FPZ came into being in 2017.   It’s forerunner, CONTESA, was founded in 2005, when a Zambian lady, living in England, visited her family in Kabwe, Northern Province, Zambia.  Coming out of church one morning, she saw someone sitting under a tree teaching children basic arithmetic, using the sandy earth and her finger as paper and pencil.  

On her return to UK Esnat had a ‘vision’ of a school and feeding centre on that large site.   She told her dying Zambian friend, Connie, and when she died she left money to launch a charity to feed and educate the extremely vulnerable children living (existing?) in the three shanty compounds surrounding the church site.   

 Thus began CONTESA in 2005.  In 2006 my friend, the late Dr Margaret McDermott (founding trustee) invited me to accompany her on her 2nd visit.  Those three weeks changed my life.    I became a trustee, bringing my experience as a primary school teacher to the project.    

When my late husband, a Methodist Minister, died of cancer, he requested that the money donated at his funeral be used to aid the vulnerable children.  In 2009 I returned to open a teaching/office block in his name.  Apart from the Covid years I have visited once or twice, usually for 4 weeks, every year.  

In 2016 the founding trustees decided that, for various reasons, the charity should be wound up and suggested that the remaining trustees inaugurate a continuing charity.  By then an ablution block, teaching blocks, and dining hall (Family Future Community School) and Skills Centre (Future Pillars) had been built.  

Dr Margaret McDermott worked tirelessly to found and chair Future Pillars Zambia.   

(Future - looking forward, in both School and Skills’ names.       Pillars - pillars stand strong and supportive.) 

Four trustees worked with Margaret and in June 2017 Future Pillars Zambia was registered with the Charity Commissioners. 

Since then we have moved from strength to strength.   We have 900 learners from preschool  onwards, and all, including staff, are entitled to a hot, freshly cooked, nutritious meal 5 days a week, including holidays and with a special Christmas dinner. 

Our Upper Secondary School is nearing completion, and then we shall be educating learners up to Grade 12, the end of general education, in an excellent new block including science labs, music and art rooms.  

The learners are all eligible to enrol on one of seven skills courses - tailoring, computer studies, power electrics, metal fabrication, plumbing, bricklaying and carpentry – all necessary skills in a developing nation such as Zambia.  These courses are all Government registered, so giving the students a recognised qualification after graduation.  

The few learners who have shown exceptional academic promise, bearing in mind their deprived backgrounds this is an amazing achievement, have been fortunate in that we have found individuals to sponsor them into tertiary education.  To date we have teachers, doctors, nurses, and an accountant, all working for their families and their country.  When the campus reopened after the pandemic one of our doctors, waiting to be posted, oversaw the covid restrictions – temperature/mask/sanitisation, so keeping the virus out of the campus.  

Now, we - FPZ/UK - can communicate electronically easily and daily with FPZ/Z, largely with our Headteacher and Administrator, and also with FCOB – Family Care and Orphans Board – the governing body.  This enables effective oversight of the project. 

Our history is our base – now we move forward working for vulnerable children in Kabwe.