| YOUR HELP |
Background
It is estimated that there are some 75,000 street children in the Copperbelt of Zambia. After years of neglect recent investment in the copper industry is improving prospects for the region but there is still a significant proportion of the population affected by unemployment, poverty and aids. It is surprising how little the mass of the population benefit from the commodities boom.
Romilly's Dormitories
Two dormitories were completed in September 2006. It took another 9 months before the electricity was connected by the local power company, without which the local authorities would not allow children to move in. The dormitory ies are i 172 m2, and each provide 4 bedrooms, kitchen, living room/dining room, two shower rooms and 2 w.c.'s. The first cost £30,454. The second cost cost £24000, savings having been achieved by employing tradesmen directly.
In addition to the borehole (£7536) we have paid a further £9000 for the installation of drains and electricity at the site.Romilly's Shelter 2
James Forshall writes: ‘ In October children were just beginning to be moved into the buildings. Delays were then being caused by inability to recruit suitable staff to care for the children.' The dormitories that we have built greatly increase FOSC's capacity for taking children away from that abuses of the street and reintegrating them with their families.
Our local partners, Friends of Street Children are doing a fantastic job. They are wonderfully dedicated people but they need more accommodation, classrooms and money for salaries for teachers and carers.'