MCC school kits distributed in Zambia!

13.5KG boxes each containing 11 MCC school kits

How many of you have packed a MCC school kit? I've packed a couple over the years.  If you've never heard of them this is the list they contain with a link for more information from MCC's website:

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Contents (NEW items only)

• 4 spiral or perforated notebooks (about 21.5 cm x 27 cm ; 140 pages)
• 8 unsharpened pencils
• 1 ruler(flat, flexible plastic; indicating both 30 cm and 12 in)
• 12 coloured pencils (in packaging)
• 1 large pencil eraser

School kits are distributed in a useful double drawstring cloth bag (30 x 43 cm/11 3/4 x 16 3/4 in).  More here: http://mcccanada.ca/get-involved/kits/school

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I've received a new nickname from the schools this last term: the GOOD NEWS messenger.  There were 82 boxes total with 902 school kits total that arrived in Zambia to be given out to my schools.  I was put in charge to be the delivery person. Each of my 8 schools received a percentage of the boxes based on how many pupils attended the school. So, my largest school population received 16 boxes and the smallest school received 6 boxes. The schools were given the freedom to use the school kits how they thought best. Some chose to give the school kits away as a reward for good academic performance. Others dumped all the school kits out and made sure every student got at least something (example: the younger students got pencils and erasers, the older students received rulers and notebooks. The teachers were given the pencil crayons to use in class, which makes a lot of sense seeing as most students wouldn't have extra paper at home to just colour on!) Still other schools gave the kits to the orphan and vulnerable students. 

Every time I'd take school kits to a school I'd make sure the school knew that I was just the messenger. I was delivering blessings from those of you that packed the school kits. The schools were quick to inform me that I wasn't just any messenger, that I was a GOOD NEWS messenger. It makes sense. Many messengers do bring bad news and if you've ever lived in Africa you know that sometimes the package doesn't always arrive and disappears with the messenger (I'm still waiting for the postal system to deliver a package from April 2014 and November 2014!) It has been a blessing for me to be a good news messenger this term.

Travel along with me and be blessed! Here are some photos I've taken during the term of the process of delivering and later distributing the school kits.

Students carry the boxes of 11 school kits

Students help carry in the boxes of school kits. Got to love the one who put it on his head right?! Each box is 13.5KG, not exactly light! :)

Handing out pencils to the younger students

A good typical line up. No personal space! I have to line up like this at my favourite coffee shop in town.
Luckily the line up isn't as long as this usually!

Students waiting for the distribution of the school kits. I think this is my most favourite photo!

A student exclaims over a ruler.
(Though I'm not sure how I managed to capture
quite that look from the girl behind! Mid- expression!)

Another line up!

A teacher and her daughter. She had to let her hold a notebook while
they distributed school kit items as she wasn't pleased she wasn't getting
anything. (She attends preschool at the school her mom teaches at).

Students excitedly waiting to be given a pencil.

This student saw her coloured pencils and gave them a big kiss when she pulled them out!

At this school the administration asked the parents
and guardians of orphan and vulnerable students
to attend a quick meeting before the distribution.
They wanted to make it clear that the school kits were for
the orphan and vulnerable in their care and not to be
taken away from them to be sold or given to their
biological children. This is something I would have
never imagined needed to be said but after a couple years
 in Zambia makes total sense to me!