Good Hope Sponsored Students

Donors of ZMF-C sponsor twelve students at Good Hope Christian Basic School. We don’t worry too much about the kids at Good Hope because that school always seems to have a very good teacher pupil ratio and they have excellent administration under Mr. Wilson Siazilo! Good Hope school has students from pre-school to grade 8. Wilson & Nancy Siazilo and family live on the ZMF-C Seven Fountains Farm not too far from Good Hope school. All of them are vital and precious to the ZMF-C work! We thank God for their life long example of humble and gracious service! By the way Wilson is away this week on his first international trip to Italy. What an opportunity for Wilson and we are all waiting for his return so we can hear the story of Wilson in Italy. Wilson is a grand story teller so I know he’ll have some great action stories on his return.

Today we were able to visit with nine of our twelve Good Hope pupils. We reviewed their terms 1 and 2 report cards, a routine we do with every ZMF-C student. Then I had an opportunity to have a discussion with them on Girl Education in Zambia. Here are the facts: For every one hundred girls that enter grade 1 – only seventy-five will progress to grade 7. In grade 8 the number is down to twenty-three and only seven will sit for the writing of grade 12 exams. I asked them, "Why it is that so few girls write the grade 12 exams? What happens?"

They all answer, "Girls stay at home to look after younger children and do work, carry water and wood. They have to walk long distances and so attendance is poor. They get pregnant." ZMF-C has had three young female sponsored students in the last year drop out because of pregnancy.

So we talked for a while about remaining pure until marriage, because that’s the way God planned it, and because Zambia needs educated girls and boys! They all agreed that they’d write themselves a purity covenant and show it to me next month when we visit.

Another great group of kids! Tomorrow the children’s teacher liaison will hand out the food we left—roller meal and kapenta for each of these sponsored kids.

Have a good rest of your week,
SK and RK