Literacy in a Box and Chipembele

The pupils in the Grade 1 class at Kukumbi Basic School quietly receive the Literacy in a box materials.

Then the children realised they were theirs to keep!

Literacy (and sports) in a Box!

A big thanks to Geoff Lucock and Phil Chesters from the UK for the recent Literacy in a Box donations to our two local schools - Mfuwe and Kakumbi Basic Schools

Mfuwe Basic School has an enrollment of over 1100 pupils this year and Kakumbi Basic School has 500 pupils. The schools have tiny Government grants so donations of materials to enhance the school experience and items that children in the West take for granted are much needed here in rural Zambia. Founder and CEO of Chipembele WIldlife Education Trust, Anna Tolan made the first distribution of the Literacy in a Box materials at Kakumbi Basic School. Fifty two pupils in the Grade 1 class were very quiet to begin with as we handed everything out. When they understood the items were theirs to keep, the children got very excited and by the time Anna was taking the pictures the children were very excited. The Head Teacher, Mrs Sakala and class teachers were also hugely appreciative, we left the remaining two boxes with Mrs Sakala and the class teachers to distribute at their discretion.

The next stop was at Mfuwe Basic School. Mr Sakala, the Head, supervised the distribution of bags and pencil cases to two Grade 1 classes, totalling 110 pupils. Other items have been held for use by pupils and teachers in other classes, with the intention the very useful items will be gathered up again at end of classes so many pupils can have the use of the stationery.

We were very touched and thankful to receive the box that was given in memory of Literacy in a Box supporter, Ellie Leadbetter. Eunice Nakachinda, Chipembele's Admin Assistant, explained to the children in the local language about the special box in Ellie's memory. There was a very respectful silence as she did so. Amongst a class of fifty five highly excited five and six year olds that was very touching to observe. Eunice and Ben Heermans, the Chipembele Conservation Education Manger, later distributed the senior boxes to two Grade 8 classes at Mfuwe Basic.

See below for "What's in a Box"...