Dwankhozi Community School is located approximately 70 kilometers (km) from the town of Chipata, in the Eastern Province of Zambia on the Chipata-Lundazi road. The name Dwankhozi is derived from the river of the same name which is in the Chipangali area of Chipata. Dwankhozi covers an area of approximately 20 km with several neighboring villages. Many of the girls and boys from these villages are seriously lacking in proper nutrition, mental and physical health, and education or training. While there are a few government schools in the surrounding areas, access to these schools is difficult for the youths of Dwankhozi area and the surrounding villages due to the natural terrain and lack of transportation.
History
The local community took action and originally built this program in recognition of the importance that every child has a right to education. As article 202, No.2 of the UN charter declares – “All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.” The Dwankhozi Community School started operations on March 25, 2003, initially offering classes to children in first to fourth grades.
Now
Since its beginnings, Dwankhozi Community School has expanded and now offers classes to children up to 8th grade. The program currently caters to roughly 500 children, many of whom are orphans whose parents were impacted by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The school is run by headmaster Mr. Chimbalanga along with volunteer teachers. Each volunteer teaches five to six hours a day with no compensation. Due to economic hardships and extreme poverty in this region of Zambia, it is difficult for the school to provide on its own the necessary basic tools and textbooks required for providing a quality education.
What Has Been Accomplished
Together with our donors and the remarkable commitment and dedication of the Dwankhozi community, we have come a long way from where we started. The school building originally planned has been completed. The pre-K school building will soon be completed as well. A new bore-hole for clean drinking water for the entire community has been completed. New, more sanitary, latrines have been built for the school. Teachers’ supplies, student supplies, physical education equipment and textbooks have been provided. (These are, of course, ongoing needs that will continue to be a part of our support goals.) Desks have been constructed and installed. Teacher’s desks and storage furnishings are under construction and will soon be installed.
To Come
Dwankhozi Hope is excited about Dwankhozi Community School’s future.Currently, we are working together on plans and funds for:
- Continuing provision for basic education supplies for the teachers and students
- Provide support for teachers for ongoing education/certification
- Provide teacher housing
- Health clinic and community health and other educational programs
- Provide solar lights to the school
- Complete construction of the Pre-K building
- Implement feasibility study for building Zambia’s first community high school
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