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Sponsorship is one of the most effective and rewarding ways to make a lasting difference to a child’s life
. . . and it couldn’t be easier. Why your sponsorship is needed:
Although education is free to the end of Grade 7 only 57% of Zambian children are enrolled at school. To be able to attend they must have the right uniform and provide all their own books, pens and pencils and, for many, this is a financial burden their families cannot afford. On reaching Secondary School matters become even more difficult; from Grade 8 onwards tuition fees must be paid. In Zambia orphans¹ make up 23% of school age children and the majority are cared for by their extended families. But these relatives are often struggling to educate their own children and cannot to afford to send an extra child to school. It is these orphans, as well as the kids whose parents are too ill to work, that go without an education.
What can be said of every child is that each craves an education and is acutely aware that their only chance of a future without poverty lies within the classroom. These children are desperate to learn and it’s heartbreaking to see them hanging round schools they may never have a chance to attend.
Why sponsor a child through Project Luangwa.
The children who are accepted onto our sponsorship scheme are orphans, or classed as vulnerable with parents unable to work or grow crops due to illnesses such as HIV/AIDS. We guarantee that 100% of your sponsorship money directly benefits the child and does not disappear into the wrong pockets or is used on administration. But your support is not just about money; an sponsored child knows that someone, somewhere in the world, cares.
How do we decide who is sponsored:
Our sponsorship program is based on academic potential and financial need. Application is by letter and the child must have good grades or aptitude and sound financial reasons for their application. We research their circumstances, interview the child and consult with their teacher before a decision is made about accepting them for sponsorship. So what do the kids get?
To ensure that all your money is used for its intended purpose we do not simply hand out cash. Instead we issue tailors’ chits for uniforms and buy shoes, school bags and stationery to hand out personally. School and examination fees are payable above Grade 7 and these are paid directly to the school. There are just two secondary schools in our area and many children live too far to walk. Although Mfuwe Day High School has unofficial facilities to enable a few children to board during the week it is already overcrowded. Most children who have qualified are forced to attend distant official boarding schools. However, with extra expenses such as blankets and transport as well as lesson and boarding fees, very few can afford it without the h
 elp of sponsorship. What does it cost?
The cost of sponsoring a child for a year is: $150 to $175 for a Grade 8 or 9 attending their local Basic school A Secondary level child living at home and attending day school: $260 Secondary level child who attends boarding school: $550—$775 Different ways to pay:
You can send the all the funds at the start of the school year (January) via any of the methods listed on our donate page. You may also pay via monthly Direct Debit on a monthly basis.
What do you, as a sponsor, get?
A Sponsor’s Handbook, details of the child, a photo and regular progress reports will be sent to the sponsor. Whilst we encourage children to write describing their home and school life we do not put pressure on them to do so. To protect your privacy we do not give out sponsors' addresses but send letters via email on the child's behalf. We are happy to print and deliver letters should you wish to write in return. Not to be taken for granted:
To encourage children to work hard we regularly review their attendance, progress and exam results. Those showing a poor performance are interviewed and, after discussion with their teacher, offered help and guidance. A child unable to achieve the standard pass rate of 40% in 5 subjects and 50% in English may have their sponsorship terminated. We work in close consultation with their teachers and much depends on their report of the pupil’s work. This may seem harsh but with almost 4000 orphans in need of help we have to give priority to those willing to work.
Give a gift of sponsorship:
If you wish to sponsor a child on behalf of a friend, perhaps as a Christmas or birthday present we can send packs and updates to a different address.
Group sponsors:
Why not get together with a group of friends, work colleagues or class mates to sponsor a child. We can set this for you easily so everyone receives the reports and updates of the pupil's progress.
Tertiary Education: Very occasionally a student who has shown exceptional potential may be sponsored through tertiary education. If you would like to sponsor a gifted student please email us.
¹ Zambian Government statistics
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 Click on the image above to download our sponsor's handbook.
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