Given the importance of education, the Zambian government and the traditional authority had identified a number of schools which needed to be upgraded and expanded. One such school was the Mwandi High School in the Simalaha Community Conservancy that caters for orphans and vulnerable children.
Funding had been raised by a number of faith based organisations to construct phase one of the Community High School in Mwandi. The shortage of staff accommodation, however, resulted in the school being unable to either appoint new, or retain existing teachers.
The education and welfare of children being of prime importance in the creation of better and alternative livelihood options, enabling the school to attract good teachers was vital to the Simalaha Community.
The headmaster of the school, together with the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) and supported by Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta, approached Peace Parks Foundation to assist with the provision of teacher accommodation.
Peace Parks Foundation secured funding from Stichting Energo for one house. The PTA decided to match this financial contribution with “sweat equity” whereby the community supplied all the labour, sand and building blocks. The result was that two teachers’ houses instead of just one could be built, thereby enabling the school to attract and retain good quality teachers.
