Echoes from the Eighteenth

Echoes from the Eighteenth

The Eighteenth Episcopal District is excited to share the amazing work and opportunities of the District with our Connectional brothers and sisters as well as their friends and family. As a brief reminder, the Eighteenth Episcopal Districts represents four countries in Africa: Botswana, Mozambique, Eswanti (formerly Swaziland), and Lesotho. Many congregations are in mountainous regions where the only transportation is by boat, walking, or on the back of a mule or horse. Some of our congregants walk miles to reach their annual conference’s gathering. Please remember these are countries and not cities. Just as the U.S. churches travel to the general conference once every four years and travel from many states, our congregants travel from many areas in the country for the annual meeting. 

We intend to share the story of the District through a series of articles to address the schools, projects, countries, and people. We commend Mr. John Thomas, III, and the staff at The Christian Recorder, for their support. We thank God for the vision of Bishop and Supervisor Wicker to make this possible. It is our prayer that everyone appreciates the work and spreads the word of the great work and endeavors of the District.   

The Eighteenth Episcopal District is home to 49 schools, serving more than 6000 children in mostly rural and remote places throughout the region. There are schools in Lesotho and eSwatini, located near or on the premises of our local congregations. Each school is supported by the staff and the finances of the local congregation. Without these schools, thousands of children would not get an education. The schools receive some funding from the government; yet, the support of the local church ensures children and youth have supplies, uniforms, and facilities. 

Each school employs staff and teachers to support the educational endeavors of the students. The District has appointed a principal or school headmaster to each area to oversee the need of the individual schools and report to the annual conference. We have also developed a school board for the Episcopal District to eventually govern the work of the multiple schools, support the efforts each school, and become an advocate for additional funding to support the staff, students, and facilities. 

Below is a list of some of the schools who have provided information through their reports:  

The schools are currently in need of renovation, materials, and educational resources. Our District’s School Board, with the annual conference’s educational leaders, are working diligently to identify the individual and collective needs of the District’s schools. 

Please remember our schools, youth and children, teachers, headteachers, principals, and the Episcopal District’s School Board.