Blog

Some time has passed since our last report and now there are quite some news worth sharing.

The ewe (eine welt engagement e.V.) that for example runs the Summer School, celebrated its 20th anniversary in October. On this occasion Mr. Solomon Phiri, one of our partners from the Developtment Department in Zambia, visited Düren. Thus we can share what he and his colleague Agnes Simooloka had to tell about Schulfee.

What about the pupils form 2014?

Shebby and Delphine of St. Mary’s school have done it. They moved on to be grade 10 students at this year. The examinations of the 7th graders did not go all that well, but most of them passed on to grade 8 at St. Mary’s, if not a higher school.

Support for 60 pupils at two schools

Since the project’s focus is on classes 7 and 9 right now, new pupils have been chosen for this year’s support. The Development Department is working together with school administration and local parishes in order to identify people in need. Thanks to a lot of donations they have been able to increase the number of pupils supported so that this year has 30 pupils of St. Mary’s and another 30 of Tiyamike Community School in Chirundu district covered.

Monze and Chirundu. Source: Google Maps

Some of the pupils will be introduced below.

The payments are dealt with directly between the Developtment Department and the participating schools. Additionally, we could present the pupils personally with drinking bottles and messenger bags. This was merchandise left over from the Aachen Pilgrimage and provides a better alternative to cheap plastic bags.

Father Bernard und Agnes Simooloka and a supported pupil.

A mother expresses her joy because of the presents and support for her children through a dance.

Shebby and Delphine whose academic success has opened the door to higher grades have been equiped as well. Thank you to the diocese of Aachen for this donation and to the FairReisen Group from ewe that delivered the gifts.

![Group picture with bags

Setback Monze High School

Unfortunately we haven’t been able to accomplish all our goals, though. The attempt to gain a higher level school for our project, like Monze High school and to be able to implement a short-term scholarship for the graduation classes failed. As Mr. Phiri explains, the school administration has taken a very biased approach in the selection of pupils that took only members of a single parish into account. A compatibility with the project’s guidelines that values unbiased selection without consideration of parishes, religious denomination or religion, could not or would not be reached.

Evaluation

To summarize with the nice words of Agnes Simooloka:

“The project is intended to contribute towards the enhancement of education for the less privileged children in the Diocese and in the targeted schools. Schulfee (School fees) project, though still in its infancy stage, has come to the aid of 91 pupils (since 2014) whose parents could not afford to pay up all their school fees. An act of kindness and empathy has seen many children, who would have dropped out of school, to the next grade of their education. The Schulfee (School fees) project has come at the time when most of the small scale farmers in the Diocese are no longer realising sufficient revenue from their farm produce due to the poor rain parten the last few year. It had been their plea that a savior would come to their aid and this was an answered prayer.”

Lookout

We are looking forward with ideas for the future and a growing sense of longevity of Schulfee. The level of funds guarantees the continued support of pupils for years to come.

Another idea is just being born in order to enhance the motivation of the pupils and to facilitate learning for school. By help of solar lamps further study time could be gained in unelectrified rural areas (mind: Zambian sunset is 6 p.m. sharp every day).

We wish all pupils success in their studies and hope that we haven been able to motivate them beyond mere financial support. It means a lot to them that people from near and from very afar are committed to them.

Supported pupils from 2015

Jackline Busiku, class 7, St. Mary’s school, writes:

“I am a single orphan staying with my mother. My father died in 2014. Being a single parent, my mother is unable to meet all our needs, especially school fees. She is HIV positive. I wished I had a sponsor to meet my school needs but then it came just at the right time. Before the project paid my school fees, I would be chased from class and this disturbed me a lot because l like school. My mother appreciates this assistance and I will work hard so that I continue my education up to grade 12. Thank you.”

Shiniter Mukuni, grade 9:

“Am the second born child of the 8 children of my parents. They are both uneducated and unemployed hence they struggle to meet all our school needs. My grandfather who used to help my parents financially died and his relatives grabbed all the property from my father. There is no other source of income for him than piece works which does not give him enough money to pay our school fees. When this support came it was a relief to my father and I hope it will continue so that I finish school”

Kellyson Busiku

“I Kellyson a grade nine pupil at St. Mary’s basic school stays with my father. My father is not fully able to meet my school fees and each time am about to write my exams am chased from school because my father would not have paid the school fees. This has resulted in me repeating the same grade instead of going forward because I would have missed a term or two. I hope that this help which has come my way will continue until I finish my education. I am intelligent and am determined to continue schooling, I have never been discouraged. God bless you all.”

Euphemia Mwaka

“Am aged 17 and in grade 9 at St. Mary’s school. Am an orphan staying with my father who is on ARVs because he is sick. He is not able to find money easily because of his condition so I believe in selling samp to raise money for my school fees and other things that I need. My sister could not finish school because of lack of money but I want to complete school. To this help I say thank you very much and my father has been looking for a sponsor for me but none was found until the project paid my school fees”