Kantolomba Ulupwa Project

The township of Kantolomba lies a few kilometres outside Ndola in the Copperbelt region, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.  It is a place typical of many in Zambia, ravaged by AIDS, little employment and an alcohol problem.

In 1999 Families for Children Zambia bought a disused tavern in the township and turned it into a community school.  Initially about 200 children were registered, attracted mainly by the promise of a midday meal.  Today there are 400 children on roll aged from 4 upwards. 

They are given a basic education and those that are able can go on to secondary school, usually sponsored by the charity.

 The school is fortunate to have a staff of loyal and motivated teachers, headed by Patrick Mwale Champe who has been in charge now for over two years.  The community also rally behind the school and a group of ladies attend each day to cook the meal and provide mutual support and friendship, this is especially valued as many of the ladies are single parents or elderly carers.

The school goes from strength to strength , not only in numbers of children but it has forged strong links to the community,  a committee has been formed which acts much like a board of governors in the U.K . Part of the school has been developed into a skills centre for adult education, here,  income generating skills such as carpentry and tailoring are taught, it is also home to the chickens that provide valuable income for the school.   Volunteers also run a small kiosk selling refreshments to local people.  

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