Emma presented the Church with a local hand-crafted Noah’s Ark
At the morning service on Sunday 18th September Rev Eleanor handed over the pulpit (so to speak) to Miss Emma Clarke and invited her to share her experience of her recent visit to Zambia as part of Project Zambia 2025. Emma began by thanking all those in the congregation who had supported the fundraising events that had made the trip possible. Her impressions of the country encompassed rural poverty, children living on the streets, erratic supplies of electricity and water, strange food and communities living in compounds for their own security. However against this backdrop she was much taken by the vibrant culture and friendliness of the people amongst who she lived and worked for three weeks.
The team from Northern Ireland worked in a local school, painting one block inside and out and arranging for repairs to the toilets. They also sourced a computer and printer, paper and ink as well as donating books, clothes and sports equipment. In the wider community the team supported local craft industries and made donations of medical supplies and sanitary products. They also helped out by teaching in a local orphanage and in the special needs unit of a neighbourhood school. Emma’s memories of the visit include vibrant church services, the friendliness of the peoples and the challenges posed by poverty and insecurity. She was warmly thanked for her engaging talk and power point presentation by Rev Eleanor Hayden