Building the first Girls' school in Chama, Zambia

This summer, my brother and I are travelling to Zambia to build a school for young vulnerable girls that currently have no access to education. The girls are in desperate need of a safe place to live and learn, due to the high prevalence of child marriage and abuse in the Chama district. We are raising money to fund the construction of the first girls' secondary school in the area, thereby providing a sanctuary for these children to gain an education and move towards a better quality of life.

A quick video from the Livingston Initiative about the construction of the school and the appalling problems faced by the young girls can be found here.

With the nearest secondary school 168km away, most girls in Chama receive no education. Therefore, many families force their children into marriage at a shockingly young age, as they believe this is their only viable option. This results in frequent child pregnancies, with 13 and 14 year old mothers commonplace throughout the district.

The Livingstone Initiative's Chama Project will build a sustainable school to protect these vulnerable girls, while providing an excellent education and a platform for their personal development. Girls will receive a GCSE level education side by side with practical survival lessons, giving them the opportunity to progress to university while learning vital life skills. The school has begun early stage construction, but requires financial investment to progress and begin making a difference to the lives of these young girls.

My brother Alex and I are volunteering in Chama this summer, to help construct the school buildings and provide facilities for the children. However, the project requires funding to pay for raw materials, resources, and professional contractors. We must raise £1500 for these before going over, and therefore would be hugely grateful for any donations you can give!

Thank you so much for any donations! They will all go to the school, and will have a hugely positive impact on these young girls' lives and future prospects.