GOOD NEWS 2 – and a little not so good.

Edna sitting and Charity checking her ears.

Edna Choongo is one of those rare people you feel you’ve been friends with forever. She has the gift of warmth.   When Edna gives you a hug, it’s like the Universe has just told you it loves you.  But warmth is not her only gift, she is also a dynamo.

Edna came across street children near where she lives.   They were orphans, homeless and  hungry, doing what they could to feed themselves.  Many had been forced or beguiled into prostitution.   Edna felt she had to do something.  So she found the  money to build a small primary school on a parcel of land that she owned.   She provides a  meal every day and she traces their families.  She shares her own salary with the teachers.   Through her work, she found a donor who wanted to help the street children and who sent donations via her work place.  All was well until a new boss arrived.

“Donors can’t  decide how funds are used.”  he declared and took over the donations.  Edna objected and was told she could leave.    She found herself with neither a job nor  donor. But she still struggles on.   Chances are she’ll be offered a job because a lot of people know her skills and abiities.   But the donor is gone.

Principal of Dedama School.

Edna arranged for me to go out to her school, Dedama Community School, to talk to her teachers and teachers from nearby schools.  I talked about ENT Zambia, its current work and it’s long term aim to pass on information to Zambians an, in time,  become redundant. I told them about the ear, it’s problems  and the caues.  I explained how we test hearing and talked about the  effect of hearing loss on education.     

They were very enthusiastic, couldn’t wait to spread the information among framily and freinds and they  asked a million questions.   So many questions that I forgot to take a photo of the group!

Teachers outside Dedama School

The next day, several people came to Edna to ask if I could give the same talk to them.   So  next time I’m in Zambia I hope to do it.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP EDNA TO KEEP DEODAMA SCHOOL OPEN.

CONTACT:    EDNA CHOONGO [email protected]