Transforming The Lives of Children
Through our Education initiatives, we give many vulnerable children a chance to step out of the cycle of poverty
Our education support programs are focused on increasing access to education and better nutrition for vulnerable children in the communities we operate. We achieve this through providing funding for learning tools, education facilities and school feeding programs that provides basic nutrition at the most critical growth stage. Most poor families struggle to provide quality education for their children which is crucial in helping most children to rise above the gap of poverty. In most instances, the children from poor families do not have parents that have received basic primary education and therefore the cycle of poverty continues. Usually, girls are even more disadvantaged and usually end up dropping out of school and end up in early marriages. Our Education initiatives primarily focus on Two areas; that is improving access to education by funding learning tools such as text books, and other required stationery as well as education infrastructure such as desks, classroom and other educational requirements on the one hand.
The other focus area is provision of basic nutrition through our school feeding programs. Our school feeding programs not only help children coming from very poor homes to have a meal but also increases school attendance and reduces early child marriages in a country were early marriages are one of the highest in Sub Sahara Africa.
Our education support programs are focused on increasing access to education and better nutrition for vulnerable children in the communities we operate. We achieve this through providing funding for learning tools, education facilities and school feeding programs that provides basic nutrition at the most critical growth stage. Most poor families struggle to provide quality education for their children which is crucial in helping most children to rise above the gap of poverty. In most instances, the children from poor families do not have parents that have received basic primary education and therefore the cycle of poverty continues. Usually, girls are even more disadvantaged and usually end up dropping out of school and end up in early marriages. Our Education initiatives primarily focus on Two areas; that is improving access to education by funding learning tools such as text books, and other required stationery as well as education infrastructure such as desks, classroom and other educational requirements on the one hand. The other focus area is provision of basic nutrition through our school feeding programs. Our school feeding programs not only help children coming from very poor homes to have a meal but also increases school attendance and reduces early child marriages in a country were early marriages are one of the highest in Sub Sahara Africa.
ACCESS TO BASIC EDUCATION
In Zambia about 25 percent of the children use community schools which are severely underfunded and rely on the community’s meagre contributions to fund the basic education of their children. They are approximately 3000 community schools which are plagued with poor infrastructure, limited learning tools and lack of sufficient trained teachers among other issues faced by community schools. Most community schools are supported by volunteer teachers who include High School graduates, and some have received Grade 9 education.
Only about 16% of teachers in community schools have attained Teacher training compared to over 84% in Public schools. The classrooms are overcrowded with almost 60 students per class thereby undermining the quality of education. In Rural areas about 23% of the children fail to attend school compared to their Urban counterparts of about 9%. According to UNICEF data about 740,0000 school aged children in Zambia are not in school while 30 percent of Zambian adolescents will attain a high school education. This clearly calls for concerted efforts to help many vulnerable children to have a basic education so that they can have a chance to attain their full potential.
ACCESS TO BASIC EDUCATION
In Zambia about 25 percent of the children use community schools which are severely underfunded and rely on the community’s meagre contributions to fund the basic education of their children. They are approximately 3000 community schools which are plagued with poor infrastructure, limited learning tools and lack of sufficient trained teachers among other issues faced by community schools. Most community schools are supported by volunteer teachers who include High School graduates, and some have received Grade 9 education. Only about 16% of teachers in community schools have attained Teacher training compared to over 84% in Public schools. The classrooms are overcrowded with almost 60 students per class thereby undermining the quality of education. In Rural areas about 23% of the children fail to attend school compared to their Urban counterparts of about 9%. According to UNICEF data about 740,0000 school aged children in Zambia are not in school while 30 percent of Zambian adolescents will attain a high school education. This clearly calls for concerted efforts to help many vulnerable children to have a basic education so that they can have a chance to attain their full potential.
62.7 million Children in Africa live below the poverty line of $1.97
59.4% of Zambia’s children live in poor households with 45.4% in extreme poverty.
35% Zambian stunting levels in children are significantly high as a result of poor nutrition.
6/10 Zambian children between the age of 6–59months are anaemic because of poor nutrition.
Under investment in nutrition and health in the first 8000 days of life has a significant limitation on critical development
Through our school feeding programs, it costs only $1.50 to feed a child breakfast for a month
25% of Zambian children use severely underfunded community schools.
25/30 Countries with the lowest Human Capital Index are in Africa
740,000 Zambian school aged children are not in school.
Only about 30% of Zambian adolescents attain high school education.
FEEDING PROGRAMS
To improve learning, we are also focussed on funding feeding programs in schools without government feeding programs. Most of the children coming from these homes do not have breakfast before going to school and in rural settings they have to travel long distancesin some instances more than 5km, making it difficult for them to concentrate in class. By funding feeding programs in schools in the poorest communities we help improve enrollment and attendance for the most vulnerable children especially for girls who are often required to stay home to help with domestic duties or married off at a very young age. By providing a meal in schools, it supplements the budget of poor households and encourages parents to send their children to school.
FEEDING PROGRAMS
To improve learning, we are also focussed on funding feeding programs in schools without government feeding programs. Most of the children coming from these homes do not have breakfast before going to school and in rural settings they have to travel long distancesin some instances more than 5km, making it difficult for them to concentrate in class. By funding feeding programs in schools in the poorest communities we help improve enrollment and attendance for the most vulnerable children especially for girls who are often required to stay home to help with domestic duties or married off at a very young age. By providing a meal in schools, it supplements the budget of poor households and encourages parents to send their children to school.
According to the United Nations research data, the creation of human capital is dependent on good nutrition and health in the first 8000 days of life which goes into the formative adolescent years. According, to the human capital index rankings, 25 of the 30 countries with the lowest human capital Index rankings are in Africa. It is for this reason that at Simpact Foundation we see our support of school feeding programs as a major step in helping vulnerable children reach their full potential and ultimately development of human capital required for economic development. The benefits of funding the school feeding programs include better nutrition and child development, improved learning and school attendance and reduces child marriages and early pregnancies for girls.
According to the United Nations research data, the creation of human capital is dependent on good nutrition and health in the first 8000 days of life which goes into the formative adolescent years. According, to the human capital index rankings, 25 of the 30 countries with the lowest human capital Index rankings are in Africa. It is for this reason that at Simpact Foundation we see our support of school feeding programs as a major step in helping vulnerable children reach their full potential and ultimately development of human capital required for economic development. The benefits of funding the school feeding programs include better nutrition and child development, improved learning and school attendance and reduces child marriages and early pregnancies for girls.