Lessons take place inside a borrowed farmhouse. But for how much longer?
The community of Simakakata are inspiring. They’ve borrowed a crumbling farmhouse and turned it into a school for 230 children. They’ve persuaded the government to provide three paid teachers and have attracted four other trained volunteers.
But they face a problem. A big one. The owner of the building wants it back and there are no other buildings the school can use. They urgently need classrooms, teacher’s houses and water so the children can continue their education.
They have built 60,000 bricks and are happy to volunteer both skilled and unskilled labour to construct the school. But they can’t afford the building materials such as cement, glass, timber and roofing tiles.
Update:
Thanks to your fundraising efforts in 2009 and a donation from Care International four classrooms are now fully funded and the community are busy building them. And after seeing this rapid progress the local council have agreed to drill a borehole at the school.
But time is running out as their lease on the farmhouse has now expired. The community urgently need an fifth and final classroom, and then five teachers’ houses to complete the school. (In Zambia if you provide a teachers’ house the government provides a trained teacher for free).
Here is a round up of the stories from the Simakakata, and a full breakdown of the project costs. Please forward this post on to as many people as you think will be interested, and re-tweet it on Twitter. And if you wish to make a donation please feel free. Thank you.
The stories
Not one, but four classrooms are now fully funded
Your end of year update from Simakakata. Headmaster George explains how your money is being put to work and shares wonderful news about a donation from Care International.
Simakakata Community School in 10 photos
The current school at Simakakata and why they badly need new classrooms and teacher’s houses.
“I’ve started something at Simakakata” – Headmaster George
George Matantilo shares his amazing story. He’s a complete inspiration and will do everything in his power to ensure the school is built.
The local disabled community needs the school at Simakakata
Shabby Aongola explains how the school provides a lifeline to the disabled community.
If you can’t read, life is hard
Why the community of Simakakata want to build a school.
Headman Richard Sikalunda explains why a school is more important to the community than a clinic.
Inside the school at Simkakakta
Our first impressions of the derelict farmhouse which currently functions as the community school.
You can’t teach a thirsty child
Right now, the school doesn’t have a borehole. This is what happens after they teach a sports class.
The community contribution so far
The people of Simakakata are determined to build this school. They’ve hand crafted 60,000 bricks, and given up hours of free time.
What the community still needs
Although they’ve put in a huge effort, the people of Simakakata still need your help. Here, they explain why.
The sporting stars of Simakakata
School isn’t just about lessons. Learn what the children get up to on the sports field.
The costs
The total amount we need to raise, broken down for full transparency.
Meet the community
Meet the children of Simakakata Community School, and see their ambitions.
Saviour’s story: A day in the life
Join 10-year-old orphan Saviour on her 14km round trip to school.
Saviour’s story: The photo diary – part 1 part 2 part 3
Saviour’s day, retold in pictures.
Saviour: Your questions answered
Saviour responds to the questions raised by our followers on Twitter.
Meet the inspirational Sonia Haloba Shanegubo, a teacher at Simakakata. She’s living proof of the power of education to break the cycle of poverty.
If you would like to make a donation please do so. You’ll get to see your money in action every step of the way. Thank you.
