Orphan Education Support - Zambian Villages

Since we started supporting education projects in Zambia in 2006 the government has changed the curriculum three times. This time it is based on the UK system and the good news is that pupils in state schools can now take their A levels, whereas previously they could only take them at private schools or during a foundation year at university or college.

Initially, this will mean extra work for teachers and administrators but it will done in phases and will help children in the future. Primary schools will now go from grades 1 to 6 and secondary will start from forms 1 to 4. This will considerably increase the number of pupils enrolling in secondary schools, resulting in the need for more classrooms and desks.

Nguba Secondary Schoo'l which was recently built by orphans who were on our orphan support programme, saw its first intake of pupils this week. Six pupils from Singwamba Primary school, where we recently built a teacher’s flat, did well in their exams and were offered places at Nguba. However, their parents could not afford to buy their uniforms and other educational needs. In cases such as this girls are often forced into early marriages. To avoid this happening we have included all six pupils on The Butterfly Tree’s orphan sponsorship programmeks!

Two new primary schools in Kalomo District are currently under construction – one is at Simukumbwa. This school will get a 1×2 classroom block. The other one at Namchele, funded by one of our long-term donors, will have a 1×3 classroom block and a teacher’s house. Once completed the schools will be handed over to the Ministry of Education who will provide trained teachers.

We have now completed the first phase of an invaluable special education project, entitled ‘Improving Education for Young People with Special Needs.’ This includes teacher training sessions, the production of a training manual, community sensitization, and the provision of educational materials and specialized equipment.

Zambia practices an inclusive education system, which according to teachers results in pupils with special needs being neglected. Mukuni Primary School is the only school in the Kazungula District that has a separate facility, which we built in 2009. Thanks to receiving a generous donation this project is making a difference. The teacher training sessions have already taken place at 7 of the 9 zones where teachers from almost all of the District’s 161 schools were in attendance.

The Heads of the District’s and Mukuni’s Special Education conducted the sessions and the teacher training manual has been drafted. In addition, each school has received wheelchairs, crutches, textbooks, school bags, and educational material, specifically for pupils with mental and physical challenges. The next phase of funding will be used to complete the training sessions, for community sensitization, and to purchase more specialized equipment such as braille, hearing aids and further learning materials.

Mants to everyone who has supported The Butterfly Tree's projects in Zambia.

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree - February Newsletter

First of all, I would like to wish all our donors, fundraisers and volunteers a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year. Secondly, I would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who supported our Christmas Appeal and the many other projects that we implemented in 2024.

Vulnerable children and rural communities received bags of ground maize, and the food security projects initiated for women, and for youths will disabilities has helped to alleviate hunger. The good news is that the drought has broken bringing much needed rain to fill streams, rivers and boreholes, and to provide irrigation for crops and vegetables gardens.

We receive many messages of gratitude, but this one reduced me to tears! ‘The food we are receiving is keeping the village alive. The little each one gets is shared with neighbours, and as a result there is no death or sickness, and it gives us hope that at least someone cares.’ Sadly, hunger is still widespread with the Ministry of Health informing me that there is now malnutrition being recorded in adults as well as many children. Until crops are harvested providing further support is paramount.

We ensure that all the orphans and vulnerable children on our orphan support programme receive regular donations of food. We are delighted to report that a further 16 pupils under sponsorship completed grade 12 in December. Results were out last week and most have them have gained their certificates, with some pupils gaining excellent grades.

The new school year has started with the introduction of a change in curriculum. Pupils from grade 7 to 12 will be enrolled at secondary schools, previously it was for grades 8 and upwards. The new secondary education facility that we recently constructed at Nguba will start taking pupils this month.

We are about to commence construction on two new primary schools in the Kalomo District. One at Simumkumbwa Community school where this is no proper infrastructure and the other at Namachele Community school. Both currently have only structures made of mud and pole. Once we have added permanent classrooms the Ministry of Education will provide the trained teachers.

Education is the key to overcoming poverty as long as children from poor communities have opportunities to attend school.

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree January Newsletter