Orphan Education Support - Zambian Villages

It's not easy being an orphan. When a child has lost not just one, but both parents, their world is turned upside down. What is worse for some children is that they may have been living a relatively prosperous life in a town where both parents brought in an income, then everyhting changes. They must go to a remote village to live with their grandparents. No longer do they have the amenities found in town, their new home is most likely to be a mud hut dwelling with no running water and no electricity.

This is what happened to Peter, who was sent to live in Mukuni Village with his aunt and had to attend a new school. At the age of 12 Peter, an intelligent child, was not performing well. The Head Teacher advised that if he was moved to a boarding school he would perform better. From then on, Peter, who was the first orphan to be sponsored by the charity, received help. The sponsorship and Peter's hard work paid off. After completing high school with good results, followed by three years studying at college, a Bachelor's degree as a Secondary School Teacher was gained.

This is a great achievement for an orphan who had a troubled life and lived in a poor community. Other orphans have gone on to be engineers, teachers, nurses and police officers. Jacob, after four years at college, with shortly complete his course in agriculture.

Besides supporting individual children, we are currently building a new school and expending two more. Bunsanga School, previously used a mud hut dwelling to teach the 86 village children. When the roof of the classroom collapsed the pupils had to be taught in a church. With a new classroom block shortly opening the enrolment has already increased. A teacher's house and latrines will also be added.

River View School is in the final stages of development after a four-classroom block has been constructed as well as six latrines. This week we started work on a new two-classroom block for the pupils at Chaba School. Currently grade 8 pupils must walk 7 miles each way to Livingstone to attend classes. 

Helping these vulnerable children to gain a sound education will not only change their lives for the better, but it will inspire other orphans to take the challenge. With your support, we can educate so many more children and give them hope and a purpose in life.

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree's Education Projects