A Classroom of Hope and Dreams for 5-year-old Fredrick
By Agatha Mali, Communications Officer, Zambia
At just five years old, Fredrick already understands the struggles of learning in a poor environment. Every morning, he walks hand in hand with his mother or friends to the nearest preschool in their village in rural Zambia Chifunabuli district of. He is eager to learn, but when he arrives, reality greets him harshly.
The preschool block where Fredrick and over 50 children gather is in a bad state. The walls are cracked, the roof leaks, and the floor is filled with holes and cracks. During the rainy season, classes are often disrupted because water seeps inside, forcing children to huddle in one corner or even stop lessons completely until the rains lessen.
“When it rains, the water comes inside. Our books get wet, and we stop learning,” Fredrick laments softly, his tiny hands clutching his worn exercise book. The heat during hot days is unbearable, and in the cold mornings, the little children shiver as they try to repeat the alphabet after their teacher.
“It is hard to learn during the cold season because our class does not have window panes; it is just the open holes that allow so much cold to enter, making our fingers freeze,” says Fredrick.
“And in the rainy season, the teacher asks us to go back home or not to report for class. It makes me sad because I love to be in school,” he adds.
Despite these challenges, Fredrick loves school. His favourite subjects are drawing and numbers, and he dreams of becoming a soldier to contribute to the safekeeping of his country. But he knows it is difficult to pay attention when the classroom is uncomfortable. “Sometimes it is too hot. Sometimes it is too cold. I just want a good classroom,” he says with innocent hope.
Mr. Peter Mumba, a mathematics teacher at Fredrick’s school, shares the same dream.
“As parents, we want our children to learn, but this classroom is not safe. Sometimes I fear the roof will collapse,” he explains. “When I heard that World Vision and their donors are building a new block, I felt relieved. It will change everything for our children.”
That hope is becoming reality. With the generous support of World Vision Zambia donors, a new 1 by 2 classroom block is under construction for Fredrick’s preschool. The building will be strong, safe, and child-friendly. It will have proper desks, wide windows for light, and enough space for every child to learn comfortably.
For Fredrick, this means he will no longer sit in the cold or stop lessons when it rains.
“I am happy because I will learn in a good classroom,” he says with a wide smile. “I will not squeeze on one desk with three more children and learn uncomfortably anymore. I will learn well and become a soldier.”
Aside from the classroom blocks, World Vision will also equip the classroom with well-furnished desks to allow children to sit and learn in a spacious and comfortable space.
The new classroom block brings hope for Fredrick and his classmates; it is a promise that their future will not be limited by poor learning conditions, but instead nurtured in a safe and dignified space.