The Management of the Partnership

Chipembi Girls Secondary School is one of the oldest girls' secondary schools inZambia and it is run by the United Church of Zambia. The school was opened in1926 and was the first girls' boarding school in Zambia that showed interest inpromoting education for girls including literacy, life skills and offered medicalservices.

SLPC has made visits with groups of fifteen plus to Chipembi in 2003 and 2006 and are planning a trip in 2009. People who hear about the practical help that the church provides are attracted to the project and are prepared to contribute and become involved, and so they gain a good experience of what a church can do.

The school runs a farm with the following agricultural enterprises: maize, vegetable,beef, poultry, piggery, and fruits enterprises. These enterprises provide the dietary needs of the schoolgirls. This initiative has helped to improve the welfare and healthof girls coming from vulnerable families and to access quality education at affordable rates. Originally built for 300 pupils, the school currently has a student population of 750 boarders. SLPC has helped to set up a computer laboratory, build a cattlepaddock and have worked to make the school self sufficient in food through a fish farm and the purchase of livestock
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To date many prominent women holding high positions in Zambian society are thefruits of Chipembi Girls' Secondary School. Notable among these are: JusticeFlorence Mumba, Dr Mutumba Bull, Gwendoline Koni, Lilly Monze and former deputy permanent secretary in the ministry of education Mrs Isabel Simukonda to mention but a few.

The project originated in South Leith Parish Church as a church activity but it is now an independent charity run from South Leith Church, but organisationallyindependent and going by the name of Projects@Chipembi.

The church reckons that the measure of independence, the evidence of a separate well functioning organisation, and its compliance with OSCR regulations will make companies andother organisations more willing to support and fund the project.

For example this is the sort of project that can seek funding from the Rotary Club which has a branch here and one in Zambia, thus ensuring that the work in Zambia is overseen by the sister club.