By FRANCIS CHIPALO in Chilubi Island
CHILUBI 2021 aspiring Member of Parliament Christabel Kalasa has launched a campaign dubbed “Every Child in Uniform” aimed at providing uniforms to school going children.
The campaign has been launched in Chilubi Island, where Ms Kalasa provided uniforms to pupils seeking an education at community schools.
The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) Chaloshi Ward councilor in Kembe Constituency donated school uniforms to grade 1 up to 4 pupils at four different schools for starters.
The schools included Pembya Community School located in Mwape Kalunga, Misuse Community School in Fube, Sumbu’s Muleka Community School and Tandabunbwe Community School in Kwena. These are vulnerable Community Schools from Chief Matipa and sub chiefs Mwape Kalunga and Fube of Chilubi Island.
Ms Kalasa says she decided to come to the aid of the pupils due to their vulnerability as most of them come from poor families.
“I started this campaign two years ago by mobilizing resources with the help of my partner Michelle Shepard based in the UK and Shain Mulenga a Zambian who is also in the diaspora and I am happy that finally the campaign has started and we are able to provide school uniforms to thousands of pupils of Chilubi Island,” Ms Kalasa said.
“So far we have given to 4 community Schools but we are extending this campaign to other schools in the Constituency because we want “every child in school” to be in uniform,” she said.
Ms Kalasa thanked her partners for the support towards the project.
Meanwhile, traditional leaders, teachers, parents and pupils at the receiving Schools have expressed happiness with the gesture by Ms Kalasa.
The teachers however appealed to the aspiring parliamentary candidate to consider helping the school going children with shoes as most of them do not have and walk long distances barefooted to and from school.
“We are really thankful for this rare gesture and we are happy that our pupils are all looking good and smart in unforms and we ask you if you can also help our pupils with shoes if possible because majority of them do not have as they come from poor families,” said Edward Makumba who is a teacher at one of the community schools, words echoed by his fellow teacher Frederick Kunda.
And Mavis Chanda a learner at Misuse Community School also thanked Ms Kalasa for the donation of uniforms on behalf of her fellow pupils.
Meanwhile, Puku village Headman Amos Mantele appealed to Ms Kalasa to lobby Government to send teachers in the area, adding that a number of learning institutions had inadequate teaching staff apart from other challenges faced.
Ms Kalasa is in Chilubi Island doing Community works.
