Living Waters School

This week I visited Living Waters School in Mtendere with Megan, our community schools worker for Action Zambia. It is run by the church and the children there are generally getting a good education. The school year here in Zambia runs from January to December with three months in school and then one month off. So school for most kids, unless they are sitting exams, finishes for Christmas at the end of November. The photo shows them all lining up before classes start. Children in so many ways are the same wherever you go. They are joking, shoving each other, waving shyly at me and Megan and quickly paying attention if the teacher spots them trying to goof off! On this particular occasion we were there as school starts and the sight outside the gates was a sad one. On either side of the 'road' leading to the school/church there are a number of bars and despite limited opening hours they are pretty much open all the time. Some of the men outside them were obviously somewhat the worse for wear even though it was 8.15 in the morning! I had to be careful to take photos surreptitiously! Beer here is sold in cartons, just like milk cartons back home. The road is muddy as rainy season has started and it was strewn with discarded cartons. Probably not the sort of environment you would like your kid's school to be in but we are thankful that the teachers at this school are committed to God, and to the children, so despite the surroundings, the kids here are getting a great opportunity.