John
Shelly Bursary 2006
The 2006 recipient was Sport for
Africa – Development of facilities and services
for Kokwe Children’s School in Kokwe,Zambia, Africa,
nominated by South Eastern Branch of EHOA.
From left to right:
Ann Marie Part, Chairman EHOA, Mr Larry Byrne, St Helens
Bay G. C.,
Mrs John Shelley, Mr Lorcan Shelley, Tom Sugrue, S.E.
Branch EHOA,
Mrs Marie Byrne, St Helens Bay G. C.
Overview of Project
In 2004 , the members of St. Helens Bay Golf Club and
friends undertook to raise funds to build a girls secondary
school in Zambia for the Kiltegan Missionaries. The
members enthusiastically raised funds through a golf
classic, sponsorship and selling books of raffle tickets.
A missionary Fr. Ned Ryan, a Tipperary man addressed
a packed clubhouse in September 2005 when the presentation
of the money was made, where he outlined the vital need
for a school, especially for girls, for his remote impoverished
parish.
The end result was a new secondary school, built and
roofed in a small village named Kokwe, about 1 hour
from Chipata in the south east of Zambia. It was constructed
without the aid of plans, electricity, essential construction
equipment or running water. To date €60,000 has
been raised to finance the building of a 9 classroom
school, an administration block for teachers and a toilet/shower
block. Initially they intended to facilitate only girls
however they are currently building two dormitories
for 120 boys and 120 girls. Currently the money which
has stretched quite unbelievably is going toward purchase
of materials and wage payment. Wages are an essential
part of the expenditure however are relatively low eg
for 27 men per week it costs €450. Six representatives
from St.Helens Bay in Rosslare Harbour travelled in
2005 to view first hand the school that they had helped
finance.
Project’s Future and
Needs
The initial financial injection has brought the project
to the stage of providing a shell and although the locals
are extremely self sufficient, there are still some very
important services required to provide a functional school
for the children. Electricity, water supply, cooking facilities,
furniture, a medical centre and other equipment are still
required. An electricity generator is also badly needed
to provide power for the school and for operation of water
supply pump. Some equipment such as desks, beds and furniture
are ingeniously designed and made by locals from cheap
local materials. However some equipment is not available
and has to be ordered and shipped at quite a high expense.
It is hoped to raise more funds to provide this necessary
equipment for the children’s school. The project
is co-ordinated by the Kiltegan Priests in conjunction
with Larry Byrne and Tiernan Byrne from St.Helens Bay
who that ensure every penny goes directly into the project.
Benefits of Bursary to
the Project
1. Exhaustive situational analysis of environmental
health issues has been carried out in Zambia. These
issues are centred around the four sectors of water,
food, air and shelter. Support of the project will benefit
these core environmental health issues in Kokwe, Zambia.
2. As Zambia struggles against crushing poverty and
a rampant HIV/AIDs epidemic, it’s success in getting
more children into school holds out a glimmer of hope.
On most of the Millenium Development Goals(MDG’s)
targets, Zambia is moving backwards. However since the
new government removed tuition fees two years ago, the
number of out of school children has halved. This achievement
is especially important because schools are the frontline
in Zambia’s battle to slow the spread of AIDS.In
a country where some 40% of rural women are illiterate,
improving education is crucial to keep the next generation
from the infecton. Support of the project will improve
the likelihood of a young local from Kokwe receiving
an education.
3. One in 5 People are infected with HIV in Zambia.
Life expectancy has dropped to 33 years in some areas
of the country and young people aged 20-25 actually
have less education than their parents generation. Provision
of education will benefit by reducing the likelihood
of young people in Kokwe getting infected with HIV/AIDS.
4. As part of Zambia’s national strategy objective
to create an enabling environment with support mechanisms
to facilitate individuals, households and communities
the John Shelley Bursary will be helping to improve
environmental sanitation conditions and hygiene practices
to prevent transmission of disease.
5. Provision of proper cooking facilities in the school
would benefit them greatly to ensure a good standard
of food safety for the children.
6. Provision of funds to aid in the construction of
a medical centre at the school would greatly benefit
the locals of Kokwe as the nearest medical centre is
7 ½ hours walk.
7. The cost of construction equipment and materials
for a school in Zambia can sometimes be a tenth of what
it costs in Ireland. Therefore, the John Shelly Bursary
would provide invaluable tangible benefits at this stage
of the project.
Zambia Country Profile
• Population: 11 million (UN, 2005)
• Capital: Lusaka
• Area: 752,614 sq km (290,586 sq miles)
• Major language: English (official), Bemba, Lozi,
Nyanja, Tonga
• Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs,
Hinduism, Islam
• Life expectancy: 38 years (men), 37 years (women)
(UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Kwacha = 100 ngwee
• Main exports: Copper, minerals, tobacco
• GNI per capita: US $490 (World Bank, 2006)
• Internet domain: .zm
• International dialling code: +260
Contacts
Larry Byrne (053) 9133234
Tiernan Byrne (053) 9133234
Find
out more about the John Shelly Bursary here...
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