Retired Church Warsop teacher's efforts to help school children in Zambia

On her 75th birthday, last November, retired teacher Joan Green asked her friends not to give her presents but requested donations of pens, pencils and other school stationery equipment for a primary school in Zambia.

Joan has long been helping children in developing countries as a volunteer with the National Police Aid Charity (NPAC). She regularly assists at the charity’s collection warehouse based at the Pit Head Baths, Long Stoop Way, on the Crown Farm Estate, between Forest Town and Clipstone.

After months amassing a large amount of school equipment, including 800 pens, 1200 pencils, 1700 coloured pencils, and other items, they were were then shipped to Kaseba School in Kafue, just before the lockdown in March.

The aid arrived at the end of September, delayed by the long sea journey but also due to being stored in a warehouse as part of the Covid 19 restrictions. Now, some 420 primary aged children at the school, have recently received their “much needed” equipment.

Joan has travelled to Zambia many times - in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 – and has been touched by the desperate plight of young children, at school without the most basic equipment.

Joan said: “It is heartbreaking. We would go into the schools and villages and you would see children with no shoes, schools with empty rooms, no facilities, no furniture, as well as families living in desperate need.

“Instead of having birthday presents for myself, I asked my friends for things for the school children, and everyone was extremely generous. The items have just arrived and the head teacher in Zambia has contacted me to say ‘these gifts will encourage the children in this poor area to study hard.’

According to Joan, ‘even the most basic things, from pens and pencils, chairs and desks, are very much needed,’ she said.

"We saw children in schools, in empty rooms, sitting on the hard floor or on two bricks. It is very different to schools here. A lot of the children have no shoes, so we’ve provided them as well as clothing and blankets too.”

Recent aid has included everything from school uniforms, to reading books and even two large church organs went in one container!

"It is wonderful to hear back that some of the children now are actually learning to play the organ. It’s very rewarding to know you are helping children to learn just by providing the equipment they need,” Joan said.

The Kaseba School has also named a three classroom building the “Joan Green Block” and Joan attended the official opening, back in 2018.

"It was a lovely gesture by them to name their classrooms after me, it was an honour and quite a surprise! When I was told about it I thought it was just a joke but it was real!”

Joan previously had a long career as teacher, and often took on the role of a deputy head. She worked at what was formerly known as the Robin Hood Junior School, in Mansfield Woodhouse for thee years, Shirebrook Park Junior for 15 years and Calow Primary School, Chesterfield for 20 years.

She said: “A lot of people relax when they retire but I just seem to have been even busier than when I worked!

"For me, it all started when I first heard about NPAC at a talk, they were explaining about the charity’s former Meden Vale collection centre, it is not there anymore, but just happened to be near to where I lived then.

“I got involved as a volunteer, and now here I am, years later, and I regularly go to Africa, when most retirees are putting their feet up! I have made made a lot of friends with the school staff and the children in Zambia.

"At times it has been quite an adventure. We were once even chased by a gang of elephants, but it didn’t put me off! I have always been a bit of an adventurer. I have never liked to stay in one place for long. I was born on a Thursday, and they do say Thursday child has far to go!

"When we are over there we tend to go in June, which is the Zambian winter, but it’s like a nice summer’s day to us, but to them it’s cold! It is a lovely country Zambia, and very interesting. I have seen some amazing wildlife on my travels. We often stay in camps, safari lodges and back packer hostels, some of them are really nice.”

The NPAC charity also helps hospitals, clinics and schools in remote parts of the developing world. In 2017 it sent 25 containers of aid to Zambia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, the Gambia, Rwanda, Ghana, Somalia, and Pakistan.

The NPAC shop sells office, home and kitchen furniture; ornaments and antiques; tools; and books, CDs and DVDs. They are sold to raise funds to help transport aid.The shop is open Saturdays between 9am to 2pm, donations are received by arrangement.

The National Police Aid Charity (previously called The National Police Aid Convoy) started in 1993. According to the charity’s website, it started when a group of police officers “used their influence, networks and negotiating skills to find and deliver huge amounts of humanitarian aid to places that other non government organisation couldn’t reach.”

The charity is now made up of more than police officers now, and includes teachers, lorry drivers, doctors, miners, dentists, farmers — from all around the region. The charity is always keen for donations or new volunteers. To find out more visit or ring (0844) 8701 999.