Mwachisompola Primary School Needs A Hand UP!
It might be difficult to pronounce but it’s not difficult to find on the map, about an hour north of Lusaka and just off the main road.
Mwachispompola is a well organised rural settlement committed to finding a way to ensure their children have an education. With very little support, and sheer determination, they have succeeded over many years to build a three classroom block and persuade the Ministry of Education to send teachers. Many of the 500+ children walk up to 8km to get to school. They need and deserve more classrooms.
Since 2004, this community has been committed to providing an education for their children with very limited support from Government. They have a strong vision for a school eventually teaching up to secondary level. This drive underpins our decision to support the school in 2023
At the moment there are 490 children registered for grades 1-7. But there are many more children not coming to school because there is not enough teaching space.
Although, there are now 11 trained teachers there are only three very basic classrooms. Even after borrowing local church buildings, most children receive fewer than four hours teaching a day.
The school has nowhere near enough desks and books but the children are desperate to learn. They know the power of education to create opportunities in a tough world.
There is also a desperate need for more toilets. At the moment there are just two crude, long-drops for the whole school. This is a crisis that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Our proposal
Quite simply we want to transform Mwachisompola School!
This year our plan is to:
- Construct a Four classroom block with capacity for over 200 children; the same design as the one we recently completed at Zambezi Sawmills Community School
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- Standard Build it design (we have completed over 100 classrooms)
- Cool, light and robust (low maintenance)
- One classroom with power for light and computers (in the future)
- Disability access
- Construct a fit-for-purpose latrine block with separate access for girls:
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- Standard Build It design (we have completed dozens)
- Ventilation improved pit latrine with six cubicles, including one with disability access doubling as a washing space
- Handwashing facility
- Train 20 local young men and women in building skills whilst constructing the school – to help them gain new skills to be able to secure work after the project.
Further support:
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- Desks
- Books and learning resources
- Training Parent Teacher committee
We rely on the support of our generous donors to complete this project.
If you would like to find out more about how you can give a Hand Up to the children of Mwachisampola, and support the construction of this much-needed facility; please contact Lisa Carson, Head of Fundraising & Communications, lisa@builditinternational.org