Shipungu Community School was started by the local community as there was no other school in the immediate area. There are about 800 children in the Shipungu area; almost half of the total population. The school is oversubscribed and many children have to walk 2-3 hours to the nearest school. 

The school consists of five small rooms built from mud and thatch and is very overcrowded. Despite the hard work of the four volunteer teachers, children are faced with an extremely hot (40°C), poorly maintained and ill equipped classrooms. The community have been very active, collecting over 130 tonnes of sand, stone and gravel. Even the children at the school have pitched in, holding a vote on what design they would like the school to look like!

We are now working with the local community to ensure they have brand new classrooms that will increase the schools capacity and provide a far better learning environment. It will include new classrooms, teachers houses and latrine facilities, all made from soil and sand blocks. More importantly, the new facilities will unlock increased support from the Zambian Ministry of Education, who will support the school and provide professional training to its teachers.