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Recently we received new from our Zambian partners about the satisfying progress of Schulfee.

Since it’s start in 2014 the project as not only convinced in numbers - 285 school fees payed - but enabled impressive academic careers as well:

Bruce from Chirundu, supported during his examination grade in 2015, has sucessfully passed on to grade 10 together with eight more students. From Nkandabbwe 14 pupils graduated to university level.

We feel joy about this as this disproves a lot of prejudice toward the poorer families:

“The project has supported pupils from community and government schools, especially those which are not targeted by most organisations either because of their geographical location or are deemed to have pupils who seem to be the least and cannot further their education. On the contrary, most of the targeted pupils, once supported put in their best to go to the next grade while other complete with good grades to enable them proceed to higher learning institutions once they have the necessary support from their families or well wishers.”

– Agnes Simoloka, Development Office

Sitation in Zambia

While the overall political development in 2017 in Zambia has arguably been dominated by power struggles instead of progress, on the field of education, the Free Education Policy finally seems to “kick in” and decrease the financial burden for the classes 1-7 of our partner schools.

The strain on food production, imposed by dry periods in the past, has fortunately lessened thanks to increased rainfall. There are not many economical advantages gained by the small scale farmers, however, because the prices for agricultural products have dropped some in the course. Therefore, financial problems due to school fees are still common.

On a local level, the well-known problems persist: discrimination against girls, who are seem as a financial burden and are pushed towards work or marriage instead of school; insecurity and stigmatization of pupils, that are dismissed from school in hopeless order to procure missing partial payments for school fees from home.

Development of Schulfee Project

With the pleasant progress of the Free Education Policy the focus of the project has shifted in 2017 towards the grades 8-12 that are not covered by said policy. Apart from that, the proven mode of operation continues: the Development Office receives and operates the donations and consults schools and parishes in questions of pupil selection.

The supported pupils in 2017 are as follows:

• Namwala Secondary: 2
• Namwala Central: 3
• Chirundu Secondary: 10
• Nkandabbwe Secondary: 20
• Kasenga Girls Secondary: 3
• Niko Girls School: 1
• Batoka Secondary: 2

Some voices

An ambitious young woman who fights against all odds for her education is Alice Siatontola. She may be seen as an example for all those pupils mentioned earlier, who have been written of by others despite having so much potential.

“I am Alice Siatontola of Maamba and a pupil of Nkandabbwe Secondary School. I am 20 years old, born in a family of six and staying with my parents whose income is only dependant on farming for ends and sending children to school.

Talking about my education background, my parents sent me to school but after attaining the seventh grade I was told I cannot continue because there was no money to pay my school fees. I was out of school for three year but then I thought I needed to go back to school until I complete. I gained courage within myself and went to Nkandabbwe School to ask if they can assist me get into school again. Fortunately, they agreed but on condition that I should be working for the school during holidays instead of studying. I started school again in 2016on that condition but it was not easy for me to divide time between home, school and books. I could not concentrate in class and I was always lagging behind in almost everything at school.

The situation changed in 2017 when I was picked for sponsorship under the Catholic support program. I was really filled with gladness to be chosen because now I had time to study during holidays. I committed myself to that and wrote my grade 9 examination which I passed and I was second best at Nkandabbwe school. I am now in grade 10 but if I do not receive sponsorship I will go back to the school working program which was taking away almost all my study time or become a drop out again. I wish my sponsor could continue to sponsor me until I complete grade 12. My dream is to become a nurse if I can be sponsored even in college because there is no one to help me.”

Clement Siamvwenu tells his story.

“My name is Clement Siamvwenu and I am 19 years old. I live with my old grandmother in Siamugande village of Sinazongwe Districk. In 2006 when I was only 7 years old, my father died and my mother got married to another man who could not take me in as a son. My grandmother has been struggling to meet my school needs since she is old and depends on seasonal farming to raise money.

I was always a victim of those who would be chased from school because of not paying on time. Whenever my grandmother did not pay my school fees I would just be home waiting for her to find money because I am the third person looking up to her for school requirements. I would not concentrate on my studies. Sometimes I would look for some piece work so that I would help my grandmother pay the shortfall at school and I would be in class worrying how the situation would be like the next term. I remember when I was in grade 9, I was chased from school and while thinking that was the end of me with school, the deputy head teacher called for me to his office and told me the good news that I was selected for sponsorship by the Catholic Mission church. This delighted me and my grandmother so much. I studied hard and stopped panicking and worrying. Thanks to my sponsors I even passed by grade 9 examination. I would have been one of the drop outs of school but you picked me and brought me this far. I am now in grade 11 all because of your sponsorship.

It is my plea and wish that you will continue to sponsor me until I compete my grade 12 next year because if you discontinue your sponsorship, then that will be the end of me and school. I thank you for sponsoring me”