However, in Zambia, more than half of the country's population are 16 years old or younger, which means the country's educational system is extremely overburdened. Additionally, 43% of the students who should be in primary school are not in the classroom, meaning a good deal of the population will be illiterate. 

Lack of infrastructure, insufficient teacher training, and resource imbalances between rural and urban schools are consistent challenges. For many in the rural areas, it's a lack of access to school that prevents kids from going.

Sometimes, the nearest school to a village is 10km away. Young children walking to and from school at that distance are prime targets for animals and human predators. At other times, there's a school, but no teacher or no supplies. Poverty prevents parents from paying for school fees and uniforms.

When a school gets built, the community takes notice. Education is a gift to the adults in these villages because it means their children have a way out of poverty. The education Kids Alive provides enables children to grow up into the people God wants them to be.

Jim Kongwa, Kids Alive Director in Zambia, says they've already got two schools going, one in Sefula and one in Mongu, about 14 km apart on the west side of the country. Together, they provide education to 500 children, including preschoolers.

However, in Mongu, the need is outpacing their space, so they're building four new classrooms. "Probably about 200 more children can be enrolled once the new school flat is able to be completed."

The Kids Alive Emmanual School was opened in 2003 under the direction of Manuelly Nyumbu, a local man with a calling to help vulnerable children. The school teaches grades one through seven, including Bible studies, chorus, and other activities.

Lunch is provided for the nearly 200 children who attend each day. The Emmanuel School would like to continue to improve the facilities and resources available to the children of Mongu, as funding permits. To help provide income, young women are taught sewing, and the young men and boys learn carpentry skills at the School.

Kongwa says they've made good progress on the building and hope to be finished by October. "The new school provides better classrooms, clean water, and other facilities, like a computer lab."

As the building takes shape, anticipation is growing. "We are waiting to put up the roof, and that's when I think we can begin to enroll some new kids and also transfer some kids from our old school." It's a critical part to ministry growth. Kongwa explains that it's a door opener into the wider community. "Most of the parents know that we're a Christian school; we encourage [kids] to accept the Lord Jesus Christ. They see, as an NGO, what we are able to do for their children. That's really helped to evangelize them."

The impact of a school is hope. Bringing the hope of the Gospel along with that ensures community transformation. There's always a need for prayer support, but funds are also needed to continue purchasing building materials to complete the project in a timely fashion.

Check our Featured Links Section for details on child sponsorships, school support, and other ministry opportunities.

This week, the government is
charging dozens of people with treason, which provokes those who are already
agitated about the issue.

Rioters were calling for
restoration of the 1964 Barotse agreement that granted autonomy from the rest
of the country. However, the Zambian
government refused the request, saying there can't be a state within a
state.  

While the violence has subsided,
the tensions are high. In the midst of it, stands the work of Kids Alive
International. Matt Parker  with Kids Alive says, "We
actually work with about 500 children in Mongu. We have several homes; we have
a couple of schools that we operate. It's actually a very tense time. Our children and staff have been safe,
but again, we're monitoring the situation." 

The government has cracked down
in the meantime. According to news
reports, they've arrested over 130 protestors, charged dozens with treason,
forbidden large gatherings, and shut down a regional radio station accused of
stirring discontent.

Although instability is frequently disruptive to ministries,
the longstanding political friction hasn't hampered their growth. In fact, Parker says, "We've just,
over the past year, begun construction of a Children's Village in Mongu, which
will have six or seven children's homes, a school, and community programs." Kids Alive opened their first Home on the site in 2010 for older boys, and they are putting
finishing touches on a second Home for the older girls.

With such a large
presence and reputation in the area, "This will give us opportunities to share
Christ's love. As I said, we have a big presence in Mongu. We have a lot of
relationships with people in the community so it gives us a good opportunity to
give hope."

Kids Alive recently bought new land for the Emmanuel School
and had a donation of extra land to extend the Jerusalem School. Plans are in the works to construct modern school
facilities that will enable the students to have a better future.   

"Pray that we would be
effective witnesses for Christ in that community, and that through our work,
through our witness, many other people would come to know Him." Pray, too, for safety for the team, and for wisdom
as they monitor the developments in Zambia.  

Click here for details
of Kids Alive's Zambia programs.

Kids Alive
International began a project in Zambia in 1999, with a visit by members of
the Kids Alive Canada Board who were aware of the devastating impact of the
AIDS crisis on the children of the country.

Today, Kids
Alive Vice President of Operations Matt Parker says their ministry is
helping to provide hope and a future for these kids. They have six children's homes, three community schools, and care center programs in other parts of Zambia. There's always room for more. "We were recently
given land in Mongu, in western Zambia, by the government. We've just opened our first children's home
on this piece of land."

The dedication
of the home took place just six weeks ago, and it provides a safe refuge
for 18 children who were on the streets before being rescued. 

The children and staff of Kids Alive
Zambia were joined by the members of a Work Team from the U.S. for a
celebration and the June 29 dedication of the new Home.  Everyone
participated in praising God for His faithfulness, the children
shared sketches and speeches that they had prepared to mark the occasion, and after the cutting of the ribbon and a tour around the Home, everybody enjoyed
cake and drinks.

During the
dedication ceremony, one of the older boys shared: "We are so thankful to the Lord Jesus for saving us and for this
beautiful Home He has given to us. We pray that His beauty will be reflected in
our lives as we serve Him!"

Kids Alive
hopes to expand further in the near future. Parker explains, "Over the next few
years, we hope to be able to construct another five homes, a school, and
a community program in what we're calling the 'Lilato Children's Village' in
Mongu."

Lilato means "love." And love helps the children in their team's
care reach their potential. "Our goal is to provide each of these
children with a quality education and to introduce them to the transforming
power of Jesus," says Parker.

Find out how you can help reach more kids
in Zambia. Click here.