JOHN KOMBE writes
THE Palabana Children’s village in Chongwe needs urgent help to sustain its operations after a donor pulled out leaving children in a limbo.
Palabana ward Councillor Davies Chilufya in making an appeal for help said education for the orphans was the most worrying aspect for now.
Mr. Chilufya made the appeal in an interview with the Lusaka Sun
“The children’s village which being run by Palabana Children’s village Trust has been abruptly closed and about 100 school going orphans are in a dilemma,
“Some of them passed their recent grade seven examination, but have now been thrown in the cold,” said Mr Chilufya
The orphanage has the entire necessary infrastructure which includes: classrooms, dormitories, teachers houses, 5 boreholes with running tap water and electricity.
He said the institution was too good to die just like that.
The donor, POLA VANDONK Foundation of the Netherlands pulled out citing donor fatigue.
“We could not convince them otherwise, but this is a big blow. The teachers left as there was no one ready to continue paying their allowances and so no teaching or learning is taking place,
“However, we are in talks with the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) to help send teachers to the school and also possibly take over the institution. We are hopeful that these talks will yield positive results,” he said
Part of the orphanage was providing education services to children from the surrounding areas.
“This is why the institution really needs aid. The development has really jeopardized the education of the children” said Mr Chilufya.
Mr. Chilufya strongly appealed to any well-wishers to come to the aid of the orphanage.
“My appeal to all well-wishers is that they must come to the aid of the children. Any form of help will be more than welcome. This is a desperate situation which needs immediate intervention,” he said.