Blog
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Photo of the week: Walking for Saviour.
The London Bridges Sponsored Walk: Last Saturday 22 walkers replicated Saviour's 14km walk to school and raised £1,032 for the final classroom at Simakakata. Thank you!
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Photo of the week: The classroom posters.
The classroom walls at Simakakata. If you can't afford learning materials, make them yourself.
Image by Brenda Veldtman.
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Photo of the week: The Headmaster’s office.
Today we’re starting a new feature called “Photo of the week” so you can learn more about Simakakata, Kalomo and Zambia. If there is anything specific you wish to see please leave a comment below and we’ll take a look through the archives.
With no electricity at Simakakata, Headmaster George makes use of the only window in his office to provide the light he needs to run the school.
Learn more about George and his tireless work for the community.
Image by Brenda Veldtman.
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Simakakata update: New picture from the school.
Last week our partners at Response Network visited Simakakata to see how the new school was coming along. Here’s a piccy so you can see for yourself.
Despite the recent rainy season the classrooms are coming along well.
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End of year catch-up with Simakakata (including a brilliant surprise!)
Yesterday Volunteer Adam caught up with Headmaster George on the phone. Here’s your update on what’s being going on at Simakakata recently and how your money is being put to use.
Work has already begun at Simakatata. Here you can see Headmaster George being interviewed on a Flip camera. We hope this will be available to share in early 2010.
“Merry Christmas from Zambia,” says George, the headmaster of Simakakata Community School, “And we wish you all the best for a prosperous 2010!”
His pupils and staff are off enjoying the Christmas holidays, but George has been cycling into work every day this week. He’d rather be spending time with his family, but there’s a lot to do.
The last few weeks have been eventful for the children of Simakakata. It started with good news: as well as receiving the funding for a new classroom thanks to your efforts in 2009, the school has also been awarded a grant by leading international aid agency CARE International to fully fund an entire classroom block. In total, money for four new classrooms began to arrive at the beginning of December, and George hasn’t waited to put it to work.
Meeting up with a CARE International representative in May 2009. At that point they didn't think they would have any spare funds to help Simakakata this year.
“We’re already up to window level on the first building,” he laughs, “We’re going very quickly, and the community is doing the vast majority of the building work. We’re hoping that we’ll have this first building completed by the end of spring.”
No time to waste
Although George has the money and materials at his disposal to start work on the new school building, he doesn’t have the luxury of time. Right now the 230 children enrolled at Simkakata are taught in an old farmhouse, which has no lighting, no water and, for the most part, no windows either. It’s a hugely inappropriate building, but they may not even have that for much longer.
“The lease on our current building runs out in January,” explains George, “If the children are moved out of that building they’ll have nowhere to learn from. We’re very worried and trying to organise things. We hope to work fast, but we’re asking for a grace period of three months or so, so that we can get the roof on and complete the building.”
As a result, says George, he’s decided the priority is to press on with building the second classroom block before work starts on any teachers’ housing.
“The first block can accommodate five classes teaching on a shift rota,” he explains, “But we still need two more classrooms if we are to accommodate the whole school properly.”
A new borehole
There is more good news, though. Thanks to the commitment shown by George, his staff and the community of Simakakata, the local council has agreed to fund a borehole at the new school site so that the pupils can finally have access to clean water.
“The borehole has been drilled by the council, but they haven’t fixed a pump yet,” says George, “So we’re still without water. The pipes are in the ground, but they’re not working yet. But we hope they soon will be.”
And what of our star pupil, ten-year-old orphan Saviour? She walks 14km a day without food or water to get to school, hoping that her education will be her escape from poverty.
Saviour is performing well at school. Notice the lack of windows in her current classroom.
“She’s is doing very well,” George tells us, “In fact, her results are much better than last year. In her last exams she came top of the class!”
The next few months will see Simakakata Community School transformed beyond recognition from the dark, dilapidated stop gap we visited in May. With new buildings and a borehole, it will be much better equipped to give Saviour and her friends the education that they deserve. There’s still more to do before its future is assured.
Help us to raise money for the fifth classroom and the vital 5 teachers’ houses by making a donation today.
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Simakakata Community School in 10 photos
Over the past week I’ve uploaded 10 of our favourite photos from Simakakata onto twitter. They tell the current story at the school and explain why permanent classrooms are so important to the community.
Here they are in one batch, plus a bonus photo for you all!
Photographs by our brilliant volunteer Brenda Veldtman.
The Simakakata community borrowed an old farmhouse to get the school up and running. Now the owner wants it back.
At the current school doors are seen as something of a luxury.
Desks are lacking.
But the kids are incredibly happy to have the opportunity to attend school.
They have ambition.
Love to have fun.
And are naturals in front of the camera!
The community have built 20,000 bricks by hand. There are willing to contribute skilled and unskilled labour for free. And another donor even laid some foundations for the first classroom. Then the money ran out.
The government will provide training teachers for free if teacher's houses can be funded. The school currently has one room which two volunteer teachers call home.
And one bonus shot…
A new school would give over 200 children the chance of a better future.
We now need less than £1,000 to get the first classroom off the ground. If you would like to make a donation please click here. Thank you!
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The sporting stars of Simakakata
Brighton is one of the best footballers at Simakakata.
School isn’t just about learning and lessons. Thanks to volunteer teacher Edwin Kufekisa, who teaches grade 5 during the day, Simakakata also has sports lessons, as well as a football and netball team.
Seventeen-year-old Brighton, from grade 7, is one of the stars of the soccer side.
“I play as a striker, and I’m the best in the school,” he says. “Sometimes we play against the other schools in Kalomo area, but we don’t often win.”
If ever there was a place that taking part was more important than winning or losing, though, this is it. With no public transport and several hours walk to the nearest school for pupils who’ve already trekked through the bush to get to class, away games are a rare treat which are savoured regardless of the score.
His friend, Earnest, also plays in the side. He’s been coming to Simakakata for six years, since he was 11 years old. He has two sisters and a brother who are also enrolled here.
“I prefer sport to my lessons,” he says, “But I do enjoy English. It’s very important to learn English here, there’s better work and more money for people who speak English.”
The football team practice in a large field behind the school, with goalposts made from tree branches. While the team trains, other pupils sing and dance or take part in races.
Closer to the school grounds there’s a bare patch of grass with a pole and hoop for netball classes.
Volunteer teacher Loveness teaches the girls how to play netball.
Mulemwa lives nearer to school than most, but has to help her grandmother after hours, which leaves little time to practice. She’s 11-years-old and studies in grade 5, where her favourite lesson is maths.
“I’m very good at netball, and really enjoy it,” she says, “I have five sisters, and I’m better than all of them.”
School isn’t just about classes - it’s a place for the children to mix and play and develop social skills as well as the academic basics that will help them in later life. We still need to raise £1,248 to fund the first classroom at Simakakata to help guarantee the future of the school. Please donate now or help to organise your very own WalkAsOne.
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The local disabled community needs the school at Simakakata
Shabby with his children Holiness and Universe Wakinji
“I was born with sight, but smallpox made me blind at the age of seven,” explains Shabby Aongola. “The government don’t take care of disabled people here in Zambia, many end up begging. That’s why I helped the church to set up this community for the those with physical disabilities, so that we could help each other and share our resources.”
Shabby lives his blind wife and five children in a small compound of traditional huts next door to Simakakata school. There are ten families here, and most of the adults have been afflicted by illnesses which are all but eradicated in the West. Many have been blinded by diseases like smallpox or trachoma, others have the crippled limbs which are a hallmark of childhood polio.
Two of Shabby’s daughters, Holiness and Universe Wakwinji, are enrolled at Simakakata, along with 11 other children from families who live here. Having the school close by is essential to the future of these families, argues Shabby, because if it wasn’t here the children would have no chance of being educated at all.
“Many of us could not send our children (7km) away to school in Kalomo,” he says, “Because we need them to help at home. If they had to spend all day walking to school, then many of the people here would have to follow them and sit and beg in the streets.”
With a good education, the children here will stand more chance of going on to earn enough to look after their disabled parents later in life.
Shabby works tirelessly: not only was he instrumental in setting up both the disabled community and the school, he currently sits on the Parent Teachers Association and manages to be self-sufficient when it comes to food, using a system of strings and markers to help him plant corn in straight lines. Some of the families who live here are totally reliant on help from the church and other NGOs for basic survival, though, and even Shabby has no extra income to help the school.
If the people of Simakakata can build a new school building, then they will be able to attract government funding. Primary education is provided free of charge in Zambia, but only if children are able to attend a government school.
“We need to build a better schoolhouse, and lodging for teachers too.” he explains, “The blind community cannot afford even the small fees which have to be charged to pay for food for the volunteer teachers. Once we have a proper school which we can prove will not vanish tomorrow, the government will be able to send more teachers and no-one will have to pay.”
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“I’ve started something at Simakakata” - Headmaster George
George teaches the Grade 7 class about Zambia's role in the UN
At the weekend, George Matantilo likes to relax by working on his small farm, near where he lives in Good Hope. With the help of his sons, he grows a little maize and sweet potatoes, and looks after a herd of goats. On Sunday, like the majority of people in this strongly Christian country, he goes to church. In the afternoons he unwinds by watching sport on television.
He’s earned the downtime. His boss at the Education Board is worried about his gruelling schedule. Every weekday morning, hot or cold, wet or dry, he cycles 8km to Simakakata, where’s he’s headmaster of the community school. He arrives at 7am, and works for at least least nine hours before starting the journey home. Although the children have all left by 4pm and there’s no food or water at the school, George often works late. On top of his school duties, he runs a health outreach program from his unlit office.
“We look after those who are orphaned or children that are vulnerable, I also organise help for local people with HIV/AIDS. There are a group of care givers who go around the community collecting information, so that we know how people are getting along, what their problems are, and offer advice or arrange appointments at the clinic in Kalomo. One of the other thing that I do is that I’m the pay point manager for the old and disabled here – I go to the social welfare offices to collect their allowances for them.”
It’s hard work, but George shrugs off the tiredness with a laugh.
“I’m an old man for a headmaster,” he jokes, “I’m 36 aready!”
George’s smile is infectious, but there are two dark truths behind his humour: many schools here are staffed by young, untrained teachers. More disturbingly, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has lowered the average life expectancy to under 41. Statistically, George really is an old man.
George’s hope
He lives with his wife, Linda, in a large, well equipped teacher’s house near the school in Good Hope. Until last year, George worked here: Linda still does. Unlike Simakakata, the school and surrounding area has access to power and water. The classrooms are well stocked, and there’s even an on-site science lab for Grade 8 students and above.
Fifteen years ago, though, Good Hope was identical to Simakakata. Then a German donor stepped in to kickstart the development of a new school building. As a direct result Good Hope and the surrounding area have been transformed beyond recognition, from a desperately poor rural community into a young, modern village which is growing every year.
George wasn’t offered more money to take up his new post, and there are few teachers with his experience that would accept a position at such an impoverished school. He’s here because he believes he can transform Simakakata in the same way. It’s draining, but behind his polite, unassuming nature George is tougher than a boxset of Bogarts.
“Somewhere in November last year,” he admits, “The Education Board offered me another job, closer to home, where the head teacher was retiring. They looked at how tired I was, travelling to school on my bike, working late, and organising so much. I said, ‘No, I’ve already started something at Simakakata, I must see it through to the finish. If I leave, who is going to see this through to being a proper school?’ So I remain here, and I keep on cycling, working with the children, working with the other teachers.”
If you would like to help fund a new classroom, teacher’s house and bore hole at Simakakata you can make a donation by clicking here. We’ll post updates on this blog so you get to see your money in action.
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Simakakata Community School: The story so far…
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.
