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No thanksVillage School & Development Aid Society hasn't added a story.
Founded in 2003, Village school Development Aid Society (VSDAS) is a small not for profit organization based in Edmonton, Canada. The Society is focused on helping children of Chalabana and Mubula communities attend school without having to walk 16 to 20 KM every day. We can achieve this by funding the construction of safe, concrete brick and mortar classrooms within the villages.
Our current project: is to build classrooms for 523 students at
Chalabana Community School.
With your help we can provide a positive learning environment to Chalabana Community School. This can be achieved with your donation.
My name is Patrick Mpulubusi, founder of VSDAS and I was born in these poor rural communities in Zambia. This is one of the poorest countries in Africa. The local government cannot afford to build schools in every community, let alone in rural communities.
When I was a child, the villages that made up our community did not have a school and consequently children had to travel 10km to 20km every day to attend the nearest school. Children as young as 6 years old were faced with this trek each day. Many of the kids could not make the trip and so they just stayed home. This meant they received little if any formal schooling. I was one of the lucky few who was able to endure this hardship. I eventually went on to boarding school and then to the University of Zambia, where I obtained a teaching degree.
Village School Development Aid society (VSDAS)
When I moved to Canada with my wife Kathleen, who is Canadian, I was determined to help build a school in my community, in Zambia. In 2003 together with friends and co-workers; we founded "Village School and Development Aid Society (VSDAS). Our objective was to build a school in or near my village so the children could attend school without the hardship of the long walks. VSDAS has less than 10 volunteers who are active. All the funds we receive from donations go to fund the school project. VSDAS has no paid staff.
From 2003 to 2008, we (VSDAS) successfully raised funds to build 7 classrooms and teacher's accomodation, in Mubula, my home community. Mubula Primary School is now a big school, with over 800 students enrolled.
This is a GREAT SUCCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY. Some of the students graduating from this school are now in colleges and university. A big leap for the children of this impoverished area. The direct route out of poverty is provide education facilities and opportunities for the children. We, VSDAS, continue to support this school by providing school supplies and computers.
see details at http://www.vsdas.org
Chalabana community is on the east side of Mubula community. A river divides the two communities. The children from this community were being schooled in a little grass thatched church or under a tree. Others had to walk 10 to 16 km a day to the nearest school.
Chalabana community leaders, after seeing our (VSDAS) success in Mubula, consulted us (VSDAS) and asked for help to construct a 2 classroom school and a teachers house. We agreed to help this community in their effort to build a school for their children.
The fund raising was accomplished between 2009 and 2011 and the school was constructed in Chalabana community. The school opened with an immediate enrollment of 150 children. Parents and community leaders were jubiliant when they saw a brand new school standing before them as they had been lobbying the local members of parliament for many years to no avail.
In the following 5 years, the student enrollment exploded to 523, a testament to the desire for learning in the area. There are now 7 grade levels sharing the 2 classrooms. The average class size is 70. There are now two more teachers to bring the total to four, but imagine the struggle to ensure each child receives adequate learning.
Excitement turns to frustration
The desire to learn is strong, as families know that education is the way to a better life. However, how do four teachers provide a learning experience under these conditions?
I asked the teachers how they were managing the classes. The response was that each grade has 2 hours of classroom time a day. The rest of the time the students are taught in the open outside or under a tree, but are often left on their own as the teachers are busy with other students in the classrooms.
Ten thousand dollars can build one classroom!
The cost of building and outfitting one classroom is approximately $10,000. Our goal with the campaign is to raise $10,000. We can start construction, one classroom at a time! The main objective is to build 3 more classrooms and teacher's accomodation at the cost of $40,000.
Please help the children of Chalabana by donating funds towards the construction of classrooms.
The impact of your donation amount:
All construction materials are purchased locally and the cost of a classroom is:
The main foundation with concrete slab - 300 bags of cement
Cinder blocks to build the walls- 2500 needed
Iron sheets for roofing - 100 required
Window frames 4 required for each classroom
Door
Other costs such as transportation of materials to the building site, desks and other furnishings are variable.
EVERY DOLLAR DONATED WILL BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION.
Choose how you would like to impact this project and donate an amount that meets your impact level.
PLEASE HELP. DONATE WHAT YOU CAN
THANK YOU!
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