A School for the Future

Kapepa Community Centre is an institution for education, training and development work in Chalilo, Zambia. It was initiated in 1999 by the local community: a groundbreaking idea by poor rural Zambians. Orphans and children from poor families are encouraged to participate in free basic education, adults are invited for classes to learn how to read and write, guided by volunteers. Women groups, farmer organisations and conservation groups use the centre for further training or meetings. It is a multifunctional institution in traditional African style. The old centre was made out of mud bricks and had a grass roof but no windows or doors. The wind had free entrance, the termites too. The community of Chalilo village was very keen to replace the building with a durable construction.

Kapepa workers (2006)

That’s were the Kasanka Trust stepped in. Kasanka Trust’s main aim is to manage Kasanka National Park, close to Chalilo but it also supports the local community with the renovation of schools, the construction of a clinic and a broad ranging community conservation program. While the Trust started fundraising for a new Centre in 2005, the local community contributed more than 20.000 brick to start with.

The new classroom (2008)

In 2006 volunteers from the community started to construction a new hall comprising of a classroom, library, meeting room and office. The Dutch Kasanka Trust fundraised through exciting activities such as a sponsored run in the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium in 2005 and an African benefit party in 2008. This building was finished in 2008 and officially opened!

Benefit party Amsterdam (2008)

Near future

The centre shall fulfil an important role for women and girls, who are much behind in education. Girls often marry early because of the ‘marriage payment’ for the family. Once married most girls shun school. They are expected to work in the field, produce food and take care of the children. Many girls only participate in education for 3-4 years.

Elderly women often had no education at all but some are still keen to learn later on. With the skills acquired they will also be able to more successfully apply for funds and training possibilities.

Demonstration and pilot fields for sustainable agriculture will be an important part of the centre. Elsewhere in Zambia, organic or semi-organic agricultural methods proved to achieve promising results. Male and female farmers will be encouraged to participate in training and then immediately apply their knowledge in the field. Thanks to the demonstration field the farmers will be able to personally witness if the new methods deliver better results.

 The new centre ready to be painted (2008)

Children from one parent families and orphans are offered free education at the centre. Government schools are not affordable for these families. The centre even has a toddler class, unknown in the nearby government school. The teachers attached to the centre are all volunteers. They meet five days a week to teach their younger and older friends without any payment. A real example of self help development work.

An ambitious future plan is the initiation of a vocational school where the youth can participate in carpentry training, bricklaying or sewing.

Cornelie van der Feen de Lille

Kasanka Trust