Updates on our work in Zambia

Two years of incredibly generous donations from jockeys, donors, owners, trainers, Bellewstown Races, and Baltray Golf in 2021-2022 saw DAFA raise a magnificent €200,000 to support our projects in Zambia.

Where do your donations go?

·        Supports community-based economic development projects, focusing on education, health care and self-help

·        Gives underprivileged children the opportunity to obtain an education, access to shelter and daily feeding programmes

·        Gives communities access to healthcare and medication

What has DAFA been doing?

It’s been a busy year with St Luke’s Hospital in Chipata opening in April 2023, teachers’ accommodation under construction at Yengwe Combined School, and an intensive care ward opening at St Dominic’s Hospital in Ndola. We’re also well on the way to opening new teachers’ housing at St Edmund’s Secondary School, and are funding placements 80 students on a community-based skills training programme in plumbing, electrics, and welding in Ndola.

These funds are a crucial part of our work in Zambia. With every penny of every donation going directly to Africa, we can offer everything from the construction of new hospitals or hospital wards to new schools, teachers’ accommodation, feeding programmes for the poorest children, and the equipment needed to make these facilities run as they should.

St Luke’s Hospital

St Luke’s Hospital, Chipata opened in April 2023 with funds for construction and equipment provided by DAFA. Set in one of Zambia’s poorest cities and a mile from the border with Malawi — one of Africa’s poorest nations — the hospital promises to be one of DAFA’s most impactful yet. An essential lifeline for around 60,000 people in both countries, in tits first week 3,000 patients were treated. Funds raised from Bellewstown were spent completing building works and buying essential hospital equipment such as x-ray and ultrasound machines. Money raised from this year’s events will be spent on a blood analysis machine, a computer system, and theatre lights.

Yengwe Combined School

When we arrived in 1998, Yengwe catered for 50-60 students. Today, it has 1,600 pupils and 24 large classrooms, all funded by DAFA. Thanks to our contribution, the pupils have access to education, as well as a meal every day. For many pupils, it could be their only meal despite walking up to 8km to get their classes. This summer we’ve been busy loading containers with equipment donated by Suffolk schools, which will be welcomed at Yengwe, and with your money we’re building more teacher accommodation which will be completed in December 2023. And if DAFA provides the buildings, the government will provide the teachers to ensure the next generation are educated.

St Dominic’s Hospital

One of DAFA’s key priorities is to provide medical aid and support to the sick, and provide hospice care for the terminally ill. In the mid 1990s the small Kavu Clinic was established in Ndola, Zambia’s third largest city. With DAFA’s help, it’s now the fully staffed and resourced St Dominic’s Missionary Hospital which caters for 35,000 local people. In the last two years DAFA has funded the construction and provided the equipment for a much-needed intensive care ward which opened with your help in January 2023. Ultimately, it was the money raised from this event that has underpinned this build and allowed us to provide all the hospital equipment.

St Edmund’s Secondary School

St Edmund’s is a remote secondary school northwest of Zambia’s capital. Along with buildings, equipment, and solar panels funded by DAFA, your donations mean that the school will soon have safe, onsite housing for teachers which is essential in this remote location. The school reaches out to local women and families, passing on invaluable agricultural, home economics and life skills, and has become the hub of the community. It’s already near self-sufficient with large vegetable plots, maize fields, and chicken sheds, and with new teacher’s housing due for completion in November 2023 it will soon be fully staffed. Money donated at this year’s event will go directly to funding this essential staff accommodation.

Community Skill Project, Ndola

This project funds a three-month, community-based skills training programme in plumbing, electrics, and welding for 80 young people. With money raised at last year’s racing, DAFA purchased safety gear and clothing, and paid for hot meals for all students throughout their course. In April 20203, Sr Christine Mwape, director of the project wrote to us to say, “Thank you very much for your support to our mission. This particular project is an opportunity of a lifetime for some of these young people who would have otherwise continued to just roam around the village with nothing to do. Now, they are taking their studies very seriously, and having a meal greatly contributes to learning. Thank you very much.”