tribal textiles

Well here we are at the end of another busy year - 2008 has certainly had its ups and downs! With huge currency fluctuations making budgeting for projects and teachers' allowances very hard, global recession is affecting visitor numbers and bookings to the valley with the direct result that projects like ours also suffer, and the threat of more hardship to come – we join the rest of the world in worrying about these unpredictable times.

We have not taken on any huge projects very recently preferring to budget carefully in order to ensure that we can keep the teachers allowances paid and maintain the teacher training sponsorship.

But we are just about to start building a dining/kitchen /storeroom for the school. A simple open sided structure with a store and kitchen at one end and benches for the children to sit comfortably and eat their lunch. Almost undoubtedly it will double up as a dry season classroom as well! As we mentioned in the July newsletter, Malimba is supported by a World Food Programme project which donates highly nutritious food to selected schools to ensure that the children get at least one decent meal per day.

Of the 200 plus children at Malimba – well over a third are single or double orphans so this is a vitally important project. It really is amazing to hear the teachers talk about how levels of concentration and achievement, not to mention attendance have risen now that there is a good hearty lunch for everyone.

The building of this structure is being made possible with a donation from Make Me Smile - www.makemesmile.org a wonderful charity set up in the name of our dear friend Jo Harris who lived here in the valley and worked for Tribal Textiles. Jo tragically died of cancer earlier this year. She was an inspiration to us all and was very active in fund raising for Malimba and had a particular interest in raising awareness of HIV/Aids.

Her mum and aunt brought our dear Jojo's ashes back here to be scattered in her beloved valley amongst the elephants and wild flowers.

We miss her so much but her beautiful smile, warmth, generosity of spirit and overflowing love for humanity remains an inspiration to us all.

Our other friends and supporters are too numerous to mention individually by name but we wish every one of you peace and joy this Christmas and New year.

Watch out for our 2009 wish list and New Year's resolutions in January!

Contact us at sales@tribaltextiles.co.zm to find out how you can help,
and to subscribe to our newsletters.