One World, One Future

Because every child deserves a chance

Zambia. A country full of life, colour and dreams. And one of the poorest in the world. We are here because education is the only way out of the cycle of poverty.

Zambia is a country in southern Africa, roughly as large as Germany, Austria and Switzerland combined – but with only around 22 million people. Many live in rural areas, in villages that are often far from the nearest town. The soils are fertile, the nature is extraordinary. And yet Zambia is one of the 10 poorest countries in the world.

The reasons for this are complex: an economy that depends heavily on copper exports and leaves little room for manoeuvre when prices fall; an infrastructure that is poorly developed in many places outside the cities; and healthcare that is hard for many people to reach. Added to this are the long-term consequences of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has put a strain on families, orphaned children and deprived many of them of stable support. Around 45 % of the population is under 15 years old. Zambia is a young country – with many children, but often too few opportunities to open up good prospects for them.

All of this has a direct impact on education. Schools do exist in many places – but the way there is often many kilometres long, learning materials are missing, and families cannot always afford exercise books or school uniforms. And even when children attend lessons regularly, the conditions are often difficult: leaking roofs, too few or broken school desks, missing sanitary facilities, or teachers who are hard to retain because of the remote location. Education therefore does not automatically become a matter of course, but remains a daily challenge for many children.

This is everyday life for hundreds of thousands of children in Zambia. This is where we come in. Not with grand promises, but with concrete work on the ground – together with teachers, parents’ committees and the communities themselves.

“Some children only take the long journey to school because there is a warm meal there.”

What school means here

Obstacles that rob children of their future and their solutions

🏚️ Broken buildings

Leaking roofs, missing windows, no furniture. Learning under such conditions is barely possible – least of all during the rainy season.

✅ Our answer

We renovate school buildings: watertight roofs, solid windows, benches and desks – a space where learning becomes possible.
🌳 No building

In remote villages, lessons take place in the open air or in emergency tents. When it rains, school is simply cancelled.

✅ Our answer

We build solid classrooms so that lessons can take place even in the rain instead of in the open air.
📚 Missing materials

Without books, exercise books or pens, pupils can hardly take notes, let alone practise at home.

✅ Our answer

We provide books, exercise books and pens – the basic equipment needed to take notes and practise.
🍽️ Hunger

Anyone who is hungry cannot learn. School kitchens are no luxury here – they are the reason why many children come at all. For some, lunch is the only meal of the day.

✅ Our answer

We build school kitchens and dining halls and support school gardens – so that no child has to learn hungry.
🚽 Missing sanitary facilities

Where there are no toilets, girls in particular stay at home – out of shame, out of insecurity. Sanitary facilities are not a question of comfort but of participation.

✅ Our answer

We build toilets and sanitary facilities – so that all children, especially girls, come to school and stay there.

Reading, writing and arithmetic for independence

Not forgetting adults

Many parents never had the chance to learn to read or write properly themselves. Poverty is passed on – but this cycle can be broken. That is why we work not only with children, but also with their families and communities.

📖 Literacy

Reading, writing and arithmetic – anyone who masters these basics can make their own decisions and provide for their family.
🌱 Sustainable agriculture

Training in sustainable growing methods and income generation helps families to support themselves in the long term.
🤝 Raising awareness in communities

We build awareness of education, health and equality – so that change grows from within.