In Zambia, more than 45% of children under 5 years old are malnourished and this affects their physical development.

In 2009, Joyce and her friends started a feeding program. The feeding program became a school. .

In 2013, through generous donations a 4 hectare lot of land was bought so a farm could be built.

Vegetables and maize were planted and farming commenced. Pigs and cattle were added the next year.

During COVID-19 emergency food packs were supplied to the school families and other contacts.

The school remained open when it could, ensuring everyone was still fed.

Public education for Primary School in Zambia requires payment. Secondary and Tertiary education requires students to undergo exams as well as an increased payment. For children from the poorest families that can’t even afford food, money for school fees is non existent.

From 2010, over the next 6 years, the school expanded with a new grade each year.

By 2016, the first group of children sat the High School Entrance Examination.

In 2021, three of the original students from 2009 were accepted at Northrise University.

Children are orphaned in Zambia by diseases such as Cholera, Dysentry, Typhoid, Malaria, HIV and now COVID-19.

The school covers the expenses for all students illnesses and health problems. They are treated at the local clinic.

For the children with HIV, additional high protein meals are provided and ALMs ensures they have all the appropriate medication and take that medication.

Joyce is a trained Counsellor and has a great deal of experience and wisdom. The school also employs an additional Trained Counsellor and Child Protection Officer.

See Amanda’s Journey in our blog for her story.

Clean water and sanitation are the most important measures a country can take to reduce childhood mortality. Contaminated water and poor sanitation increase the transmission of diseases such as Cholera, Diarrhoea, Dystentry, Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Polio.

The installation of boreholes and water tanks provides clean water for consumption. This together with the construction of hygienic toilet facilities means infections with water borne diseases have been uncommon among the children.

A regular job with a salary is rare amongst those helped by ALMs. The dismissal of household staff in the first COVID-19 outbreak put many of our families out of work.

Employment gives you self respect because you are able to feed and provide for your own family. The schooltrains and employs parents, carers and local families. Other local people are preferentially employed as well during any construction activity.

Farming and concrete brick making are not only ALMs initiatives in self-sustainability, but they also are some of the ways ALMs and employing school families and local people.

See Brenda’s Story and Mavis’ Story in our blog for the stories of parents in their own words.