The Q Fund Blog

I have been asked to lecture at quite a few Universities, and have yet only recently, yesterday in fact, have I been asked “Why did you begin The Q Fund?” … this prompted me to describe this amazing journey that started over 13 years ago.

As a small child growing up in Pinehurst North Carolina, daughter of Playwright, Joan Blake and Col. John Christian Wallman a World War II veteran and recipient of the PurpleHeart, Bronze and Silver Stars.

As if it were a gift from my father, I always believed wecome from the stars. I know there is one in the night sky with my name written around it.Over the past thirty years I have enjoyed a number of professions, from high fashion modelingin NYC, to the designer of children’s clothing, or fancying me the facilitator for health and healing in alternative care as I ran Kew Garden, Inc.But it is at this juncture of life, natural born talents, lead.

My new life, as it were, began in the African spring of 1997, when my bare foot first touched African soil. I stood with arms open wide to embrace the cradle of mankind. It mattered not the color of my skin. For rushing through my veins was the remembrance of war, persecution and strife against a mighty and gentle people. I would come to understand: it would be the children of Africa that capture my heart and call me back to her, in my dreams.  …more »

Over the Summer, Ellie Waterbury joined us as an intern from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, where she is a senior, studying Sociology as her Major.

While she was here she completed her thesis on best practices in non-profits and has shared her review with us - you can read it here: Q Fund - Best Practice

Thanks Ellie and all the best for your future, it was great working with you.

Thanks to all of you for becoming fans of the Q Fund at Facebook. We’ve linked up Facebook with our blog so that our blog entries will appear on our Facebook page.

Chellie Kew will be speaking at the following symposia in March and April.

Columbia University’s Symposium on March 26th - “Rethinking Aid: Solutions, Strategies and Innovation for Education in Africa and the Diaspora” The working group provides a forum to share ideas and learn from each other about the topic of aid to education in Africa and the Diaspora

15th Annual Conference devoted to ‘Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies’. This year’s conference will have the theme ‘Peace at Home, Peace in the World”

We are very pleased to welcome Ellie Waterbury as an intern who will be helping the Q Fund .. in her own words here is how she came to join us:

 Hello,

My name is Ellie Waterbury and I am a senior Sociology major at Benedictine College in Atchison, KS.  Two years ago I first discovered the Q Fund through a fundraiser my sister was a part of at my former high school (Fairview, in Boulder, CO).  My education and personal life has been defined by an irrepressible calling to contribute all I can to remedying the cycles of systemic injustice that have come to persist on a global scale.

In the course of realizing the direction for this calling, I have become increasingly drawn to Africa.  Benedictine is the Alma Mater of Kenya native and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai, and I have learned immensely from the legacy she has left at our school.  She is the personification of hope, and active resistance to injustice that I hope to emulate in my life.

All of my work is rooted in a belief in the inherent goodness of humanity and in living a life that exemplifies, and at the service of others works to further that ideal.

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the Q-Fund for my internship this semester. My work will primarily be directed towards broadening the Q Fund’s OneMarch: an initiative I feel very strongly about, and facilitating plans for a rainwater harvest system for the school in Zambia.

Thank you!

Ellie Waterbury

We would like to thank those who reached out to us and contributed in response to our recent newsletter

• AGA AIDS Global Action Washington DC . Thank you for contribution from federal employees.
• Alva Gallery in CT. Thank you!
• YouthGive, CA thanks kids!
• A mother and son in Boulder CO.  So kind.
• Husband and wife (family friends) in CT. Yahoo.
• A private Foundation in CO. Tremendous gratitude.
• A young family in MI, via IBM, congratulations on the new baby!

Your help in these tough times reaches directly to the hearts of the children we all support.

Thank You

Several times a year we send out an email newsletter to our followers and supporters.

Click on the links below to view pdf copies of the newsletters.

• Newsletter - December 2009
• Newsletter - August 2009
• Newsletter - May 2009 

If you would like to sign up to receive our newsletter you can do so here

The Q Fund is a member of the AIDS GLOBAL FUND again this year (2009 - 2010), as well as being a member of  the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation (GKCCF).

We are very proud of our membership of both these great organizations, not least because they both have  stringent membership qualifications from 501(3)(c) nonprofits such as the Q Fund.

“Arising out of the growth and success of the school are new and at times, unlikely heroes who have become an inspiration to those around them.  One person in particular is our head teacher, Emmanuel Kamoso Kundendama.  Emmanuel came to Chimoza from Lusaka fresh out of  Nkiumah College of Education, divinity school, while also running Upeme School a U.S. led community based school in  Chisamba, in the outskirts of Lusaka where he helped develop the curriculum amongst various other critical education lead initiatives.  Emmanuel was new to the community at Chimoza, however eager to take on the role of head teacher, at a time where change was abundant.  Some of the original teachers and the head of school were being relieved of their duty for lack of motivation, skills and just plan laziness.  The community was truly skeptical if Chimoza was indeed “their” school as most redundant teachers came from within this community.

Emmanuel had to overcome many personal and professional hurdles.  His first and primary challenge was to earn respect and become accepted not only amongst the remaining teaching staff, but the community.  His demure and calming nature had an immediate and positive effect.  Teachers and supporting staff came to respect him.  Community members came to trust him.

Over the course of the last two years, Emmanuel has brought structure, process, qualified teachers to Chimoza (including six with diplomas in education) and our favorite attribute, vision.  He has marshaled the community to assist in land clearing, planting of crops, assisting in the daily feeding program and clean-up duties in and around the school.  He has also formulated and led the Parent Community School Committee on a regular, monthly basis, keeping community members apprised of developments and requirements at the school.  He maintains an ongoing, healthy interaction with governmental bodies such as the Ministry of Education (District Education Board Secretariat and District Resource Coordinator).  He ensures the syllabus is current and continually improved.  He has expanded the school program to include a preschool and kindergarten curriculum, an unaddressed need in the Zambian government’s educational system.  Additionally, he maintains a cash journal of all school related cash transactions and is a signatory on the school banking account, ensuring complete transparency and accountability of all financially related activities.

Not only are we extremely fortunate to have Emmanuel as our head teacher, but the community is fortunate as well.  He truly has become an inspiration and beacon of light to all those around him, to push the limits of a rudimentary at best governmental community school program to one that now rivals, and arguably far exceeds standards at fully supported government school systems in Zambia”.

There are times when words of encouragement make all the difference and come at just the right moment. This was true of this beautiful thought from a partner in the United Kingdom 

Chellie - you put us all to shame! You have helped put our self centered, sheltered lives we lead into context by example. You are a shining light for us all, you have done what many of us want to do but are too afraid to act upon. I am extraordinarily proud of you and what you have done and to be able to say that I know you.

Thank You! 

The Q Fund has partnered with Play Soccer, a wonderful organization in , Africa. They are a grassroots community program that aims to make the world a better place for children and youth who master and enjoy playing soccer/football while learning health, physical and social development life skills. Through our partnership we will bring their skills and benefits to the children of Ndola Zambia. …more »

A heartfelt letter from a student at Oldfields that  captures what inspires the Q Fund and its supporters in a beautiful way - thank you Hannah! …more »

Chellie Kew will present the Speaker Day keynote address on March 6th  this week at St Paul’s Academy school in Minnessotta. The theme of her talk, and the day, is “Taking a Stand” - inspiring the youth and leaders of tommorrow to make a difference by engaging their talents in cause-based activities. 

“To evoke the better angels of our own nature” Abraham Lincoln

…more »

“I drove up, backed up the truck, unloaded the wheelbarrows and Emmanuel (Headmaster) asked me to come into his office. I walked in, he asked that I sit down and wait. Then he said we have a special program, but first you have to remove your glasses…”You’re under arrest and I have to blindfold you”. I asked “what’s my crime?” In Emmanuel’s typical fashion, he said, “Have faith”. …more »

Twenty passionate and enthusiastic fifth grade students have begun a social justice inspired movement they have chosen to name The ONE Voice Campaign. …more »

This is word for word from a hand written, crumbled up old piece of paper that one of the 7th graders (Dom) gave me this afternoon  …more »

Chimoza 7th grade celebrated their graduation at the Michelangelo Hotel  …more »

On the last visit we had negotiated a contract with  “sitting tenants” of a home site  so that the school could take over the property to build the new 8th/9th grade classroom block.  On the day the building was to come down, the previous tenants took virtually everything, down to the window & door frames, doors, glass window panes, metal roofing sheets, and bricks! …more »

Greetings from Chimoza! As the school year draws to a close in mid-December, we look back on a year of great
achievements. …more »

“Hello I’m Carly. I’m 9 years old and I live in Portland Oregon. I wanted to help the African kids, if I was in their position I would like dolls and nice clothes. Here is how I did it. …more »

The second in the series of articles sleighted to appear in ‘The Zambian Traveller’ in November, 2008. …more »

“The Zambian Traveller” has written about the Chimoza Community School and the work of the Q Fund. …more »

“You build a community school based on trust, compassion and love.Unexpected things happen.”   Latest newsletter (pdf)

The children and their teachers are heroes.  At the school last evening all the little orphaned children were playing a game of soccer. …more »

 What a day! When in Africa always expect a change in schedule. Dear Dr. Sakala and his lovely wife Betty had to go to a funeral. …more »

Amanda Chan, a student at Marlborough High School, Los Angeles recently interviewed Chellie Kew. …more »

Brianna Boedecker of UC Santa Barbara, California was a summer intern at Chimoza. …more »

“Now now” (three days later than now!) is the first time in weeks I have been able to sit down in front of my laptop uninterrupted, or had not been too tired to write. …more »

The Columbia University Partnership for International Development (CUPID) picked the Q Fund …more »