International Focus

Aylmer students help Zambian kids go to school

 

Laurent Robillard-Cardinal

With students from both buildings (Limoges and Saint-Paul), Mr Wadlow and several adults are collecting bottles and cans to raise money to help Zambian children go to Twitti (the smallest twig) School. Their goal is $2,000 before November 27 and the team has, since September 18, amassed over $1,300.

Zambia is a Southern African country, home to 6 million children. According to UNICEF, “more than a quarter million children are out of school and 47% of those enrolled do not complete the primary cycle.” Their education system has considerably improved since the millennium, but is far from perfect. Twitti School’s creation in 1994 was a welcome step in the right direction.

Mr Wadlow first heard about the school from his parents whose friend had visited the school. Intrigued, Mr Wadlow’s family planned a stopover at Twitti School during their five-month African trip. “We spent time volunteering there; it’s a wonderful school and an inspiration,” said Wadlow. “Upon our return to Canada, I thought, what a wonderful opportunity for our international school to sensitize the children to larger issues throughout the world.” The school’s principal was “extremely enthusiastic“, and the plan was embraced school-wide.

 

Four children helped

 

“Twitti School was created for the poorest of the poor and for children who have lost their parents to AIDS,” said Wadlow. “The school is in a poor rural area south of the capital Lusaka. We decided (our school) would sponsor four children who otherwise would be unable to afford to go to school.” L’École internationale du Village is raising $500 per child which will cover tuitions, uniforms and transportation.

Every dollar raised goes directly to Twitti School, according to Wadlow. Founded by Mr. and Mrs. Simon Maonde, the school opened its doors in 1994. “We selected this project because our school is taking an international focus and we want to sensitize children to some of the issues around the world,”  explained Wadlow.