Tributes to simon Maonde (papa) and Lydia Maonde (GRANNY)

Canadian supporters of Twitti School send their condolences and prayers to the Maonde Family, and especially to Lydia Maonde, Arthur, Sydney, Lily and Steve, on the passing of Dear Papa Simon Maonde.   

We remember Simon Maonde as a role model to us, Shelley and Patricia, who came to Zambia over 45 years ago as young teachers to be guided and encouraged by Simon and Lydia Maonde at Namwala Secondary School.   

We feel privileged to have known this man who became over the years our friend and mentor. He was a man of dignity, vision, leadership, determination and charity.   

As evidence of a man of dignity, Simon had a noble bearing and stature. His moral strength was evident upon meeting him and he was loved and respected by all. In his early career at Namwala Secondary School, he had a great impact on the students, who continued to visit “The Big Man” in his later years to show their respect.   

Simon, along with Lydia, had a vision of the importance of education to the children of Zambia, first at Namwala Secondary School, and then at Twitti School which they founded. As he said in a letter, “We feel that the best way to aid an orphan, or any child in the community, is to give her or him the best education which will help the child in the future.”    

Simon was a leader in his community. He had an ability to motivate young people and make them want to be the best they could be. His reach as a leader stretched all the way to Canada. He wrote, “The Zambian Tradition – the elders wait in the village while the young are sent to look for food or fields and tasks to do. Patricia and Shelley, the Task of building the Twitti School is given to you to execute.”   

Simon had determination, an ability to focus on a goal, work hard and reach that goal. He set an example to everyone around him of the importance of hard work in reaching one’s goals.   

Simon exemplified the quality of charity in everything he did. Simon devoted his life to education. He spent the years after he retired providing an education to the vulnerable children of Lilayi. Because of his and Lydia’s charity, the Twitti School will continue as a legacy to the children of Lilayi for years to come.   

We will miss this great man. We feel honoured to have known him. May he rest in peace. 

All of the supporters in Canada of the Twitti School send their condolences and prayers to the Maonde Family, especially to Arthur, Sidney, Lily and Steve, on the passing of Dear Granny Lydia Maonde.

Patricia and Shelley have known Lydia for over fifty years. We arrived from Canada to teach at Namwala Secondary School, where Lydia provided to us a role model of a woman strong and determined to do her best, raising four children, teaching domestic science, and supporting Simon as headmaster of the school.

She became Granny to the thousands of children who passed through her hands at Twitti School. She started a school in the house in Lilayi, adding children into the bedrooms vacated by Arthur, Sidney, Steve and Lily. In 2006, Lydia and Simon sent a letter to all former teachers of Namwala Secondary School asking for help to build a school as a legacy for the community. We responded and Friends for Zambia was established in Canada to help make their dream come true. Judy, another Canadian and board member of Friends for Zambia, was brought into the Twitti fold and the Maonde family in 2010 when she travelled to Lilayi to teach at Twitti.

When we think of Lydia, we think of a woman focused and determined to bring education to the children of the community. And her focus was unwavering especially on the girls. She often said that it was the girls that she wanted to educate, for it was the girls that would lead their families. “Educate the girls and you educate the community.”

We Canadians were in awe of Mrs. Maonde’s determination to make life better for the children of Lilayi. On every one of our visits, she would explain the needs of the community and how we Canadians could help to improve the situation.  She took us to Freedom Compound to meet the families of the pupils. She knew how that contact would draw us back again and again to see how they were learning and progressing. Until the last minute before our plane was to depart, she would talk about the impact the Twitti School has on the families of Lilayi. How could we ever refuse to help?

We feel honoured to have known this woman who has become over the years our beloved friend and mentor. Everyone who has come within Lydia’s orbit has been lifted up and challenged to be a stronger person dedicated to improving the lives of others.

In a recent visit to Zambia, this lesson was driven home with the visit of several former students of the Twitti School, a lawyer, policeman, nurse, teacher, businessman, all had stories to tell of their Granny. “If it weren’t for Granny, I wouldn’t have continued in school and reached where I am today.”

It has been a privilege to have walked this journey of building a school with Lydia and Simon. With the Maonde family, we will continue, and keep the hope and vision of the Twitti School alive.

Rest in peace Lydia. You have set the goals and we who remain behind will strive to meet them.

Shelley, Patricia and Judy, Directors of Friends for Zambia