Magazine Compound, Chipata
On this picture you can see the compound in which Magazine Community School is located in Chipata, Zambia. This photo was taken during the dry season, therefore the landscape is very yellow. During the rainy season it will turn green.
The School Building
The school building is painted in the typical blue colour that you can find everywhere in Zambia. It has 4 class rooms and one teachers' room. Half of the children come to school in the morning and the other half receive their education in the afternoon.
School Children
Most of the children of this school are either single or double orphans or their parents do not take care of them. HIV/AIDS has had a dramitic impact on the number of orphans in Zambia and many other developing countries in Africa.
Girl at School
In developing countries such as Zambia many children (but especially girls) are not allowed to go to school. They often have to stay at home to cook, clean, take care of relatives or go and fetch water. This has far-reaching impacts on society.
Making Lunch (Nshima)
Each of the guardians of the children have to come into school once a term to cook lunch. They eat nshima with peanuts and sugar, for many of the children this is the only meal of the day.
School Children Washing Hands
Frequent hand washing is one of the most important and simple tools in the fight against diseases and is mandatory before every meal at school.
Children Eating Nshima
This photo of the children eating nshima was taken two years ago, before they had school uniforms.
The Old School Toilets
In 2006 the school toilets looked like this, they weren't very inviting for the children. In the meantime a lot has changed...
The New Toilets!
New toilets have now been built at the school! They not only look nicer, but also have an improved design which is much more effective in reducing the spread of diarrheal diseases and worms. Every year 443 million school days are lost due to diarrhoea alone, which obviously effects education in developing countries like Zambia greatly (Human Development Report, 2006).
The Water Kiosk
Up to 80% of all households in Chipata don't have running water. The local people have to get up very early in the morning and queue for hours to buy their water at a water kiosk like this one.
New Water Pipe!
The school now has a water connection in their grounds! This saves a huge amount of time for Marco and the other teachers as they no longer have to get up early and queue to get water from one of the kiosks.
HIV/AIDS Education
The HIV/AIDS infection rate in Zambia is about 18%, therefore it is important to educate the children about it at school. HIV/AIDS leaves behind many orphans, who often have nobody to look after them or are cared for by older siblings.
Girls in School
The girls in this picture are from different classes, they are wearing their new school uniforms! Various studies have shown that it is especially important to send girls to school, as they have a greater impact on development than boys.
Grade 7
All grade 7 pupils passed their final exams! This means that they can now go to secondary school. The money for school fees is paid for by donations so they have the opportunity to go up to grade 12.
