LearnAsOne

On Thursday we followed 10-year-old orphan Saviour through a typical day. The final third is a mirror image of the morning. A 7km walk home, where she is visibly tiring, followed by a small meal of nshima and more chores. By the time she is finished it’s 6pm and the light is rapidly fading. There is no time for homework before bed.

Photography by Brenda Veldtman.

Just after 3.15pm the children start the 7km walk home.

Despite the distance that lies ahead they are still in high spirits. They love having the chance to go to school.

As a 10-year-old Saviour should be in grade 4, but it's only recently that she has become strong enough to do the 14km round trip every day.

That's 70km of walking per week. Or 2,800km in a school year.

2 hours after they set off the children are back at Chibwe Farm and it's time for dinner.

The children are glad to have a second meal of the day. In a few months time the food from the harvest will be very low.

Yet more chores.

The family enjoy some quality time together around the remains of the fire.

As the last of the light starts to disappear an exhausted Saviour heads to bed.

At a quick glance the school at Simakakata looks quite good. It’s a borrowed farmhouse. A little dark perhaps, but there are four walls and a roof that doesn’t leak too much. But there is a big problem. The community doesn’t own the building and the organisation that does wants it back.

Simakakata desperately needs a new school.

A total of £5,200 is needed to fund the first classroom for Saviour and her friends. Once the community has started construction, we’ll post regular updates so you can see your money in action. Click here if you want to make a donation.