Forty Miles West of Prosperity

Left: Donation of School Uniforms from Taylor Co. High; Right: Classroom with school students.

Each day, we have 50 plus pre-school children who attend class arriving at 7:00 a.m. Many of these little ones will walk three miles to Munyanya, to spend four hours with the teacher in the multi-purpose building. If she and the building were not there, these children, ages 3-6, would be walking ten miles to the nearest school. Then, the parents have no guarantee that there would be space for their children. If there was room for the children, the walk would take them along the Zambezi River, and through the ‘bush.’ Much danger lurks along the river, and in the ‘bush,’ that no pre-school child should have to navigate daily.

In the afternoon, the teacher tutors primary children in English, Math, and Science. Friday afternoon is sports day. Because of our supporters, the community now has sports fields. With funding, we hope to build a basketball court.

In addition to the multi-purpose building, we have built three outside toilets, and a showering room (cold water only). Additionally, we have built two hand-washing stations for the children. They feel really proud that they can use a real toilet and have the hand washing stations!

The teacher is a volunteer, and one of the young ladies we supported through high school. Her commitment to these children goes beyond description. She is teaching the pre-school children the alphabet (English) and their numbers. We can already see a difference. Before, there was NOTHING! But now, there is HOPE!