05/10/2016
TRIUMPH OVER BLOCKADES
Our Rainbow House is a non-governmental organization which is found in Chainda. It seeks to educate orphans and vulnerable children. The project is originated by Alison Ray from Australia and is supervised by Mrs. Katoba Mushala.
Currently there are 50 students in the school and it cannot go more than that because the space provided by the Lusaka City Council is limited.
“When enrolments began, we had a criterion that would help vulnerable children and orphans, this included enrolling children who had a major setback in life or never dreamed of an opportunity of going to school.” Said Mrs. Katoba
She added that when an opportunity came to enroll more children into the school they happened to stumble across this household that had children who were not going to school because of their mentally handicapped mother.”
“Our Rainbow House success story begins with a boy named Blessings Chishimba Chileshe who is 14 years old and lives with his grandmother in Chainda Compound.” She says with a smile
He began school in 2010 at Shine Zambia and at the time he used to stay in Mtendere with his mother and step-father.
“My mother remarried and had two other children with my step-father, unfortunately my step-father died and that left my mother depressed leading to her being mentally handicapped.” says Blessings.
He explained that he eventually stopped going to school because the distance was far from where he used to stay so he decided to nurse his mother as well as take care of his. younger siblings
“The distance was quite far for me and I could not cope with it due to the fact that I needed transport money to get myself there, I had chores to do as well as take care of my mother.” Says Blessings
He further explains that he wishes he could meet his biological father because he has never seen him and has tried inquiring about him or his whereabouts from his family members
“I have asked my relatives to help me know something about my father, all they just told me was that he ran mad back in village, in Kaputa and his whereabouts are unknown” adds Blessings
Despite the fact that he is still eager to meet his father and the challenges he faced in having a school he could go to, he is determined to do very well in his upcoming grade seven examinations and to further his education. He aspires to be a pilot
“I want to study aviation because I am motivated by the youngest male pilot Kalenga Kamwendo and I would very much love to meet him” concludes Blessings
For more interesting stories, buy Paper Yabafana
