, ,

Makangala Community School — Building Brighter Futures Every Day

In 2017, supporters of Brighter Futures Zambia (BFZ) came together to fundraise through our campaign “School With No Roof.” Thanks to that amazing effort, we were able to complete the build of a preschool in the rural village of Miyoba, known today as Makangala Community School. When the school opened in 2019, it marked the beginning of something much bigger than a classroom — it became a community hub, and focal point for development.

 

BFZ exists to provide vulnerable children and young people in Zambia with the education and holistic support they need to live happier, healthier, safer lives and reach their potential. What makes our work effective is that we partner with and not for communities and Makangala School is a perfect example of that partnership in action.

The idea for the school didn’t come from us; it came from the community itself. Local families saw the need and worked with BFZ to make it happen. Their leadership and engagement have been central to the school’s success.

In 2025, Makangala Community School reached a major milestone when it was officially recognised by the Zambian Ministry of Education. This approval now allows the school to receive some government funding, and we’re delighted that two government teachers now work alongside two BFZ-funded teachers in the classrooms. From its beginnings as a preschool, the school now serves 145 children from preschool through Grade 3.

 

The school is much more than a classroom building. It serves as a community hub where wellbeing programmes run, volunteer training takes place, and local meetings are held. Health workers use the school as a base to reach children they might otherwise miss with vaccinations and essential treatments. We are fundraising to run eye health clinics later this year, for both children and the wider community.

Out in the school garden, BFZ worked with the community and local experts to plant fruit trees, which are flourishing thanks to the borehole and volunteers’ care. Work is underway on a solar water pump which will further help food production, sanitation, and cooking on site.

          

Another milestone for the children has been the arrival of a playground, sustainably built using local materials. For many children, it’s their first experience of structured play — and the joy it brings says everything about the value of this space.

Every child attending Makangala receives two nutritious meals each school day — an essential part of helping children learn and thrive. A community health team recently visited the school to deliver polio vaccines, and vitamin A; they also weighed every child. The results were truly inspiring: not a single child was found to be underweight. By comparison, UNICEF data shows that about 12% of children under five in Zambia are underweight and 35% of children under 5 are shorter than they should be.

 

All of this progress is thanks to the ongoing generosity of our supporters — people like you who believe in community-led solutions and the power of education.

However, the challenge to keep every child fed as numbers continue to grow remains real. Your support today can help ensure that every child at Makangala continues to receive the meals they need to thrive and learn. If you would like to help fund the school meal programme or become a regular donor, please visit our webpage to learn more.

Together, we are building brighter futures.

 

Photos from Young Peoples Celebration Day, December 2025.

Nsanyza counts his way to a brighter future.

We are enormously proud of the progress Nsanyza is making.  Here he is offering encouragement, inspiration and the benefit of his experience to our current cohort of children at Young People’s Day back in December last year.

Young People’s Day 2024.

Now in his third year of Accountancy at Kwame Nkrumah University, Nsanyza came from a vulnerable family in the rural Twabane community.  He joined the BFZ school sponsorship programme at the beginning of Grade 10, where he showed great academic promise. Nsanyza followed our Wellbeing programme alongside his education.  Nsanyza achieved excellent grades and won a place at university where he has done brilliantly, passing all his exams.  BFZ  supports Nsanyza providing fees and a laptop – it is incredibly gratifying to see how this relatively small level of support is helping him to achieve a brighter future.

Giving a speech at Bank of Zambia conference, Feb ’25.

He is a determined and promising student, currently fulfilling the role of Secretary General in the Academic and Affairs Ministry at his university.  He was also chosen to talk at a Bank of Zambia educational conference when the new Zambian bank notes were launched in February.

Nsanyza talks about the challenges he faces at university, most notably ‘load shedding’ (state-planned power cuts to preserve energy) which disrupt his studies, as well as the administration he has to navigate to organise internships.  Nsanyza has shown great tenacity and resilience in continuing to perform well in his classes, despite the sometimes difficult circumstances.

With only one year to go he is beginning to look ahead, beyond university. He says; “I always hope to utilize the knowledge in the best possible way.” He hopes to work for the state but is also interested in business – he recognises he will have to be proactive “This means that I will not wait for the government to employ me, But I will try my level best to apply what I can do for the betterment of tomorrow. “ He would like to provide economic security for his family and ‘be a living example to the next generation‘  showing how a young person from a vulnerable background can overcome adversity to achieve a better future.

Volunteering at Young People’s Day in 2023.

In his speeches at Young People’s Day in both 2023 and 24, he is doing just that.  We are very proud of his dedication and success.

 

Celebrating Young People’s Day

Our partners in Buntolo have recently celebrated  Young People’s Day, this annual heartwarming event brings together all the children whose education and wellbeing is supported by our sponsors.  It is a celebration of achievement as well as an opportunity to share the experience of group work and a moment to reflect on the most important issues in the lives of  young people in the Monze district of Zambia.

 

All seven Wellbeing groups from Buntolo came together.  Sister Purity, who leads the Wellbeing programme, said she was thrilled to see so many attend in spite of the rains.  A total of 77 children and 7 group leaders congregated at the Makangala Pre-School, which continues to serve as a community hub.

Mr Royd Siambeta from PPAZ, Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia, gave a motivational presentation about his own educational journey and the important work he does today in helping to prevent early marriages.

  Christohper Chiinda, BFZ alumni, spoke inspiringly of his experience of sponsorship through BFZ.  He encouraged the children to succeed in education, as he had, ‘as a weapon against poverty’.

The children had prepared performances of cultural dances, poems and drama to raise awareness of child trafficking, child marriage, drug abuse and the importance of education. These performances showcased the themes regularly explored in the Wellbeing sessions.

  Prizes were awarded to children who have worked consistently hard this year.  Gifts of school bags, books, pens and maths sets were presented in recognition of their efforts.

   

It was a hugely positive day for all. Thank you to all supporters of BFZ for making this rewarding day possible.

Story 1: Chabota

BFZ’s sponsorship programme has helped change the lives of many children and their families. It has meant that children like Chabota can concentrate on school and has alleviated some of the worries faced by their caregivers.  

In 2015, Chabota was nine years old and about to start grade 4 in her village school. Chabota loved learning and happily got up at five am every morning to help with chores, eat her breakfast and walk the three kilometres to school. However, her grandmother worried for Chabota’s future, unsure as to how she would be able to afford Chabota’s future education.  

Joining BFZ’s sponsorship scheme meant that Chabota could concentrate on school, and her grandmother could focus on caring for the family and growing enough maize to feed everyone.  

In 2019, Chabota passed her grade 7 exams with high marks and got a place at a good secondary school. Chabota is 14 now, in grade 9 and like many children from rural Zambia, she boards during the term time. She enjoys playing netball and reading and still loves learning, a passion she hopes to pass on through becoming a teacher.  

In the holidays, Chabota comes home to her grandma and likes attending the weekly BFZ Wellbeing sessions with her community group. Her grandma is very proud! 

10 Years, 10 Weeks, £10K

To mark our 10 -year anniversary, members of our trustee board and other supporters have embarked on an ambitious challenge to walk/ cycle/ swim or even kayak the length of Zambia and raise £10,000 to help more children like Chabota. We will be following the (virtual) progress of the team as they travel through the beautiful Zambian landscape. The team have already reached the first stage in their challenge, arriving at the small town of Sanyambe on the borders of the Zambezi river.  

If you would like to support their efforts and help us reach our target you can donate here. 

Story 9 – A Supporter Story

We had the chance to live and work in Zambia for many years, teaching in secondary schools first in Mazabuka and then Lusaka. Our children were so lucky to have grown up there, to have had that life experience, and they have such fond, happy memories of their childhood.  

 

Jim and Veronica had the wonderful opportunity to live in Zambia for 16 years from 1969 to 1987. They left Derry in Northern Ireland as a newly married couple, to go and work as teachers in a village not far from Monze, called Mazabuka. 

At that time there was a small but vibrant Irish community of newly qualified teachers in Mazabuka who had grabbed the opportunity to travel abroad and teach. Jim taught Woodwork, Metal work and Technical drawing at St Edmunds Boys Secondary School and Veonica taught English and PE at Mazabuka Girls Secondary School.  

A few years later, they moved to Lusaka the capital where they lived until 1987, before moving back to Ireland. 

Jim and Veronica arrived in Zambia at a time of change, almost 6 years after Zambia had gained independence from Britain. They never expected to stay for 16 years. Those years were some of their happiest. 

“Supporting BFZ helps us feel connected to the country that we still love. We cherish the stories of the children and young people that BFZ is helping to support. Our eldest daughter was born in the Monze mission hospital, which makes our connection to the place even stronger. “

 

Want to help? 

Want to join the Herron family in supporting this incredible charity? By donating to BFZ you can help many more children to achieve a brighter future. 

10 Years, 10 Weeks, £10K! 

 

To mark our 10 -year anniversary, members of our trustee board and other supporters have taken on an ambitious challenge to walk/ cycle/ swim or even kayak the length of Zambia and raise £10,000 to help more children like Isaac. After ten exhausting but exhilarating weeks across 1500kms of Zambia’s beautiful (virtual) landscape, the team have reached their final destination of Mgapi on the Mozambican border. Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, they have raised over £6000 which will go directly to supporting more children like Isaac to reach their potential. It’s not too late to donate and help the team to meet their final target you can donate here. 

 

Story 10 – Isaac

“Education opens doors to anyone regardless of their status in society.” Isaac, 2021. 

BFZ’s sponsorship programme has helped change the lives of many children and their families. And, it’s not only about helping individuals to meet their potential, it’s investing in the next generation of Zambians who will go on to make a brighter future for their country. One such inspirational young person is Isaac.  

Isaac was one of the first ever children to join our child sponsorship programme. Isaac grew up in Manungu compound in Monze. He was brought up by his grandparents who were deeply committed to his education but struggled to cover the cost of his school fees. Isaac’s Grandma, Bridget was one of the founder members of the orphan and vulnerable children’s project that delivers much of BFZ’s work.  

Like many of our volunteers in Zambia, Bridget found herself unexpectedly caring for young grandchildren in her retirement and was passionate about building networks of support with other carers to improve the lives of the children in their care. She became one of our most committed volunteers and is still an inspiration to all who met her. Sadly, Bridget died in 2015 but not before seeing Isaac complete his secondary education and go on to win a coveted scholarship to study medicine at the University of Lusaka. 

Isaac is now a fully qualified Doctor, working at the University Teaching hospital in Zambia’s capital city, Lusaka. He plans to become a consultant Obstetrician and would like to have two children of his own one day. He told us “Being a Doctor in Zambia is very fulfilling and I love it”. 

We are all so proud of Isaac and of believe that Bridget’s legacy could not be more fitting.  

10 Years, 10 Weeks, £10K! 

 

To mark our 10 -year anniversary, members of our trustee board and other supporters have taken on an ambitious challenge to walk/ cycle/ swim or even kayak the length of Zambia and raise £10,000 to help more children like Isaac. After ten exhausting but exhilarating weeks across 1500kms of Zambia’s beautiful (virtual) landscape, the team have reached their final destination of Mgapi on the Mozambican border. Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, they have raised over £6000 which will go directly to supporting more children like Isaac to reach their potential. It’s not too late to donate and help the team to meet their final target you can donate here. 

 

Education BREAKS the poverty cycle.

By Jennie Smith, Brighter Futures Zambia co-founder and trustee

Felix did not have the easiest start in life. He was orphaned when he was still a child and brought up by his Grandmother, Clementina. Clementina has been an active volunteer with Brighter Futures in Zambia since our beginnings. Alongside bringing up her two biological children, she took seven orphans into her care after first her sister and then her own children died. Despite significant health problems of her own, Clementina fought hard to give the children in her care a good life, doing odd jobs as well as brewing and selling beer in her tiny home to feed and clothe them.

Gaining school sponsorship through Brighter Futures Zambia took some of the pressure off Clementina and crucially also allowed Felix to focus on his studies. Sadly in Zambia it is not uncommon to see school pupils making their way home from school at odd hours of the day having been “chased” out of school because the money for fees has run out. This is disruptive to the children’s studies as well as causing stress and shame. Ultimately, the hope is that Zambia will follow in the footsteps of countries such as Uganda and Kenya who have made primary and secondary state education free for all children. However, in the meantime too many children like Felix miss out on their chance to complete their schooling and fulfil their potential.

Despite the many challenges that Felix has faced, he has always been determined to make the most of the opportunities he has been given. After working hard at school, his exam results allowed him to apply for nursing college and we were thrilled when he was offered a place late last year. This wasn’t the end of the struggle though as, despite finding casual work, Felix could not afford to pay the fees to start his studies. Step in our brilliant friends at Think Productive! Think Productive, a productivity training and consultancy company, sponsored Felix through secondary school and, when they heard about his college offer they agreed to step-up their support. This is such a fantastic outcome and we are delighted to report that Felix is now studying hard in his first term at Monze Mission Hospital Nursing College.

When we spoke to Clementina back in 2013, she told us that it was her dream for the children in her care to finish school and be able to support themselves. By starting training as a nurse Felix is well on his way to doing just that, demonstrating the power of education to break the cycle of poverty.

We are so proud of you Felix!

If you would like to find out more about school sponsorship or know of a company like Think Productive who might be able to support more young people like Felix please click here for more information or get in touch.