About the Project
Consisted of the construction of a rural, community school that will benefit approximately 200 of the community’s youngest children.
Location
Mnkhanya Chiefdom is located within Lupande Game Management Area, a buffer zone where people live in marginalized land bordering the world-famous South Luangwa National Park (SLNP) in eastern Zambia.
Quick Project Stats
| Funding Date | July, 2021 |
| Luena Investment | $6,000 USD |
| CBO Partner | High Five Club |
| Village | Mnkhanya Chiefdom, South Luangwa National Park |
| Country | Zambia |
| # of Children Impacted | 200 |
| Community Contribution | provision of manual labor |
Urgent Need to Reduce Dangerous Human-Wildlife Interactions
In the Lupande Game Management Area, a buffer zone where people live bordering the world-famous South Luangwa National Park (SLNP) in eastern Zambia, villagers have to make a difficult decision every day. The nearest government-run school is more than 10 kilometers away, a long and arduous walk for the youngest members of the community. On top of the distance, it is an area that hosts dangerous wildlife including lions, leopards, elephants, and hippos. Frequent encounters have resulted in tragic consequences, both for the villagers and the wild animal populations.
Village Children’s Education at Stake
In response to the situation, these children were being taught by volunteers from the community in a make-shift school made out of mud, with open sides and a grass roof. The kids sat on mounds of earth and had no desks, textbooks, or other learning resources. Their education was suffering, but at least they didn’t have to make that terrifying journey to and from school each day.
A School Closer to Home is Key to Creating Harmony Between Villagers & Wildlife
With an investment of $6,000 from the Luena Foundation, we were able to work in partnership with UK-charity, The High Five Club, and the Mnkhanya Chiefdom, to build a community school that will benefit approximately 200 of the community’s youngest children. The new school is brick-built and consists of two classrooms and a staff room in one block and is equipped with quality school desks made by local carpenters. A toilet block serving the children and their teachers, along with a fresh-water well have also been constructed. The Department of Education will be allocating two teachers to the school, creating two new jobs in the community.
Meet our Local Community Partner Organization
The High Five Club is a UK-registered charity that works hand in hand with impoverished communities living in wildlife areas of Africa to bring about sustainable change for both people and wildlife. It has a focus on: Water and sanitation, Improving education provision for children, Health and nutrition, Supporting people to trade their way out of poverty, Wildlife conservation and environmental initiatives.
