Inverness County Cares in Zambia

Monday, February 16, 2026

# 58 February 16, 2026. Tea Plantation

Today after breakfast we went by bus to the Kawambwa Tea Plantation with Lewis our driver and Sr Agnes. It was about 39 km away. We saw the tea plantation and had a tour of the production line. Very interesting, and a clean and organized place. Most of us bought tea in their store.

Our way to the plantation was through country side with an abundance of huge termite mounds. We are sure they must be higher than 20 feet. The plantation employs over 700 people and they have housing on site and a school for the children. The tea is picked by hand with only the very young leaves being picked. Our guides were very interesting and answered the many questions asked.

We arrived back at the convent by lunch time in time to watch the well digger flush out the new 100-meter borehole funded by Inverness County Cares (ICC) donors. This will go on 6 hours a day for 6 days. A submersible pump will be installed and two water tanks will be erected on a stand and increase pressure and make sure there is sufficient water.

After lunch Colleen conducted a basic active learning seminar featuring games for the teachers and student mentors. Charlotte and Winnie provided well appreciated assistance. We were happy to have Sr Agnes and Dr Lazarours Mwape, special education supervisor attend. The participants, both blind and visually impaired, played dominos, card games and dice games. From the chatter and laughter, it was clear they having fun, learning basic math operations and critical thinking. Colleen’s student mentors were excellent and taught their teachers the games they had mastered during the past week.

John and John checked out the trades-workers, spoke with Banuwell the well driller and John made a trip to the brothers’ carpentry shop.

Going to cut grass with slashers

Lots of laundry

He is not weeding the cabbage patch, he is picking
amaranth seedlings for greens at lunch.

Typical Zambian 'lawn' with a tall termite mound to the left.

Termite hill

Tea plantation

Tossing the bags of tea leaves off the truck
and on to the conveyor belt.

Inside the processing plant.

Teachers and student mentors working together.

Gift, Charlotte, Doris and Dr Lazarous playing a dice game.

Sr Agnes playing cards with Goodson and his teachers.

Teachers and and student playing dominoes and cards.

A game of dominoes while Prosper researches a new game.

Winnie and Mr Vincent with braille cards.

Paul and Irene playing cards

Sorting the sunscreen provided by ICC donors.

Sunday, February 15, 2026

# 57 February 15, 2016, Sunday in Kawambwa

Sunday February 15^th.

Today was a rest day with less going on. The music at mass was energetic with lots of dancing and enthusiastic singing. This was a very hot day and too hot for much outdoor walking so did some work but it was more a catch-up day.

We are blown away by the managerial abilities of the sisters. They manage to feed, clothe, educate and love so many children. St Mary’s Special School for the Visually Impaired (VI) is a happy place. The classes don’t have discipline problems, the children are happy and quick to greet anyone they meet. A place of love.

St Mary's Parish Choir

Collection time

John Gillies, Vincent and Paul

Amazing choir

The grand exit

# 56 February 14th, 2026 First Aid

This morning the wake-up call for some, were the crows on the tin roof. They must have been having a dance up there. Breakfast was a special surprise. Sr Marjory had set up the table with a Valentine theme. A very thoughtful gesture and at lunch the Johns distributed chocolate bars to everyone. Thank you all.

Charlotte, Colleen and Winnie went to play games with the student mentors and Paul joined us as well. This morning we took spoons from the kitchen and tried the new card game called, ‘Spoons’. The children and adults enjoyed it very much and it was one on the all time favourites. We switched back to dominoes the all-time favourite. Paul (teacher) was an enthusiastic player and we hope will provide guidance on the games after we leave. We were so happy to have teacher Vincent and Janet, a student join us, both of whom are totally blind. That didn’t stop them and they played about 4 games of dominoes very well.

John and John worked with the glaziers, plumbers, painters and electricians who are doing an excellent job in a short time. All these details will make a huge difference for life at the school.

Today Betty Jane attended a first aid course which she had advocated for. Maureen and Mr. Malambo were the main presenters. There were 16 participants from schools, St Mary’s Secondary School, the Development Skills Training Centre and St Mary’s Special school. Teachers, sisters and house parents attended. The session came together in a few days and will be a tremendous help in caring for the children and keeping students and staff safe.

Yesterday a large tree fell on the power lines and a crew worked all day to remove it. It was a large pine tree probably about 24 inches in diameter. It was recycled into planks with a chainsaw, with work going all day long.

The tree cut power cut to the school but the lights stayed on because of the power stored in the solar batteries which were provided by ICC supporters about a year ago. This area has many intermittent power failures so these batteries are certainly appreciated.

Saturday evening was Scrabble night again and this time Sister Marjory was the rookie player. She followed Sr Barbara’s example and scored very well and beat some seasoned players.

Painting the orientation classroom.

School beginners.

Valentines breakfast

Thank you Sr Marjory

Playing the card game, 'Spoons'.

First Aid course participants

Janet and Mr Vincent enjoying a game of dominoes.

Teacher Paul enjoys playing cards.

This year the glazier had only 14 window panes
to replace. Last time was 160.

Zesco Power workers restoring power to the convent.

First Aid presenters Maureen and Mr. Malambo

Practicing resuscitating the Red Cross doll.

Cutting the large fallen tree into planks.

An appreciative audience watching the tree cutting.

Solar storage batteries

Closeup of the solar system.

#56 February 15th, 2026 Videos

This is Goodson expressing his gratitude for his new warm hat.

This is Prosper telling how the sunglasses make life more enjoyable.

Saturday, February 14, 2026

#55 February 13, 2916 Visit to St Marys Secondary School

We woke this morning to more rain, for this is the rainy season in Zambia. The crops are so green and growing well in the red sandy soil. The choice manure here is chicken manure. They use what their chickens produce and buy the additional they need form local farmers. The huge maize stalks are a testament to chicken manure.

John and John went off to coordinate the plumbing, electrical and glazier workers. Last time here there were 160 broken window panes because of faulty window closures. This year only 14 broken windows. The glazier came and measured all the windows and he will bring new panes. The electricians were busy all day replacing light bulbs and light fixtures. The plumber Emanual also arrived and got to work. In addition, some painters were hired to begin painting the primary and orientation classroom.

Betty Jane was so happy to be in the classroom with Paul and Xavier and more. They can’t get enough of her lessons. Today we went to visit some girls from past years and they all remembered BJ so fondly and the love of music she shared with them. Charlotte was in with Mr. Chisimbe in the grad seven class.

Colleen worked with her student mentors and today was Crazy Eights. A bit more rules and structure, James, John G and Sr Theresa were in to help. These games are more than just fun, they reinforce math concepts, teach math facts and critical thinking.

At four we went to the St Mary’s Secondary School which is located about a half km away. The Sisters of the Child Jesus have a very large campus with several schools. St Mary’s Girls Secondary School is where the St Mary’s Special School, for the blind, visually impaired and persons with albinism, girls go after Grade 9.

We met with nine former Saint Mary’s special School students. All such fine young ladies, a credit to their time at St Mary’s Special School for the blind, visually impaired and persons with albinism. While there, we explored the school grounds where they feed 500 high school students daily. They are mostly self-sustaining with huge gardens which are mainly organic, got to love that hen manure. We saw their hammer mill where they grind the maize into mealie meal, which is the meal used for nshima (very similar to cream of wheat). Nshima is their equivalent to our starch foods; potatoes, pasta and rice. They eat it several times a day.

We toured where they were preparing enough chickens to feed everyone on Sunday, and saw their huge stoves where they cook the meals. They are similar to the stoves at St Mary’s Special School only on a larger scale.

These sisters are the best. We are so impressed by their managing capabilities.