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HealthEd Connect's Global Scale

Zambia

Community health workers (CHW) in Zambia called Kafwa have conducted weekly baby monitoring and mother-education classes in local communities since originally trained by Sherri in1992. A few years ago they became deeply concerned about the plight of community members gravely ill or dying from AIDS. They subsequently organized a home based care program and recruited other neighborhood volunteers to help. While making home visits they discovered a number of children not attending school due to their home situations.

A group of community members shared their concern and, using their own resources, established two community schools in the summer of 2009. The schools, Ndola-Chipulukusu and Chingola-Kasompe, are run by volunteer community members and are provided at no charge. Classroom space is provided by Community of Christ for the 400 children ages 6-12 enrolled in the two schools. The children span a wide age range but are all in beginning classes since they’ve never attended school before. HealthEd Connect is working jointly with the schools to provide funding for training, necessary equipment, supplies and operations.

The school programs are directed by community appointed principals who work closely with a 12 member community committee. Both schools are overseen by a 5 member Zambian Steering Committee composed of the two principals, a community health worker, the regional Financial Officer of Community of Christ, and a Registered Nurse who works with AIDS patients.

The Community health workers have been integral to the establishment of the schools because they are trusted and respected by the community, are knowledgeable about the needs of the various community members, and facilitate the enrollment of children in the schools.