Previously there was:

The school was established in 2004 to provide specialist pre-school and primary education support for children with a wide range of mental and physical disabilities, and is run by the inspirational Donata Kalanga, who is disabled herself. In 2010 Donata asked Build It for help with a new building as the school is being forced to move out of its current rented premises.

Donata School for the Disabled is the only school for 100 miles to provide specialist education for children with disabilities.

With limited educational facilities disabled children have few opportunities. The school is currently attended by over 35 children with meals provided for all children, but demand is much higher.

With your support:

Built with the help of our trainees, the school was finally completed in July 2012. In 2012, a 1×3 hexagonal shaped classroom block was built together with an ablution block.

Two years later in 2014, we returned to Donata  to build a teachers’ house and Latrine. This project was generously funded by the COINS Foundation. The teacher´s house allowed DEBS to post a government-trained special needs education teacher at the school.

The school operates on a low budget, supported by contributions from the local community. Critically, we have agreed with the Ministry of Education that further support will be provided in the form of trained teachers, funding, equipment and materials.  The school now has the capacity of up to 50, with the potential to expand further.

Since we left…

This school is making a huge difference to educate children that otherwise would not have had the chance. We’re pleased to hear the school is undertaking sign language classes for parents, local people, businesses and staff from other schools and as a meeting centre.

Learn more about the school by visiting their website.