Linking Schools in Zambia and the UK

Unlike here in the UK, education in Zambia is not free and many children receive little or no schooling. One of MAC’s aims is to help make education available to as many children as possible, enabling them to fulfil their potential and in turn help their communities become sustainable.

We are developing links between children, staff and parents from local schools in the UK and schools in the Copperbelt, sharing life experiences, learning about each others’ cultures, providing support for teachers and children. Our ambition is to help forge direct, long-term links between schools and to foster exchange visits.

In preparation for one of our early visits to Zambia, MAC member David Evans enlisted the support of his son’s teachers and classmates at Brookburn Primary School in south Manchester, who collected over fifty football shirts. The shirts were given to children at Chimfinsa Basic School, a school supported by government funding, serving a rural community ten miles north of Kitwe. An impromptu football match followed. Many ended up with bruised skin and sore feet, but they didn't mind that when they'd had such fun.

In preparation for a two-month visit to Zambia in summer that same year Sammy, a young MAC team member, worked with children from Brookburn Primary School on an art project, producing colourful and educational wall banners to offer as gifts. Some Brookburn children wrote letters to children at Misenga Primary School in Kitwe, which Sammy delivered. Those who received a letter wrote back, and Sammy delivered the replies to Brookburn on her return.  She also took donations of money, sewing and knitting equipment, clothes donated by a yoga group, stationery, pencils and crayons, all of which were received with great enthusiasm. During Sammy's visit she forged many links with school children and their teachers.