08/08/2026
MWANDI NEWSLETTER JULY 2026
July is always a busy month for us but this year it was exceptional.
We got back from Botswana with the Hawkins group on the 1st. Saying good bye to this amazing group was hard but staying busy helps me cope, and we were going to be very busy. Divine had taken the bus in early and met us in Livingstone. Before we arrived, he walked around the hardware sections in town sourcing materials and equipment for the plumbing school. There are so many of them, all small, and only carry certain items, it takes time to find everything.
The number of fittings alone is staggering, there are four different types and two sizes for each, elbows, tees, unions, ni***es, reducers, plugs, couplings, bushings, caps valves etc. and then you have all the pipes, again four types and all of them come in 6-meter lengths, appliances, waste fittings, hand tools, welders , the list if very long. Divine found the best deals for most everything, available in Livingstone. We met Bony and his truck early on the 2nd, we retraced Divine’s steps to pay for and load the bath tub, metal sinks, all the fittings and pipes. When the truck was loaded Bony and Divine started off at about noon. Felix and I stayed to purchase the ceramic sinks, urinals and assorted materials we don’t trust not to break in the truck. We left early the following morning.
I spent days trying to source the larger equipment, Arc Welding machine, air compressor, drill press etc. that are not available in Livingstone, they have to come from Lusaka. I thought I had finally found a competent plumbing supply company. I was wrong and the search continued. I got tired of researching and sending photos of equipment and tools to them. I thought a plumbing supply company would know more than I did. It was becoming a vicious circle the more detailed information I sent them the more questions they asked.
On the 14th Felix and I went to Livingstone to order and pay for all the paint we would need to finish the Trade School, and a few other large items. We had to have 30 x 20 liters of white PVA so 600 liters (added to the 400 liters we already had) just for the base coats, we are painting on cement and it just soaks in, we must put two coats on before we can finish with the expensive color washable paint. We have always purchased the good paint from a hardware store in Livingstone, while we were ordering all the paint, I realized they had a few items we had been looking for in stock. Suddenly the lights came on! I spoke to the owner and sure enough he not only knew what everything on my list was, he could get it all and deliver it from Lusaka to Livingstone. This is life saving for me, it’s a 12-hour drive to Lusaka with Bony in his truck, and at least a 3-to-4-day trip. Everything has now been ordered, paid for and we expect it in Livingstone next week.
The following morning Felix drove the green landy back after having a bearing fixed that had caused the drive belt to slip off one of the pulleys. I was in a jolly good mood, the drive north to Zimba is on a good tar road and only takes about an hour, the reason for going was to pick up a very special man, Dr. James Green. It was such an honor for us to have him come to Mwandi to finally see for himself what we have been doing with all the money he has donated to us through the years. There are many donors who have given so much over the years and in the next newsletter when we have completed the center each and every one will be named. There are no words to express our gratitude, the lives they have forever changed and will change are countless.
Jim who is in his 80’s traveled from Santa Rosa California to Lusaka, had dinner with two young women he has sponsored through university, one of them is our very own Hope Likando. He stopped in Zimba for the night, where the staff and community surprised him with a presentation in his honor for all the help, he has rendered the library and the eye clinic. He handled our horrible road with grace. We had so much to talk about the time flew by. The following morning, I took him to both schools where his name and all the donors are proudly displayed, the trade center, the village, hut building projects and a tour of the mission and “downtown” Mwandi. The land rover is a high vehicle but he was in and out of it several times with no complaints. The precious time he spent in my world was too short; I would have kept him here for a week and never tire of his stories and company. Jim did not know I had written a book, I gladly gave him a copy of “Wings on my heels”, he read it in a day, and we are still friends!
On the 17th I drove him back to Livingstone, later that evening, another young woman who he sponsored through university joined us at his lodge. He has changed so many lives over the years and continues to do so. I had to say good bye to him, but only for a few months I will be at his house in October!
Early the following morning Bony and his bus met me and we drove back up to Zimba Eye Clinic to pick up my dear friends, Yenjean, Ivan and their group of 10 for the Botswana bush safari. We always take the group for a mobile overnight safari in Chobe National Park, they saw everything and had a blast, I saw nothing but a comfortable bed at the lodge.
On the 19th we met Bony and his bus at the border and got everyone back to Livingstone where Felix was waiting for us. I joined them on the dinner cruise, along with a few of the eye professionals who run Zimba eye clinic, we ended up being a group of 17 so The Waterfront put us on the smaller boat with only 2 other very nice people. It was great we had our own boat. The number of hippos surprised even me, the group had a wonderful time. I never have to say good bye to Yenjean and Ivan, I see them when I am in the USA. Yenjean and her Orinda Rotary club along with Ivan have been faithful donors for years, every year I visit the club to update them on our progress, and show them what their donations have allowed us to do.
The following morning Felix and I again met Bony and his truck, the amount of paint we had to pick up was heavy and took a lot of space, we also needed a few more long pipes, there was no way we could have done that many trips in our vehicles to collect it all, and we are ready to finish printing. The floors have been laid in the plumbing rooms, the IT room painted and the toilets are on the last stage of plastering, we are nearing completion. The little unfinished structure that was illegally built on the property, will serve as the installation room so we only laid a basic slab.
On the 27th I drove back to Livingstone to pick up two very special volunteers. Ann and Mandy from Australia. Ann was here in February, 2025, and she brought a friend back with her. Ann is still her fabulous self and Mandy is amazing we became fast friends. We had a late lunch and an early night. The following morning, we drove back, Mandy is a wiz with reels and made one of the trip home, it actually shows how bad the road is, photos do not do it justice. I posted it on Facebook and Instagram.
They spent the first 3 days at the upper primary school, where Ann became a teacher last year. They were both so much help, the kids loved them and Ann reconnected with the teachers she was with in February. They did some shopping for material, took it to our excellent tailor, who remembered Ann fondly as he made her two outfits last year. She was wearing one of his creations and he was beaming. Both of them got measured and told him what they wanted. His shop is a tiny space but his sewing skills are as professional as any tailer I have ever seen.
On the 30th the President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema arrived, the election is August 13th, this was his campaign stop; we had no intention of joining the massive political rally. We watched as the President’s three helicopters came down on the other side of the village and went to the school, just as we were at the gate two massive Air Force helicopters flew overhead and straight to our soccer pitch. I was stunned but Mandy had her camera in her hand and took some amazing video’s. They soon realized there was no way for them to get out of our property it is all walled in, my guys had gone for the day and the big iron gate was closed and locked. We walked through the small opening, the kids use to get to the soccer pitch, it’s well hidden and the property so large they would have never found it in time. These helicopters carried the media team and they were in a rush to get to the event. We ran over just as they were disembarking, looking quite confused and had no idea where they were or how they were going to get to where they needed to be. There was no time for them to phone the support ground crew, who had no idea where they were or me to go home and get the keys to let them in to pick everyone up. I ended up walking them out and driving them to the event just in time for them to set up. Lucky the President had to visit our Chief before he was able to address the people of Mwandi. Ann and Mandy stayed at the soccer pitch with the pilots and had a lovely visit. Of course, the kids who saw them land were trying to get a closer look and jump our wall but the Air Force pilots put a stop to that.
I got stuck on the other side of the rally while the President spoke, I got in touch with Felix and Muna who ran home and got the keys. We made it through to the main street, the media guys saw us waiting for them, they were now in their support vehicles but still had no idea where our main drive through gate was located, where their helicopters were waiting for them. They needed us to get them there and get them in.
To understand how shocking all this was you need to understand the only thing flying in our skies are birds, drones are illegal, this was a big deal. The pilots had absolutely no choice but to land in our property, there is only a small area near the hospital where the occasional helicopter comes in with government officials, the President and his staff took the entire space. From the sky they could only see a very large open area, the wall we built around it is now partially hidden by the trees. There is no open ground let alone any thing that resembles a landing strip. It was unexpected, exciting and an honor to lend a hand.
All of our college students have now gone back to their universities’; I have paid the tuitions and their livings expenses for the next 6 months. All of them are doing very well and we are proud of them. Thanks go to the donors who are giving them a chance for a life.
At Compass Private School Mwandi, our kids have taken their exams and school is out for the month-long break.
We have started hut # 217 for a family of 7 who are living in an old hut that only has 2 walls still standing. The property we are building on is on the same land they currently live on. They are doing their best to survive, they have a vegetable garden and chicken coop, the area is clean and they have put poles around their land. They are all helping our guys every day, Mandy and Ann worked on Saturday and will continue until they leave on August 11th. They are throwing themselves into building and will be here long enough to see it near completion.
There are so many families are on our list whose situations are the same. It’s heartbreaking knowing we can only build a few every year. This is the part where I ask for your help so we can help them. If any of you belong to any type of club, book, pickleball, chess, fishing whatever, or have a large family, and are willing to come together the amount each would have to donate is small and doable. We only need between $2200 and $2400 to change a family’s life and give them a home. It’s easy to do, our web site www.compasszambia.com has an easy secure donate button, all of the donations made by American’s are tax deductible, we are a 501-c3. Your get a notice as well as a tax letter every year. There is no administration cost or money wasted. I handle all the funds and I don’t get paid; every cent goes to that hut. Not only does the family get a home, jobs are created for the guys in the village, who really need one. Almost everything we build with (except the roof sheets and nails) is purchased from our locals, the big poles, small poles, rafters, planks and mud, it all goes back to the community. Every hut has a spread sheet and I send photos and updates to the donors as well as information on the families. Since covid volunteering never really came back, the large number of volunteers who used to come paid for the huts but now we only get a few big groups a year so we really need the help. This hut was partially paid for by the Hawkins group, who donated more then I needed for the hut they built and funds I had from Alison Curtis. This year because of the generous donations from Paul and Victoria in the UK who donated the funds for 3 huts, TASIS, Hawkins group and Alison Curtis we were able to build 6 homes. They last over 20 years and are the only house the kids will remember as “home”. They may not look like much to the Western eye but to them they are mansions.
We were able to deliver the mattresses and blankets for the family in Hut 216, for the Hawkins group. We must wait to install the door till the floors dry and then they can secure their home before we can take the “house warming” gifts, that they don’t expect, over to them. It’s always a joy to see the look on their faces, imagine a new home, mattress to sleep on and a warm blanket, it does not take much to make them so very happy.
Our weather is still cold at night and early morning but the daytime temperatures are now hitting 80 F, it’s perfect!
I always love to hear from you guys so if you have time email me.
Love to you all and God Bless
Paula, Felix and the gang
Home For AIDA Orphans
Homes For Aids Orphans
3 Nakandini Road
Mwandi, Zambia 41100
(260) 978-090-819
Zambian Registered Non Profit Organization
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Compass Zambia
Compass Zambia
5256 S. Mission Road
Suite 703 #316
Bonsall, CA 92003
1 (760) 801-4462
State of California registered 501 c-3 corporation
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3 Nakandini Road | Mwandi, 41100 ZM
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Compass Zambia is a NonProfit Organization designed to support its sister organization Home for Aids Orphans located in Mwandi, Zambia. Our goal is to help the community by improving the lives of those who live there. We do this thru various projects such as building homes for families who have been...
