Tikondane Community Centre is non-denominational, for being on Chief’s land. It would better be called inter-denominational, though, as everyone of the crew belongs to some faith, including Islam. Elke, however, the volunteer director, works for the Diocese of the Eastern Province. Zambia Anglican Council are taking great interest in Tikondane Community Centre and are eager for them to become sustainable.Tiko is also the home place for the Katete branch of the Zambian Christian Council.


Tiko is greatly helped by St Luke’s Anglican Church in Mosman, Sydney. A Reverend from that church had told Elke about the Australian Board of Mission who had missionaries work in St Francis Mission Hospital, Katete. However, they had just decided to no longer finance projects in Africa.

Still, Elke applied as a nurse educator to St Francis directly and was accepted. To say thank-you for the hint, she went to this Reverend’s church and was literally welcomed with open arms. She, to follow one parishioner’s observation, put a human face to missionary work for that church, to this very day. The money that comes from the parishioners of St Luke’s, is meant for Tikondane's growth toward sustainability. A number of times members of the church came to Tiko and our connection is very strong indeed.

It was a member of St. Luke's who originally made the connection with the National Council of Churches Australia, in Sydney, who are now helping Tikondane by accepting donations on their behalf. Other churches got involved over time, such as St. Francis Anglican Church in Mooroolbark, Melbourne, Australia. Over the years they have helped local St. Francis Hospital destitute patients get home when discharged.

Robin, TIKO's staunch friend from the beginning, introduced Elke to St. Georges in Paddington and the congregation there is looking after tea and biscuits for after the service for the Anglican congregation at our local St. Francis Hospital. They also help in other ways to keep the congregation together in times of need.

There is yet another great source of help from Holland. The patients of a big hospital there give some money to Father Frits. One third is for the Catholics in Katete, one for the Anglican church and one for the Christian Council branch. For the Catholics, some children are sent to school, for the Christian Council, it helps with their main activities. These are to organize a hospital Sunday at St Francis, a choir competition around Christmas and a prison service at the same time. The latter is a most moving occasion, and it is wonderful to be able to give some food to the 200 or so prisoners, as well as their warders.

For the Anglican church, that help supports special requests, like the choir meeting of the Mothers’ Union. These women are most welcome at Tiko, where they sleep on mattresses in the conference room and are helped with a bit food, giving in return the most inspired evening concert anybody could imagine, on Tiko’s verandah .

The reader may feel that Tiko is trying to do too much, when adding these activities to the general list. However, one has to be aware that we here are living in the Middle Ages. While people strongly believe in witchcraft, religion is the most important part of life. Every activity, every meeting is preceded by a fervent prayer and visitors are asked not whether they attend church, but which church they attend.

The church service on Sundays is the most important part of the week, and with its singing and dancing and the very special reception of visitors it is one of the things that alone would make a trip to Zambia worthwhile.