Story by: Lisa Gower; Photos by: Xiomare Bender & Anton Croone

‘Madam Lisa, Madam Lisa I want to go to school,’ this is what I hear every day backed as an enthusiastic child hands me his or her application letters for sponsorship.

In 1998 The Bushcamp Company and Mfuwe Lodge provided sponsorship support to two secondary school pupils and one tertiary student. Over the years this number has grown to over 300 pupils. Students are sponsored across 34 schools in the Eastern Province of Zambia! I was very lucky to have the opportunity to join the company two years ago, with a portion of my role to oversee the conservation, community and education projects. After two years living within the community I felt I had a much better understanding of what the importance of education meant to the community- for the student, but to his or her family.

Although primary education is free from Grade One to Grade Seven in Zambia, many of the families living in  rural communities in and around Mfuwe can’t even afford the basic requirements of uniform, workbooks and a pencil. There are a very high percentage of orphans who are looked after by their extended family who will struggle to supply the child with food and shelter let alone be able to pay for their education. If a child is educated, there is much higher chance of his or her being employed and being able to support their family other than just subsistence farming.

Many of the guests who visit Mfuwe Lodge and our Bushcamps enjoy spending time learning about our education, conservation and community programs.  Travelers are welcome to come and visit our projects, meet our pupils and interact with the students. The experience is always memorable to the traveler, but the children love meeting people from other countries and learning from them. There has been an overwhelming amount of support from our guests which has resulted in sponsoring a significant number of pupils who otherwise would not be able to be educated. Improvement to the infrastructure of schools is also a key focus,  in the past few years we have completed numerous classrooms, a library, dormitories and teacher housing.

Lisa Gower, with female students in their new dorm.

None of this can be accomplished without the dedication and kindness of people who have stayed with at Mfuwe Lodge and the Bushcamps!

Part of my job is to send regular personalized newsletters, updates on both projects and sponsored students. There are many ways to support the young people of the Luangwa Valley from supplies like stationary and calculators, donating to ‘Our Charity Begins at Home’ for building projects or sponsoring a child. We have also created a new fund raisng project to raise money for a new girls dormitory and washrooms at Mfuwe Day Secondary School- currently the young women are sharing beds and have no proper washing or toilet facilities. Especially in the developing world, educated young women will have a significant impact on thought change and breaking the poverty cycle in the future.

Please come visit for yourself– even by staying at one of our lodges, a percentage of the rate goes directly into the  community projects and conservation fund. For more information on our projects, please check out: The Bushcamp Company or contact me directly for more information: Lisa lisa@bushcampcompany.com

Quotes from some of our sponsored pupils:

Joseph Banda, sponsored for his four year long secondary program by OTPYM founder, Michaela Guzy & her mother Maureen. For his story, click here.

‘I always think of Michaela and her Mother and what nice people they are to sponsor me. I wish for many people like this, for this can make the world reach its fullest development’ Joseph Banda, G11 Mfuwe Day Secondary School.

‘I think it is very important for girls to be educated before they go to marriage because when many girls have been educated poverty will have finished in our country so we girls need many encouragements! Thank you again for being sponsored,” Agness Banda, G9 Mfuwe Day School.

‘To my sponsor, you are special to me, life would not have the meaning without you. You have let me complete my schooling and I will now be able to help my family when I get a job.’ Japhret Mwale, G9 Mfuwe Day School.