Excited children in Lusaka’s Kanyama Compound received much-needed blankets this week as international airline British Airways continued its programme of community support.
BA staff, joined by representatives from Barefeet Theatre, were on hand to distribute some 70 airline fleece blankets and SkyFlyer activity packs to the underprivileged children at Mapode Girls’ School and the surrounding area.
“It’s cold now, so it was an ideal time to bring the blankets to Kanyama and make a difference in the lives of these children,” said British Airways commercial manager Beatrice Kamanga.
Her sentiments were echoed by Mapode teacher Josephine Kashina, who said: “It means a lot as at these times it is very cold and some children share one blanket between four or five children.”
The school for orphans is one of the centres where Barefeet Theatre works, running drama and dance workshops with important health and environmental messages that the children then perform in the community.
“Through the activities we can really help them change their mindset and not go onto the street. We are there to help them and show them someone cares,” said Barefeet events and programmes director Taonga Tembo Liwewe.
British Airways works closely with Barefeet Theatre and will be helping to bring artistes from around the world to Zambia in August for a festival organised by the group.
Why i appreciate the donation from British Airways to school children at Mapode Girls as a step forward. BA would have done better by making another donation in form of teaching materials as it will go a long way developing the knowledge of the receipient children. Those blanks will not leave an imprint on the children;s life just a few months they will be no more. But what gets on the brain remains for life in terms of knowledge. Some may say beggers should not be choosers but how many materials have our pipo been receiving yet not meaningful change is being seen but for the opharns who were adopted been to school and colleges positive results are there. If fact we help that will teach pipo to catch their own fish not to be given already caught fish coz we demand again after eating.
An orphan child given the chance today could be the leader of the country in 2025.
These kids need all the support Zambia can give them NOW!
They are not useless and need education to give them all a chance to have a normal life.
Brings tears to the eyes knowing kids are in the same situation in many towns and villages.