NUI Blog - Northrise University Initiative

Zambian opposition leader Michael Sata has been sworn in as president after beating incumbent Rupiah Banda in a tightly contested election. Mr Sata, who had run for the presidency four times, was declared the winner with 43% of the vote.

“The people of Zambia have spoken and we must all listen,” Mr Banda told journalists, wiping away tears after finishing his speech. His Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) had ruled Zambia for 20 years.

Mr Sata – the candidate of the Patriotic Front (PF) party – was sworn in by the Chief Justice Ernest Sakala and handed the ceremonial presidential flag by Mr Banda. He said he would fulfill his electoral promises, including forcing foreign companies to improve working conditions. “I promise to put Zambia first,” he told thousands of people at the ceremony in Lusaka. Mr Sata said he would reduce the size of government and tackle corruption. “Corruption has been a scourge in this country and there is a wide link between corruption and poverty,” he said.

Mr Banda told the BBC’s Focus on Africa program that he attended the ceremony to “greet my friend, Mr Sata, and to show the country how we should pass the mantle.” “Deep inside me, I feel some kind of relief that this is over and this has been done in a democratic and civilized way,” he said

Mr Sata has promised to re-introduce the windfall mining tax and to promote policies that will bring greater benefit to poor people.
More than 60% of Zambians live on less than $2 (£1.29) a day.

Article from the BBC Website
URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15039094

by Chibozu Maambo

On Friday, July 29, 2011, Mr. Raj, a BIT lecturer introduced the Northrise University (NU) Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) 4th year students who were to showcase their Final Computer Projects after months of hard work. Mapande, Kanyanta, Wallace and Joseph were filled with eager anxiety to please their audience with how well they interpreted their four years academic journey.

First in line was Mapande whose project’s main objective was to allow individuals and small scale businesses the ability to purchase property online without the need to transact physically with the property owner. The second presenter was Wallace whose project was also an online system targeted on real estate advertising.

A communication program to aid game players developed by Joseph Ellis stole the moment. The objective of this tool was simply to allow text based communication between game players while giving users the ability to bind their favorite or often used applications in one location. This client server application also allowed music via media player among other things.

Kanyanta on the other hand picked on Northrise University Clubs Online Registration as a way to ensure that recreational clubs at Northrise have a central repository for their information.

For a 3rd year BIT student like me, it was so encouraging and motivating to see how creative and applied these soon to graduate students were. I saw it as running the race to the end and touching the finish line; after all, nothing is impossible to them that believe… Kudos guys!

This past Saturday, 17 teams gathered at the American Shooting Centers in Houston, TX for the 2nd Annual Northrise Shootout.  Shooters of all skill levels participated in a fun event designed to raise money to sponsor students in Zambia.  Sporting Clays is a fun event (similar to golf, but with a shotgun!) encouraging shooters to participate in some healthy competition shooting 75 clay targets at 10 different stations.  The morning ended with a BBQ lunch, prizes, and some exciting raffle giveaways!  Click on the photo above to see pictures from the event!

Impact Ndola 2011 is officially over, but the trip left lasting effects in Zambia.  Members of the Impact medical team spent the week setting up the newest edition to Northrise University, the NUCare medical clinic.

Strategically placed on the Northrise Main Campus, between the student dorms and the business building, NUCare is a first class medical clinic designed to treat Northrise students, staff, and their families.  As a fully equipped facility staffed by a full time nurse, NUCare will keep students healthy and better able to learn.  With three exam rooms, a full laboratory, dental suite, and a stocked medical cabinet NUCare will be able to treat most any medical condition students face.  The NUCare building will also stand as a launching ground for future medical missions to the community.

Special thanks to all the Doctors, Nurses, Builders, and donors who tirelessly worked to launch this valuable addition to the Northrise family.

Click on the Donate Now button to support operations of the clinic and keep the students of Northrise healthy!

By Chisha Mwansa. Northrise student and media team member

Everyone is working tirelessly to get the job done during this year’s Ndola Impact 2011. The Build team is getting their hands dirty at the NU farms as well as Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital and the medical team is installing equipment at the NUCare clinic. The Pastors conference is overflowing with wisdom, the women at the women’s conference are having a blast and the media team is in everyone’s faces with asking endless questions and photos.  Members of the Vacation Bible School teams are sharing love with the children of Zambia. However, apart from the logistic team and security team, the unsung heroes that have worked hard to ensure everyone has had the energy to succeed in their tasks is the Kitchen staff.

With beautiful smiles and a continuous determination, the knives and spatulas have not stopped moving in the Northrise kitchen, lead by the wonderful work of Mrs Annie Morgan. Like the captain of her ship, Ann arrives in the kitchen by 6am and leaves only after the job is done. Like the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches they produce, the kitchen staff is a mix of cultures and flavors; all working to Impact Ndola through the taste buds. Having spent some time with them I realised that being in the kitchen not only calls for patience and discipline but also faith in your co-partners to get the job done. Peter Lungu, a fourth year student at Northrise has earned his title of ‘Cappuccino Warrior’ and may become a legend here at Northrise University. Many have appreciated the wonderful meals and work that the kitchen has provided and I congratulate them on playing their part to the great vision of our Heavenly Father.

Annie Morgan is the owner and head chef of Taste Buds restaurant in Costa Mesa, CA. This is her first trip to Zambia, serving both the Impact travelers and the students of Northrise.  During Impact, Annie daily cooked lunch and dinner for over 200 people using locally sourced food and supplies.  She operates a gourmet restaurant in Costa Mesa, CA. www.tastebudsinc.com

Impact Ndola 2011 is definitely making its mark on Zambia. The city of Ndola from the Northrise farms, to the Ndola Baptist Church, to the National police station is taking in members of the Northrise volunteer community.

Today the service in the community continued and the media team got to spend time at various different ministry points throughout the city.

• The Ndola police station welcomed Danalyn Savage and Harry Sexton as the two spoke about abuse, violence and self-protection to a room of police officers eager to hear about ways to improve their city’s knowledge of safety. Danalyn commented on the positivity she sensed in the room stating, “The police and people of Ndola seem ready and open to change. The men in particular seem to want to move away from the historical domestic abuse and towards a brighter future.”
• Arthur Davidson Children’s Hospital allowed doctors from the team to do rounds with their staff doctors: treating patients, performing x-rays and ultrasounds and providing their own diagnosis patients. During the afternoon, the volunteer doctors lectured the staff on diseases that are often misdiagnosed or not recognized in Zambia and current methods for treating patients.
• Northrise Farms continues to grow and take shape as members of the build team worked hard laboring to continue to grow Northrise. The NUCare facility is taking shape and the ground is being laid for a foreman house on the farm.
• Pastors from across the city met and communed together learning from each other, and sitting under powerful teaching from guest lecturers. Scott Savage addressed the pastors today and blessed the community with stories of his faith, encouragements from his journey and answers to any question they may have.
• Artist Whitney Stroupe and her protégé, Northrise staff members Pimpa and Banji Simasiku, spent the whole day painting montages in Kuhula house, the newest classroom building. The montages will bring some colorful beauty to the Northrise Campus and highlight verses from the word of God to remind students daily of who is in control.

Tomorrow, the sun will rise on the team’s final day to serve, but the imprint that Impact 2011 is leaving will grow immensely as each day shows that Northrise team members will leave their mark on Ndola.

by Chisha Mwansa,  Northrise Student and  Media Team Members

The first day of Impact Ndola 2011 was filled with a burst of excitement and a sense of unity among friends and family. Everyone felt the presence of God as they did their part in building God’s vision for Ndola and ultimately humanity. Being part of the media team gave me the privilege to observe, interact and enjoy the presence of our friends from the United States who are here to contribute themselves as ‘tools’ in God’s work through their various skills and talents.

Melissa Chinn, a nurse by profession, caught my attention among many. She travelled here from Hollywood with her father Dr. Daryl Chinn who also offers his expertise in the medical field as a Doctor. I spent a few minutes with Melissa and Daryl asking about their first day’s experience at Impact and what they were expecting in their stay here in Zambia; “I can’t wait to work at the hospital” Melissa said. There was a passion in her eyes for the work that she did and I wondered why. “I love to interact with patients and by serving them I’m using my various skills to serve God which makes me happy”. What a great feeling and opportunity it must be to work as father and daughter in the vision Gods has for all of us. Everyone in Impact Ndola is using their skills to better the conditions of their fellow neighbours and that pleases our God. Thank you to all those who have chosen to change the lives of others through their work during Impact Ndola 2011.

Ask any man woman or child who has come in contact with the Impact Team in one way or another and you’ll know that all the preparation, all the fatigue and every little hassle to get by the week has been entirely worth it.  The kids at Mckenzie Community School and Arising Life Ministries (ALMs) would certainly tell you so.  The day at McKenzie school was filled with activities such as painting, limbo, chuusha (hand-ball game aimed at keeping the ball from your opponents team) and soccer.  Everyone, including the big kids (adults), just wanted to be part of the fun.

ALMs also had a good day of smiles from happy kids.  Apart from playing, Swazi taught about the essence of prayer from the story of David and Goliath in her Bible.  Another great sight to see was Chase, Lauren and a few other volunteers trying the nshima (the local Zambian food!).

It’s amazing how regardless of the language barriers children understand the heart of the what we are doing; giving, serving others and reminding ourselves that it is all because Jesus Saves!

-Pimpa Simasiku. Northrise Staff Member and Impact Volunteer

“It is a joy to be a part of this years women’s conference and to be connected with so many believers from so many walks of life.  The faith and thirst for knowledge in these women is simply astounding and awe-inspiring to me.  These women who have far less than most people I know come to worship the Lord as if they were as wealthy as kings; thankful for all they have.  I cannot wait to see what God does in the hearts of these women, and my own heart in these next few days.”  – Molly Sexton

Molly is one of the women leading during the Impact Ndola 2011 Women’s Conference in Ndola, Zambia.  150 women from the local community have gathered at the Savoy Hotel to worship, study, and be encouraged by friends from both the USA and Zambia.  God is doing a powerful work in Zambia!

The conference is led by Mrs. Tina Drake, Mrs. Doreen Zimba, and Mrs. Debbie Stroupe.  Logistics for the conference have been provided by Mrs Norah Hamoonga, Lillian Kapambwe, and Alice Simutowe.

Impact 2011 started off with a look at the exciting developments just finished on the Northrise farm, the dedication of Northrise’s NUCare center and Kuhula Center. Both buildings were covered in prayer and celebrated with ribbon-cutting ceremonies with Moffat and members of the board.

NUCare is Northrise’s latest completed building that will soon host a fully functional medical facility with a newly hired full-time nurse, Mary. The facility was dedicated by Moffat and board-member, Dr. Michele Fullmer. After years of planning, Northrise is excited to finally get the clinic in order and underway this week. The clinic is comprised of two equipped exam rooms, an ultrasound room, laboratory, waiting room, a nurses’ station and fully functioning dental office. The building will offer hope to the students of Northrise who often face days and weeks of missing school due to illness that could be easily treated with the proper medical care. It will also help prevent sickness from spreading through the campus and screening of students before they enter the dormitories. Communities, orphanages and schools around the city that Northrise supports will also benefit from the medical staff at Northrise.

The Kuhula House, has been in operation for the last year offering the students a brand new facility to take classes in on Wednesdays.  With many classrooms with brand new desks and chairs and a larger lecture hall, the Kuhula house will soon be able to host all of the business classes for the future. The first of many classroom buildings to be developed for Northrise, the Kuhula house is a sign of good things to come for the University. Workers sang and danced outside in celebration of the grand opening of this building, knowing that this facility would pave the way for the continued growth of Northrise.

The day was a great day of celebration, showing how far the University has come in the last few years, but the night ended with a feeling of excitement over what will come this week. Volunteers are geared up and ready to continue moving Northrise forward and reach the community of Ndola! Stay tuned…