Scotch College

Good progress at Kapumfi

World Vision Australia’s February 2006 report on the Kapumfi Project in Zambia shows that the project is progressing very well.

Scotch, in partnership with World Vision, launched the $153,000, three-year project in August 2005, to fund the construction of a fully furnished school for 448 children of the Kapumfi community. Just over $140,000 has already been raised – a wonderful effort.

The World Vision report said the project is proceeding ‘at full pace’, with ‘all the preliminary administrative and logistical arrangements completed’.

‘Building contract documents were approved during the month, and work has commenced in earnest … progressing from foundation to slab level. The community members have been providing manual labour. They have also been providing locally available materials, such as water and building sand … There have not been any significant challenges encountered so far … There is great anticipation to have the project completed even before the deadline of May.’

The completion of the school will create unprecedented opportunities for learning among the children of the Kapumfi community – and perhaps the new educational opportunities will have unforeseen implications.

For example, the World Vision report pointed out that early marriages among young girls in the Kapumfi community are a major challenge to local authorities.

‘Many girls have been discouraged to progress with school because of limited classroom space and a poor learning environment,’ the report said. ‘Consequently girls have been dropping out at Grade 6 or 7, opting for early marriages. The new education project will go a long way to increase education opportunities for all children in the area, and more especially the girls.’

‘Eleven-year-old Hope Chansa, of Kapumfi School, is one of the promising girls at Kapumfi School. Hope has been getting top of her class in examinations since Grade 1. Hope is now in Grade 4 … “Once I complete school, I want to go to college and become a schoolteacher,” Hope says.’

‘Hope is one of the 208 girls who will have a life opportunity available to them through the construction of a new 1 x 3 classroom block at Kapumfi School. She regularly inspects progress at the new school block [and] she is eagerly waiting for the completion of the project.’

‘Thanks for the support from Scotch College in Australia for making it possible for children like Hope to realise their dreams.’