Zambia: Support for Schooling of HIV/AIDS Orphans

Benson MALAWA is a 16-year-old student, who goes to Flying Angels Community School in Ng’ombe Compound in Lusaka. He passed the National Examination of Grade 9 last year and successfully went on to Grade 10 this January. Ever since Benson lost his mother to AIDS four years ago, he has lived with his grandfather, Cosmos SHACHELE. His house, made of irregular-shaped blocks, has five rooms that can barely accommodate all eleven family members including Benson and his grandfather. Cosmos feeds his family repairing shoes and selling bananas in the compound. However, his monthly income is so low that he cannot buy enough food to feed all his family members three regular meals a day. Cosmos is very proud of Benson, but he cannot afford his school expenses under such severe financial constraints. In response to the situation, AAR has supported Benson’s school fees, uniform, shoes and stationery every year.  

Benson has good attendance in school, maintains great performance, and always ranks within the tenth place in his class. His notebook is neatly written and covers all the important points from the classes he attends. His teachers praise his great performance, giving written comments of ‘excellent!’ on the mathematics exercise on his notebook. In Zambia, school textbooks are so expensive that most students cannot afford them. Students instead carefully copy what teachers write on a blackboard on their notebooks and use them as if they were textbooks. Benson normally remains in classroom after he finishes all classes of the day, though he occasionally helps his grandfather’s work immediately after school. As Benson strongly hopes to go to a university, now he works hard especially on English and mathematics because they are considered to be important subjects in Zambia. After university, he wants to pursue a career as a lawyer because he wishes to help people in need in his country. Such aspiration springs from the vulnerable environment in which he grew up. Benson expressed his gratitude for his schooling saying; “Thank you for your support, which enables me to continue to go to school. God bless you.”

It is estimated that there are approximately 800,000 AIDS orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS in Zambia. The students we support are amongst these children. Despite their difficult family situations, they strive to do well in school like Benson. Many of these students told AAR staff members that they wish to have a successful career not only to help their own families but also to give back warm support to any of those who are in dire needs of assistance in the future.