Chainda SDA Church of Avondale Mission District in Lusaka has embarked on an ambitious project of putting up two double storey classroom blocks to accommodate its Church School that has hitherto been operating from inside the church since inception some eight years ago.
From its inception in 2006, the school has proved to be a viable venture despite the very low user fees that are well-tailored at affording the local community earning less than a dollar a day an opportunity to send their children to the world-class quality Adventist education at economical cost. In spite of the challenges that could fill volumes of write-ups, the school has maintained a steady growth in enrollment from a paltry twenty-something pre-scholars in its formative years to the present population that exceeds 100 pre- and lower primary graders, most of whom come from non-Adventist families. Those that have the farmer’s patience can count the returns on investing in such a population in couple years time!
The school project, once completed, is expected to comprise two double-storey blocks and a single story block housing up to 12 classrooms – six apiece, as well as teaching staff offices, a library, staff room and a
multi-purpose convertible school hall. Initial estimates indicate that the project would cost not less than K300,000.00 (rebased) on a phased-out work-plan spanning some 4 – 6 years from 2013.
The school is being built on a quarter-acre plot that the Church acquired from a member’s family at K95 million (un-rebased) in 2012 – a quarter of which moneys were a grateful donation of the Central Zambia
Conference. The size of the plot should explain the choice of a double-storey architecture for the school!
The first phase of the school building project was commissioned on 21 April 2013. The immediate target is to raise at least two classrooms forming part of the ground floor of what would be the first double-storey six-class-roomed block to accommodate the newly introduced lower primary Grades 1 and 2 classes who at the moment have to scrounge for space among the pre-graders. It is estimated that these classrooms will be ready by the beginning of the third term of 2013 (September).
At the time of writing this story, the walls for the first classroom were at window level. The total works achieved so far comprising structural foundations, columns, slabs and the block-work have gobbled up to
K40 million, not costing human sacrifice in time and resources by several brethrens whose liberality is hereby acknowledged. Given the scantiness of the school fund, and coupled with the competing demands for church funds, it is a miracle that the work has progressed with such great speed to date. It is evident that as the vision is slowly becoming visible, many more resources will be made available from those that respond to the command to ‘untie’ the ass for the Master’s use (Matthew 21:2-3).
Those that may feel moved to contribute something are welcome to see the Elders at Chainda SDA Church situated at the corner of Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Twin Palm Roads, Chainda, P.O. Box 310292CH, Lusaka. Others may yet wish to contact the Building Chairman on cell No. +260 977 356 598, or by email to the Communication Secretary at kuliwas32@gmail.com or Elder-in-Charge at pherryc.mwiinga@rocketmail.com.
