The project will be conducted considering sustainability in its full meaning: social, economic and environmental sustainability as below detailed.
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Access to free education
The accessibility of secondary education is low in Sub-Saharan Africa and a stable, well-paid employment is an “impossible dream” for most young people. Children in Crisis’ schools serve a particularly disadvantaged students’ population, most of whom would not otherwise access secondary school. The socioeconomic barriers faced by the students attending these schools are greater and more numerous than those of their peers, particularly for girls. The ambition of the organization is for every young person to have the option to pursue the secondary pathway of their choice. A Children in Crisis education program prepare students to generate income outside the formal employment and to provide students with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to be healthy and happy within their communities.
The school and the community
The boarding school project will also benefit communities members who will be engaged during the construction of the school and employed as teachers and school support officers. This will help reduce the unemployment level in the communities and improve the beneficiaries’ economic status. The local communities will also contribute with manpower required for the project construction.
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
Equitable access to school
The project will directly benefit five hundred children. As from January 2022, primary and secondary education are free in Zambia. Fee for the boarding facilities will be paid only by the pupils who can afford it. All the pupils will have access to free education. The amounts collected per term will cover the boarders’ welfare, payment of staff and other admin costs. This system, well known in the country, will extend the opportunity to access quality education for all children, not based on their financial status.
Support local communities
During the project implementation, the local communities members will be engaged based on their expertise (builders, plumbers, etc.) and other communities’ members will be formed. This will insure a knowledge transfer that will benefit the communities beyond the actual project. The boarding school will also have a production area where students and staff will engage in income-generating activities such as gardening, poultry/piggery, farming etc. to sustain the school operations.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainable building techniques
During the team’s stay in the project’s area, a number of materials suppliers where visited to check local materials, construction techniques, and prices. When choosing sustainable materials, it is important to take into account all three aspects of sustainability. It is therefore necessary to choose materials with low price and low ecological impact and which generates great social engagement, by engaging local workers – especially women if possible.
Health and sanitation
A large part of the population in this area is at high risk of lacking basic facilities. The boarding school, equipped with proper sanitation facilities, will benefit students, teachers and other staff employed at the school.
Water
The project is close to two major river, the Kafue and the Zambesi. The first water source will be the Kafue as its water quality is higher than the Zambesi’s. Water pipes will connect the school and the villages to the water pump that will be alimented with solar panels produced energy.
Electricity
Solar panels will be used to produce energy that will aliment the water pumps and support all the school’s needs including a very much needed and wanted computer room.
