Help Save Chitendela Community School in ZAMBIA Before the Rainy Season!

Chitendela Community School in Zambia has long been in need of repair, but a recent storm has left it in critical condition. Heavy winds tore off the roof, leaving nearly 200 students at risk of losing their only place to learn. With the rainy season approaching, these children may soon be forced to study under trees or, worse, stay home.

This urgent fundraising is being organized by Elimu Village, a U.S.-registered non-profit founded by Marcellin and Aimee to support schools in underserved communities. With your help, we aim to raise $4,000 to restore the roof and add a few extra classrooms, creating a safe, resilient space for these children to thrive.

Chitendela Community School, established in 2005 in Mwaliwalika Village within the Mungule Chiefdom, is in urgent need of support. With just two classrooms, minimal facilities, a shortage of staff, and severely limited resources, the school struggles to serve the community effectively. Yet, it remains the only accessible educational option for local children, as the nearest schools are many kilometers away, forcing many to stay home. Local leaders have asked for our help to improve the school, which serves over 450 nearby households with limited access to quality education.

At Chitendela Community School, we saw firsthand the severe challenges that students and teachers face every day. Severely underfunded, the school has only two classrooms—one overcrowded with over 110 students from grades 1 to 4, and the other holding more than 70 students from grades 5 to 7. With only two teachers and one volunteer, it was heartbreaking to see these wonderful children, full of potential, struggling with such limited resources.

While delivering books, I was saddened to discover that even students in grade 5 and above struggled to read simple three-letter words in English. Supporting children like these is the very reason we returned to Africa, but the enormity of the need and the emotional impact are greater than we could have anticipated. One young boy asked me, “What goals do you have for us?” and a girl asked, “Will you bring us more teachers?”

Children in under-resourced communities like Chitendela bear the harshest impacts of poverty, with limited educational opportunities shaping their futures. Without access to adequate schooling, these young students face a cycle of limited choices that hinders the socioeconomic progress of their entire community. Investing in education is not just a kind gesture; it’s a commitment to breaking this cycle and creating a foundation for sustainable development.

For girls, the stakes are even higher. A lack of educational opportunities often leads to early marriages and other social disadvantages, robbing them of their potential. Educating a girl empowers her to become a leader and a force for change. By supporting Chitendela Community School, you’re not just building classrooms; you’re investing in the dreams and futures of these children. Together, let’s create a brighter, more hopeful future, one community at a time.

The community is already contributing by making bricks and providing labor. We need your support for materials and skilled services. Every dollar helps us get closer to keeping these children in school.

We are committed to building additional classrooms and securing more teachers to support these students' dreams. If you feel moved to help, your support can truly change their lives. Thank you for helping us bring hope back to Chitendela! God bless you.