Chikupi VTC

End of the rainy season and our main road to Lusaka is better passable now - but still slowly!

Window frame made by our Metal Frabrication Students after two months training.

Chikupi VTC's Motto:
- Agriculture feeds the nation!
- Bricklayers build the nation!
- Electrical Technology powers the nation!
- Fashion, Desing and Textil Technology dress the nation!
- Metal Fabricators fix the nation!
=> And the youth will shape the future of Zambia!

Chikupi VTC offers Trade courses in Agriculture, Bricklaying, Fashion-Design-Textile Technology, Metal Fabrication and Electrical Technology.
The next intake will start on 11th January, 2027.
Enrolement starts in September.

On April 11, 2025, 127 students have completed their first term. They have acquired theoretical and practical foundations of their professional development.

On 11th October 2024, there was the big graduation ceremony for the last two exams.
The state diplomas did not arrive until June 2024 for the December 2022 exams, and those for December 2023 in September 2024, so both celebrations were combined.
The celebration was very dignified with many guests of honor, parents, friends, speeches, music and dances.

Winter in Zambia: The winter maize is growing beautifully thanks to the new sprinkler system.

Drought
The excess rain that fell in December was then missing in January, February, March and April. The rainy season lasted only one month instead of four. The grain fields were flooded in December. On January 7, it rained for the last time in Chikupi. The flooding was followed by drought and the grain fields and meadows withered. There is no harvest in sight in large parts of the country. 2024 will be a year of hunger. The government has declared a state of emergency.

Cholera and drought
In December 2023, a cholera epidemic broke out due to heavy rainfall and the resulting overflowing sewers. Over 22,000 people had to be hospitalized and at least 725 died. Mass graves were created near the hospital. No relatives were allowed to attend the funerals because of the risk of infection.
Our students arrived for the start of school on January 8th; however, they had to leave the training center in the evening of the same day. The training facility had to be closed by order of the government. The schools were not allowed to reopen until mid-February. The loss of lessons will be compensated in Chikupi VTC during the holidays.

Metal Fabrication
Thanks to a donation, the students in metal fabrication were able to build a water stand for the two students' dormitories. The learning effect is very lasting when you work on real buildings.

Another water tank for 10,000 liters!

Electrical installations
The workshop for electricity lessons is better equipped every year. Training in solar technology is also a topic in Zambia.
At the moment there are up to 14 hours of power load shedding a day. This is where the Zambian art of improvisation comes into play. The practical lessons are given early in the morning, in the evening or on Saturday, simply as soon as there is electricity available for a few hours. This is a challenge for teachers and students.