then the man said come and sit inside the staff room. While we were waiting we played friendly matches against ourselves. After some time, the deputy headteacher came, he took us to their laboratory, then the pupils came and we started playing. We won them. The deputy headteacher said pack! Then we packed  after packing we went outside. We waited for Mrs Parker to come. She came so we got inside the car then we went home. 

(by Tamenji Siandubu)

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WORLD AIDS DAY
Our Grade Seven class went to Livingstone to support the fight against aids, and Tamenji and Sharon narated a poem.

SOCIAL DYNAMICS OF HIV/AIDS
(by Prester Gwenani)

(Tamenji's part)
Let me narrate my sad story
Death stares in the face during visiting hours in our hospital
Period

It did recently, on one of the beds lay a heap of bedding forming a question mark shape
Period

A close look showed a human being
The eyes had sunk in the sockets, his hair could be counted his face withered
Period

It was a person I knew and played with
There lay a friend, a son, a father
And now a patient diagnosed with an HIV/AIDS related sickness
Period

Let us suppose my friend was put on some HIV/AIDS medication.
I mean anti-retroviral drugs
He would have postponed his appointment with death
At least for some years
But people who need the anti-retroviral drugs can't afford them.
What a sad story
Period

(Sharon¡'s part)
Let us hear the other side of the story
You see, there are some, like Lizzie B.
Who earns her living through sleeping with 10 unknown men per night
because of the pangs of poverty that haunt her.
At 16, Lizzie B, with both parents taken by the cold hand of death due to AIDS
She has to sell her body
to put food in the bellies of her two brothers and sick grandmother
Can you imagine what life must be like, for children like Lizzie B
Who face life in the street alone, unprotected and unloved?
Scavenging for food.
AID or no AIDS, it is food first, disease later
That's what Lizzie B believes in
Period.

Lizzie B is on the street, pushed by harsh realities of liberalised economy.
We can bear with her, but others who have not been affected by poverty
continue to pay a blind eye to the pandemic.
One thing is true, the most devastating pandemic in human history is here to stay.
Now the question is . What have you done to stop this pandemic?
To sit by and do nothing is to participate in the genocide
Period

ANTI AIDS CLUB

Our school is taking part in the world fight trying to combat the deadly disease. Tujatane children are keen to help reduce the spread of AIDS. The club members range from grade 3 aged 8 years to grade 7 aged 12 years. Our club meet once a week to discuss and learn about HIV. It is apparent that Aids is every man's enemy. When asked why they like being members of this club, this is what some of our children said:

* I like this club because it helps me to have self control. (Muyangwa aged 15)

* I like this club because it helps me to know about HIV and how to protect myself from getting AIDS. (Bubala aged 14)

* I hate AIDS because it has killed many people in the world and because it does not choose. (Eneless aged 14)

* I hate AIDS because it kills people even though it's not their fault. Some children are born with AIDS. AIDS has brought about orphans. (Tamenji aged 13)

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WHAT TO DO WHEN BAKING ON A BRAZIER
The Grade Seven class, had some lessons on cooking on a brazier  - a basic oven using the heat from charcoal instead of electricity or gas. They baked the most delicious bread and scones!

How to use a brazier, by Miyanda Mweetwa. When you want to bake on a brazier you first put charcoal in the brazier and let the charcoal go red.  Next you put sand in the oven and then put the oven on top of the brazier.  After 1 hour you go and check if the sand is hot. In testing the sand we don't use our hands, you must get water and pour it into the oven.  Don't pour a lot of water, just a drop.

When you are ready to bake, put the oven on top of the sand and then put the lid on top of the oven. wait for 20-25 minutes and then go and check your baking. When removing the lid you must use something like a wire or cloth for example. You must make sure you remove it to make your bake cool.

The above pictures are of the brazier used by Grade 7 children with the help of their teacher, Mr Gwenani.

CONGRATULATIONS TO VIOLET

Violet Lichaha got married on 12th January 2003 on Chundu Island, on the Zambezi river. A local group danced for the couple as they were boating from their wedding. Violet says, "Chundu was a wonderful spot for the wedding and everybody present was fascinated." Violet, and her new husband Michelo, were treated by Tongabezi to a couple of nights in the Tree House.  Violet says, "I would like to thank Tongabezi for everything they did, we had a wonderful time in the Tree House where we were treated like VIP guests. The room was superb, the food was delicious and the staff were just excellent."  Miss Lichaha is now Mrs. Chibawe. Many congratulations to her.

VISIT TO LIVINGSTONE MUSEUM

Tujatane school went to present their play at the Livingstone museum. When we reached the museum the speaker said we should first sing the National Anthem. Christ the King was the first school to present their play, and was followed by other schools. Then it started raining very hard and we all had to wait. Tujatane performed their play at 12.00hrs. After the play the museum was free for everybody to go inside and look around. It was very interesting. (by Arnold)

THINKING AHEAD!

It is the final year at Tujatane for our Grade 7 students and it is time to plan which schools they will be attending next. Vanessa Parker took some of the parents to visit various secondary schools in the area to see the standard and consider them for their children's future.

Classroom

Grade

Teacher

No of children

Classroom One
Classroom Two            
Classroom Three          
Classroom  Four
Classroom Five  

Grade: 7 (age 11-15)
Grade: 5 (age 8-10)
Grade: 3 (age 6-9)
Grade: 1 (age 5-7)
Preschool: (age 3-6)

Mr Prester Gwenani
Miss Violet Lichaha
Mr Bond Lichaha
Mr Lee Mudenda    
Mrs Mable Peleko

20
20
20
20
27

School Afternoon Activities

Drama, Art, Sport, Remedial, Chess

If you would be happy to receive our newsletter by email it would help us tremendously. Please email me at: vanessa@tongabezi.com: vanessa@tongabezi.com

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The Tongabezi Trust School
Private Bag 31, Livingstone, Zambia
email: vanessa@tongabezi.com