Chongwe Secondary School
We’re thrilled to announce the completion of the first phase of the Chongwe Secondary School chicken farm and garden project. This school was selected from several candidates in August of 2021, after evaluating partner schools using criteria such as available land, reliable electricity and water sources, and long-term security.
After our needs assessment investigations in August 2021, Day by De selected the Chongwe Secondary School for our next chicken farm and garden project! This selection process evaluated several schools using criteria such as available land, reliable electricity and water sources, and long-term security. Just one month later, we were able to break ground, helping this relatively new secondary school start off on the right foot.
Chongwe Secondary School is located on the eastern outskirts of Lusaka with 600 students and 22 staff members. Opening for operation in early 2021, there are still a wide range of resources the school needs to operate, but the students exude an incredible sense of positivity toward their education and future prospects.
Our team faced numerous obstacles in navigating this new project, including rapidly rising construction costs during the Covid pandemic. Nevertheless, we are extremely pleased to report that the garden and farm buildout were completed in November 2021, on schedule and within budget! (The initial budget estimate was $7,000 USD and was completed for $6,800!)
Beyond providing free school lunches to the students of Chongwe, the farm and garden will help provide supplementary funding for everyday essentials. For example, the chicken farm has a capacity of 500 chickens. For every batch of 500 chickens sold, the school anticipates profiting $500 (USD). These proceeds will be directed towards purchases of school furniture and general school operations and maintenance.
These photos taken by Lusaka photographer Kalenga Nkonge illustrate the ongoing need for everyday basics including school desks, chairs, lunch tables, and other building supplies.
In the course of this project, we were elated to find that Prime Television News in Zambia ran a news story about our partnership with Chongwe Secondary School (alternatively named “Faith Baptist Secondary School”). View the coverage in the video below:
We’re excited to be a part of this school’s beginnings and watch as it uses its own resources to support itself. Sign up for our Newsletter to stay up-to-date on this project and other new projects in our pipeline!