Before
After

Our very first Zambian school, Magazine Primary School, in Chipata, has been a huge catalyst for change in this impoverished area.  It had its official handover ceremony on April 8, 2021!  This has been a labor of love for many, including Aggie Chiku Kazimoto, our project coordinator, and Oscar Musonda, the general contractor for the project.

Magazine Primary School handover ceremony program

The Handover Ceremony was well attended by Aggie, Oscar, the students, community, school teachers and administrators, and government officials.  The students performed dances and sang songs. Many spoke about the bright hope this creates for their community.

The DEBS – a government official – speaking to the parents about the future of the school.
8 of the 9 teachers currently working at Magazine Primary School attended with their graduation caps and gowns to bring attention to the importance of education.
Students and community gathering for the event.
Pupils were pretty excited to get into their new classrooms.
Head Teacher Mrs. Linah Muzyece giving a speech.
Here are the leaders gathered for a photo including Aggie (in blue), Oscar (white shirt on middle right), Gabriel (teacher assigned to oversee the project, far right), Headteacher Mrs Muzyece, other Magazine Primary School teachers and government administrators. 
Our project coordinator, Aggie, cutting the ribbon!
The government administrator explaining the exciting future for Magazine Community.

Most exciting of all was the announcement that because of this school, the community has been able to raise funds to complete a separate structure: a 5-classroom block.  The community also completed 16 additional pit latrines for the students.  And some unused building materials have been used to construct shade pavilions for the children. Their Department of Education has upgraded the school to become an official “Examination Centre”.

This is a video of the five-classroom block the community is working on!

Mary’s Meals, also sparking more excitement for the new school, planted shade trees all around school grounds, as seen in these photos.