Manyando Youth Action Community School (MYACS)
MYACS is located in Bulangililo, Kitwe (a large mining town), on the Copperbelt Province. Bulangililo is a community with a population of approximately 11 000 people, of whom 75% are children.
Community Schools in Zambia are run by volunteers and receive little or no Government funding. Blessed to Bless has been supporting this school since 2007. The school’s year to year sustainability depends on charity, and their needs are very great.
MYACS was founded in the year 2000 by Justin Lukonde, who felt compelled to help children roaming the streets in the city of Kitwe (in the Copperbelt region, Northern Zambia) where he lives. The school started as a small undertaking with his church to alleviate the poverty and illiteracy of these children, many of whom are orphans, but it has now grown into something much bigger.
It is difficult for us to imagine how they manage to run such a large school with so few resources and just a handful of teachers. Thankfully, World Vision in Zambia donated some desks for the pupils. However, the basic supplies that we take for granted here are non-existent at this school, without our support. There is also no electricity. Most of the children come to school hungry, due to the economic hardship in the community, and this affects their performance in school.
However, through the hard work of the teachers, the school has had some successes. They have managed to have pupils write exams to go to secondary school. MYACS and Blessed to Bless have received a memorandum of understanding from Kitwe City Council, to ensure that the land and the building they are using will not be taken away from them. This was an important step, as it means that they will have no concerns about leaving their tenancy as developments or improvements are made to the property.
Sadly, in October 2010, Headmaster Justin Lukonde passed away. He has left a great legacy, and former Deputy Headmaster, Meki Mwape is now doing a wonderful job in the position of Headmaster.
Trips to Zambia
Members of Blessed to Bless have visited Zambia three times since 2007.
Visiting the school is always an amazing experience. The students are obviously excited to see that people care enough about them to want to help them in such a way.
During our most recent trip, in July 2010, nine members and friends travelled to Zambia and spent about a month with the staff and students at MYACS. For more information about what we were able to achieve while we were there, please click here.
If you are interested in joining us on a future trip to Zambia, please contact us.
Water Connection
On Thursday 25th October, 2007, water was connected to MYACS. This was thanks to generous donations from our members, as well as the hard work of the staff of the school.
An email from Justin explains the value of this precious resource to the children at MYACS. “I’m glad to report to you that we finally had water connected to the school last Thursday. On behalf of the school and on my own behalf, I want to say thank you to you all for the water. Little did we realise how essential the commodity water was to the kids. The kids are so happy - wait to see them drinking it. We are very indebted to you and may God bless you mightily and we can’t wait to have the toilets.”
As you can see our contributions really do make a difference.
See Water Connection gallery for photos.
Toilet Block
Each year the German Embassy in Lusaka sponsors several projects to help local communities in Zambia. In January 2008, two of our members who work for the German Embassy, travelled to Kitwe to meet with the teachers and Lizzy (our correspondent in Zambia). They submitted an application to the German Embassy to fund a new toilet block at MYACS. The application was approved, and work began in May 2008, with Blessed to Bless contributing to the cost of the labour.
Although progress was slow, some time after our trip to Zambia in July 2009, the building was finally completed. What a difference it has made to the students and teachers!
See Toilet Block gallery for photos.
Steel Doors
During our visit to Zambia in July 2009, one of our members kindly donated the funds to replace the 4 old wooden doors at the school. These were not very secure, which led to many attempted break-ins. They were replaced with 4 steel doors, which has made a big improvement to the security of the school.
See Steel Doors gallery for photos.
Roofing
By July 2010 it became apparent that parts of the roof needed repair. There were many holes which was a concern with the upcoming rainy season. Thanks to some generous donations from members we were able to replace the panels that needed most attention. We also used some fiberglass panels to allow natural light to pour into the dark classrooms.
See Roofing gallery for photos.
Text Books and School Supplies
Each year through fundraising and donations we have been able to purchase various supplies for the school, including text books, stationery, sporting equipment, fabric for sewing classes and some basic furniture.
See School Supplies gallery for photos.
Sewing Machines
Several treadle sewing machines have been purchased for the school and students are taught basic sewing skills.
See Sewing gallery for photos of some of their work.
Clothing for Students
Most of the students at MYACS have very few items of clothing and many suffer, especially during Winter. Each year we purchase bales of second-hand clothing from Kitwe Markets, so each student has at least one 'new' outfit.
See Clothing gallery for photos.
Soccer
Zambian children love to play soccer and it gives them a great sense of joy. From time to time the teachers at MYACS (or Australian visitors) organise a soccer tournament with other local schools. B2B provides funding a basic meal and transport on such days.
See Soccer gallery for photos.
Parties and Zambian Musicians
In July 2007, we were thrilled to be able to provide the children with a concert featuring number one Zambian gospel musician Ephraim Mutalange. The kids were thrilled and all of them knew Ephraim's music and sang along to his popular songs at the tops of their voices. Recho (2003 Zambian Pop Idol) and Shadrach Lungu (of Ephesians Project) also blessed the children with their music.
Since then it has become a tradition that each time we visit, we organise a similiar concert with local Zambian musicians as our guest performers. This also includes a cooked lunch which is prepared by staff and older students.
On the last day of each school year a Christmas party is held at MYACS. Once again a cooked lunch is prepared by MYACS staff.
The students always look forward with great excitement to these parties. It may seem like a luxury, but it gives them motivation and rewards them for all their hard work throughout the year. For many it is the most nutritious meal they will eat in a month.
See Parties gallery for photos.
Container of Second-hand Clothing and Household Goods
After witnessing the desperate need for good quality warm clothing and bedding (and the great expense of these in Zambia) during our visit to Zambia in July 2010, one of our members decided to start collecting good quality items to fill a container in Australia. For the next 6-8 months many lovely household goods, clothing items and bedding were received, and in March 2011 a 20 foot container was filled to the brim and sent on it's way to the community of MYACS. Unfortunately shipping containers to Zambia is a complicated and expensive process (as it is a land-locked country), so unless we receive specific funding for this in future, it is not something that can be easily repeated.
See Container gallery for photos.
MYACS Needs Financial Support
Click here to make a once off donation to MYACS. Click here for suggestions on how you may be able to support MYACS with regular monthly payments.