Over 9 million children in Zambia…Only 67.5% will continue in to the 8th grade.

Where We Work

Ng’ombe is a shanty compound in the capital city of Zambia with more than 65,000 residents.  The compound is packed tightly with small, cinder block homes – most of which have no running water or electricity.   Dusty roads weaving in and out of these houses are littered with trash.  Makeshift market stands of old wood, cardboard boxes, and sheets of plastic are scattered throughout with individuals selling tomatoes, cooking oil, groundnuts, eggs, and other essentials.

No matter where you travel in Ng’ombe, you will always find children – playing by the roadside, selling at the market, fetching water, sweeping their houses.  There are more than 30,000 children living in Ng’ombe.

Like much of Zambia, Ng’ombe has been significantly affected by poverty and disease.

In Zambia today…

• 54.5% of the population lives below the national poverty line.

• The average life expectancy is 64 years.

• 1.2 million people are living with HIV.

• 36% of the country drinks unclean water, causing life-threatening waterborne diseases.

• 35% of children in Zambia experience stunted growth.

• Of 17 million people, nearly 1 million are orphans.

These numbers represent the lives of thousands living in Ng’ombe compound.  Mothers.  Fathers.  Children.  Each with a name and story hoping for a better future.

Access to quality education is a rare thing for most of the children in Ng’ombe.  With only 2 government schools in the compound, there aren’t enough classrooms, desks, or books for all of the children.  Because of this, most children attend community schools – those that have been developed by volunteers, and receive no funding, resources, or training. In Ng’ombe Compound, there are 70 community schools with more than 16,500 students in them. It’s our mission to equip each and every one of these schools.