GENEROUS Helensburgh pupils have dug deep to support their Zambian counterparts with their studies.
Students at Hermitage Academy raised money through a non-uniform day on Friday, November 20 - World Children’s Day - while local businesses also pledged cash to help secure an education for youngsters in the African nation.
The secondary school has had a link since 2016 with the Dream Livingstone charity, which works to empower children and adults in the Livingstone province of Zambia. Last year the Academy’s Bookcase Zambia project saw 10 pupils spend two weeks in the region, helping to set up a library within a local school with books donated from back home.
The Covid-19 pandemic scuppered hopes of a return trip during the summer, but pupils involved in the Rights Respecting School (RRS) group, led by technical teacher Louise Baird, have continued their fund-raising initiatives.
READ MORE: Hermitage pupils work hard to change lives in Zambia
Louise said: “Dream Livingstone usually depends on support from volunteers from around the world but due to the pandemic no volunteers have been able to go to Zambia.
“Hermitage usually holds a Christmas for Africa talent show event and this year the focus will be to support the Bookcase Zambia project.
“A number of fund-raising events are being arranged going forward, including the school Christmas virtual concert, which will have the option for viewers to donate to support more children in Zambia to get the opportunity to attend school.”
The latest fund-raising drives have been inspired by a plea for help from Rabeccah Mukumbo, who works with the Dream Livingstone organisation and visited Scotland, and Hermitage Academy, in 2019.
In the light of the coronavirus crisis, and the closure of the volunteer programme, sponsorships have proved difficult to deliver.
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Rabeccah said: “We were sponsoring some children at school all the past years. Now with the virus outbreak and the closing of our volunteer programme, we are affected financially hence we have been unable to sponsor the children we were supporting.
“This year we only managed to sponsor those who were in examination classes.
“Among the ones we supported, we have two girls who are sisters who have dropped out of school because we were unable to pay their fees.
“The two sisters’ parents are in the village and they do not work hence have no income to support the girls. If we do not send back the girls to school in January, the girls may get married and this will spoil their lives.”
Thanks to the efforts of Hermitage Academy children, who raised £600, as well as a welcome £500 donation from a company run by Malcolm Purves, husband to one of the school’s teachers, more than enough has been raised to support the two girls: Gwendoline and Sila.
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After receiving the good news, Rabeccah sent a message of thanks to Louise and the Helensburgh pupils.
It read: “I’m so humbled that you have decided to do a second fund-raiser, you people you are making me cry.
“This has been a very big burden for years, supporting these children.
“I’m so humbled that at a crucial moment like this, good people like you can come on board, I’m on my knees to thank you on my own behalf and on behalf of the children.”
Extra cash raised through Hermitage Academy fund-raisers in December will go towards supporting additional students in need in Zambia.
For more information on the school project, search for ‘Bookcase Zambia’ on Facebook.
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