DAY 5 Friday 15th September 2023

Choongo School – A Rewarding Visit

Choongo is a mainstream school not too far from Monze with students up to grade 12. It also has 60 physically disabled children who are residential. It’s an all-inclusive school where house mothers cook meals for the residential students and care for their physical needs. Many of the students have limb deformities and use wheelchairs or crutches to access the classrooms. The kitchen, a metal hut which flooded in the rains and was at riskof losing its roof in high winds, was in a state of dire disrepair. (see pic below) Mr Robert Mwzila, the head teacher, said it was very difficult for the disabled students to receive their meals. A new kitchen has nearly been completed thanks to a generous donation from Big Picture Charity Films (BPCF). See below. It has electricity, a ramp and it is opposite the entrance to the dining area. We saw the renovated benches in the dining area which Robbie has already provided.

Chongo kitchen (old)

Chongo kitchen (new)

Kitchen electricity

Dining area

What would be helpful is a covered way between the kitchen and the dining door so that in the rainy season the students will not get wet carrying their food. Maybe HHI could help with this idea? The house mothers are really keen to start using the kitchen – hopefully by the end of the month! Hooray! 😃

Kitchen to dining room