Education

Each year, several disabled young people are funded by HHI to attend schools and colleges. They have often missed out on education because of poverty or because of the social stigma associated with disability. Those requiring special education for hearing disability need to be funded for boarding places at schools such as Maamba and St Malumba's. The fees and transport costs are often met by HHI, with parents contributing where possible. We encourage parents, when they can to share in the funding so that they can bear some of the responsibility for ensuring that disabled children reach their potential.

Some young people with physical challenges are helped into local government schools by receiving mobility aids from HHI such as crutches and wheelchairs. Others are provided with a bicycle to enable them to make the long tiring journey to the local school. All school children and students in Zambia need uniforms and a skilled seamstresses at the HHI headquarters makes uniforms for those who are in need and cannot afford to buy them.

Every year the centre in Monze looks forward to the arrival of the container with the mobility aids, medical equipment, bicycles and sewing machines which make this work possible.

The brief accounts which follow show the power of education. For the four people involved, it has brought hope to their futures.

Three very able local blind students have been funded for teacher training courses in Mongu College. This is very far from Monze in the Western province of Zambia. Bright and Busiku will be qualifying in 2010 and Frank will qualify in 2011. After qualification they will be employed by the government as teachers of both sighted and visually impaired pupils. HHI has provided them with a profession, a future and a way of supporting other disabled Zambians.

Chisonga who suffers from dwarfism tried in vain to find employment until HHI provided him with a training opportunity. A letter from Frank, translated from Braille, and one from Chisonga give a very clear picture of how they value the help provided by HHI.

Dear Friends,

It brings joy and happiness to my soul and my heart whenever I think of you. I would like to thank you for the great things that you are doing and that you will be doing for me. Some of my friends are suffering but I am pursuing my education at teacher training College Mongu, Western Part of Zambia. May God bless you for that. I have only one year to complete my training. I know it's very hard sometimes to help in the same way you are doing for me. There are very few who can do that but with you it is possible through God’s help. I have much to write to you but I can’t do that through this small piece of paper but I wish you all the best as you work hard to help. Your consideration is highly appreciated.

Yours,
Frank Wamuwi

Dear HHI supporter,

After finishing school I tried to look for employment so that I could I could have money for food. This didn't work out because all the people I approached for employment didn’t respond positively. This made me to start thinking that may be people were not giving me work because of my disability as my disability looks strange (dwarfism). One day I met a friend in Monze Town who told me about HHI and that the organisation helps the disabled in training skills. When I came to HHI, Mr Sialumano advised me to do training in basic mechanics. While at HHI, I learnt a lot that will help me in my life and I enjoy being at HHI. Mr Sialumano encouraged me to apply for college and I did so and was offered a place to go and study automotive mechanics/electrical at Lusaka Vocational Training Centre. I became very happy when I was told that HHIUK has agreed to pay my school fees. I dropped tears of joy.