Kids’ Aid is a caring community service project, aimed at helping and providing for the needs of orphans from less fortunate homes, through a small community school that is privately funded by well-wishers in Zambia and those from around the world who are aware of the desitutes in this country. The school caters to the educational needs of about 300 orphans from grades 1 to 5 and is situated in one of Zambia’s highest poverty areas; an area known as Chipulukusu, with a population of about 60,000 people (most of whom live in absolute poverty and destitution) and about 20% of this population are orphans.

Even though Kids’ Aid is a beacon of hope for many of these orphans, there are many problems and limitations that are faced. It’s extremely difficult to find teachers who are willing to teach for very little pay or even no pay at all (as volunteers). Most, if not all, of the teachers currently providing services for Kids’ Aid are not qualified and have basically, only, completed grade 12 at local government schools.

The school has 5 open classrooms with roofs; there is limited space and scarce resources, and therefore, the caretakers of the school are burdened with the hard task of having to recognise and select only a few orphans out of many living in this area. Many children in need are left out due to this problem.

Sanitation is another huge problem faced in this area. A small well has been built to provide water at the school, but the water is so contaminated that not even chlorine (a water purifying chemical) can make it pure. This water sanitation issue can be inked to the school’s pit latrine toilets situated less than a hundred metres away from the well; it is an unsafe environment for children and there may be a high risk of disease, such as cholera.

The main limiting factor, which could really help reduce the above problems, is funding and finance. Kids’ Aid can only continue to grow and care for these orphans through sufficient funding and guidance; there are many more orphans who need to be under the caring rays of Kids’ Aid. At Simba, Mr Renaux, Mrs Maggie den Hartog (Parent) and the Upper Sixth Form students have designed an appeal for funds in the form of a DVD documentary and a brochure that will be sent to Europe for further financing and funding.

If you do want to help, with cash or in kind, do contact Mr Renaux or Mr Currie who will pass on your donations to Mrs Halina Ravensdale, the founder of Kid's Aid. Photos by Sixth Formers, Article By Sangeetha Raj