Support Vulnerable Children in Monze, Zambia

I have just received a report from Mrs. Sianga who initiated the project and manages the school on a day to day basis. I will therefore let her tell you about the project in her own words.

Pizz School had the vision of reducing the number of street kids, even if the school had a lot of challenges the idea was to save the children, since its inception the school has made an impact to a number of children in Monze and the impact of the project is now seen. It is just like a light placed on the top of the mountain and the number of children is increasing day in and day out. Currently the total number of children from Grade 1 up to Grade 9 is 380 at Pizz school. 11 pupils are in grade 11 under this project then 5 are in grade 10 (these children are being supported at local secondary schools). We are proud to say the school project aim has started bearing fruits - one of our pupils by the name of Mawini is now at university of Zambia under school of natural science.

ACHIEVEMENTS 

• The project is feeding the 380 children and as a result children's performance has increased.

• The project is paying a number of teachers in order for them to manage teaching the children,

• The project managed to maintain the school,

• The project managed to increase the number of desks,

• The project managed to build a strong room so that the children can write their exams at the same school.

• The project managed to procure the science kit which is important for the children,

• The project managed to procure a photo coping machine which is vital in any school.

• The project managed to support the pupils with school uniforms.

• The project managed to support a number of children with different types of clothes.

• The project managed to pay for pupils in secondary schools.

CHALLENGES

• The number of the children has increased and the challenge is food, because at the time when we were budgeting the number was not like this. Most of the schools in Monze are not offering the services which are offered here, hence the increase of the number. Everyday people are coming to ask for places for the children, but it is only that we don’t have enough classrooms of which we have limited the number of pupils.

• There is a need to increase the number of teachers because they have introduced new subjects in Zambia. These are business studies - under this is: book keeping, accounts (office practice) computer lessons, agric and home economics. There is a need of buying new books for these lessons and we also need computers for the children because those who are in grade 9 this year have to write these subjects in the final exam.

• Most of the children are coming from homes where the is no electricity and studying is a problem. We are requesting you to help us with solar lights. If we can have a number of them I think it can help and increase the number of children passing .

• As the number of children has increased, there is a need to increase the number of desks.

• Some children who passed this year have had no one to help them so far (to enable them to go to secondary school). It is a challenge because some can go back onto the streets.

In July we hope to send a team of volunteers to help with the building of a new classroom block – for which we have obtained separate funding. Please help us to continue to support this wonderful project and enable Mrs.Sianga and her team to bring an ever brighter light to the people of Monze.