By Chris Barrell | HANDS AROUND THE WORLD Project Co-ordinator
Celebrations are an important part of life in Zambia, as they are throughout the world. This year, thanks to a small donation from one of the HANDS AROUND THE WORLD sponsors, the school was able to enjoy a special party to mark World Youth Day. 240 of the students attended this event which was marked with lots of singing, dancing, drumming and reciting poetry.
Most of the children have lost one or more parents - largely as a result of AIDS - and the children use these occasions to express some of the difficulties in their lives, as well as giving thanks for the opportunities given them through the education they receive at the school. At the end of the day the children enjoyed a good meal.
The rainy season has now finished – a bit too early in fact. Combined with flooding early in the year, this could mean a poor harvest and food shortages later in the year – these conditions have particularly affected the Southern Province, in which PIZZ school is situated.. At the school they have been able to grow good crops of okra and tomatoes, but the sweet potatoes and maize crops have failed due to lack of rain.
In addition to the academic studies at the school, Mrs. Sianga is keen to try to address some of the problems that her students encounter. This pastoral care for the students is a very important part of the ethos of the school, and it is important for the development of the students. Fortunately the school has a number of care workers who help, mainly on a voluntary basis.
The school has excellent staff who work hard, with limited resources, to give the students a chance in life. Many of these struggle on very low wages which are barely enough to provide food and accommodation. (PIZZ receives no funding from the government). The school would collapse without their dedication.
Most importantly the students are very well motivate and are thriving - those who have moved into secondary school are doing very well. Education is for many the key to escaping their lives of poverty, with your help some
are beginning to achieve that dream.
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