The Q Fund Blog

“The Zambian Traveller” has written about the Chimoza Community School and the work of the Q Fund.

In 2003, The Q Fund partnered with Chimoza, a community school on the outskirts of Ndola on the Copperbelt of Zambia. At that time, it was a one room school that served 47 students. All were children plucked from the streets by a retired headmaster who knew these children had no money to attend government schools. Today over 350 children in Grades 1 -7 receive a free education at Chimoza School in beautiful new classrooms built with generous donations to the Q Fund. Education is the foundation of a strong community whose citizens uplift and support its children.

When education is combined with medical care, clean, accessible water and sustainable, earthfriendly enterprises, the entire community flourishes. Grades 1 through to 7 are taught at Chimoza School which will be open, and remain free, to vulnerable children living in and around Bwana Mukuba. With the completion of our fourth block of classrooms Chimoza School will teach students up to grade 9. In 2008 The Q Fund was able to give full scholarships to the last three years of graduates (8th, 9th and 10th) insuring these extraordinary kids continue their education. Today we are in the final stages of building a dispensary on our campus, open to the community.

A big thank you goes to “Scotty” of First Quantum by initiating that a vast portion of land surrounding Chimoza, was included in the new land survey. Thanks and appreciation are due to First Quantum Mining for electrical reticulation at the school. Also much gratitude to some amazing local Zambians. Dr. JB Sakala, Barrister, Dr Moffat Zimba, President of Northrise University and Pastor Frances, of Seeds of Hope, Int. for tireless help, professionalism and friendship in regards to Chimoza and to The Q Fund.

When Chimoza Community School began in 2002 with 47 students, not one child then would look me in the eyes, nor smile. Their gaze was vacant and lifeless. Today all 300+ students run to school with hearts and minds filled with hope, eagerness and joy. It is hard to believe these same children live in abject poverty that encompasses Chimoza.

“There is nothing more sustainable then to educate a child. Education stops the perpetual cycle of illiteracy, over population, and the continual spread of disease. When children are robbed of this, our shared future is at stake.” Chellie Kew.

My belief for Chimoza students is, they will soon have the tools, confidence and tenacity, while remembering where each has come from, to change Zambia. My hope for Zambia is that the companies using Zambia’s natural resources, will remember to leave a sustainable infrastructure when finished.