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Mazyopa School, Mazyopa Compound, Lusaka, Zambia
In September 2007, World Advocacy Foundation began a partnership with a small school in a large “shanty compound” in Lusaka, Zambia. On a visit to Mazyopa Compound, which houses over 8,000 people in mud, tin and meal sack houses, we met with a Zambian teacher who had built a rustic school on a small plot of land. The largely illiterate community had been reluctant to see the importance of educating children.
Housed in several 8 x 10 ft. mud brick rooms, the school had no windows, desks, or books. The teacher, Mr. Kaonga, told us there were over 200 children enrolled in his school. Enrollment was difficult because many of the students’ families could not pay the approximately $.12 per month for school fees. The most difficult challenge the school faced was poor attendance due to hungry children. “If we feed them, they will come,” said Mr. Kaonga, the head teacher and school administrator. Using his own resources, the teacher said they went through 4 large bags of corn “mealie meal” per month, but attendance was much higher when the children knew there would be a midday meal.
In a subsistence community situated far from government schools, teaching the adults and children about the importance of education, and equipping locals to lead these efforts, becomes critical. Through a private donor, WAF was able to offer funding in October 2007 to provide a living wage for the teacher /administrator, and provide limited funds for school supplies and mealie meal. Currently, our staff has recruited and trained 4 volunteer teachers, started an adult literacy program, and is putting volunteers to work after school helping to build more mud brick buildings as the school enrollment swells.
One would expect a spirit of despondency to pervade the impoverished community, and we did find it among some of the older, weary residents. But the spirit of Mazyopa that gives WAF such hope is found in the children. As we finished touring the small but proud Mazyopa Compound school, we walked out into the courtyard to a mass of dusty, curious and then singing children, who followed us all the way back to our cars.
Mazyopa School currently needs funding to provide a stipend for four currently volunteer teachers at $25 per month per teacher. The school is also seeking building supplies to keep the rains out, and expand the current school. There are also needs for desks and teaching materials. Please contact us at info@wafafrica.org if you would like more information.
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