Many families in Zambia cannot afford kindergarten. Community mothers have established “Weekend Kindergarten” to provide educational opportunities for these children. | Photo provided by Tzu Chi Foundation | 2024

In January 2024, a group of determined mothers in Zambia, a landlocked country in south-central Africa, took matters into their own hands and established "Weekend Kindergarten" in their neighborhood. Their goal, to provide learning opportunities for children whose parents cannot afford to send them to regular school.

In an open-air classroom, a mother uses large poster paper to teach the children, providing them the opportunity to enter the halls of knowledge. | Photo provided by Tzu Chi Foundation | 2024


Even the underprivileged can learn astronomy and geography


Under the shade of a towering tree, teachers sit on the ground, spreading poster paper out on their laps to teach the eager children around them how to read. Amidst this unconventional classroom setup, they also impart knowledge about the universe, explaining how there are eight planets orbiting the sun. Despite lacking traditional classrooms and fixed teachers, the community of mothers, unwilling to accept the limitations of poverty, takes turns as educators, personally guiding local children to literacy and a broader understanding of the world.

Weekend Kindergarten also engages children in games, teaching them valuable social skills through play. | Photo provided by Tzu Chi Foundation | 2024

A spark of hope ignited from feeding stations


In March 2023, local Tzu Chi volunteer called on women in the community to generously donate maize flour (a local dietary staple). This act gradually led to the establishment of 69 feeding stations, ensuring no children in the community went hungry. This year, taking a step further, the "Weekend Kindergarten" was launched in Lusaka Province, located in central Zambia. Community mothers called on children of all ages from the area to come and learn. They utilize any available space, be it alleyways or vacant lots. Presently, 42 children are enrolled, learning alongside their peers under the guidance of mothers in the community, teaching them literacy, games, Jing Si Aphorisms, and fostering teamwork through social interaction.

Mothers in the community utilize discarded maize bags from feeding stations and scraps of fabric at home, using nails as needles to sew foot mats. Proceeds from sales go towards replenishing food supplies for the feeding stations. | Photo provided by Tzu Chi Foundation | 2024

Stitching foot mats to fund meals

To finance their efforts, community mothers, under the leadership of volunteer Olivia, repurpose maize bags and household fabrics to craft vibrant foot mats. These are sold for 80 ZMW each (approx. 3.18 USD), serving as vital funds for the feeding stations. Through this grassroots initiative, the "Weekend Kindergarten" endeavors to sustain its mission of education and nourishment for the community's children.