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Education Helping Zambian Children Beat Poverty
Children in Zambia are using education to help better the fortunes of their families by increasing their literacy and numeracy skills. Faced with the harsh realities of poverty, these children hope to qualify for better jobs and secure more money when they start work. Various development organisations are helping children, especially girls, stay in school by providing assistance, mentoring, learning materials and books to the children, according to the BBC.One such agency is Camfed, a non-profit set up in 1993 by UK-based Ann Cotton. Camfed started raising money by baking and selling cakes. in 2008, the organisation raised $11 million.
At Camfed partner high schools in Zambia, pregnancy rates fell by 9 percent between 2006 and 2008, compared to an increase of 38 percent in a control sample of schools through their healthcare activism programs. In Tanzania, schools supported by Camfed through the Safety Net Fund showed a 37 percent reduction in drop-out rates between 2005 and 2007. Camfed also works in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Ghana.
Since 1993, they have worked to help 1,065,710 children, providing scholarships for 42,184 girls to go to high school, training 4,068 teacher mentors and helping 769 young women go to university. Camfed focus on girls is particularly important in a country like Zambia where the prospects of girls are still very limited.
Education in Zambia is not free after Year 7, meaning that all 13-years-olds wishing to stay in school must have all their books, stationery and uniforms bought for theme by their parents; not to mention school fees.
However, of the families that could afford to send a child to school, it would largely be a boy rather than a girl.
Ms Cotton reveals that this is done to financial prospects rather than cultural trends.
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