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DIVERSE ACADEMIC CHALLENGES |
Many former street and vulnerable children are age-inappropriate for their grade, and exhibit emotional and
behavioral problems that impede their learning ability. The lack of earlier educational stimulation, along with substance abuse and the like, further complicate their learning process. Our challenge is to find a caring educational environment and a supportive curriculum that will help these children learn and become productive members of society.
The younger the children are, and the shorter their time on the street, when they are brought into our LifeNet facility, the more likely they are to be reintegrated into the mainstream education system. Older children who have missed years of early and intermediate childhood education are more acutely at risk, yet they often
realize that they need an education but no longer fit into the regular school system. This dilemma causes some to perpetuate their destructive street lifestyle. LifeNet Children's Rescue Mission, with friends at home and abroad, has in the past carried out some special school programs to meet the needs of the boys who had missed their basic education foundation at the time they were brought into the LifeNet facility.
Activity Summary
LifeNet Children's Rescue Mission has in the past few years rescued street children from the streets of the city of Lusaka and other places in Zambia. At the time of rescue these children, aged 14-16, seemed to have reached an unredeemable stage. They could neither write nor read at the time. An accelerated education program was put in place by LifeNet Children's Rescue Mission, after assessing the needs of each child. Just after a year or so, the same children qualified to go to one of Zambia's higher institutions of learning, Lusaka Trades Institute, where we enrolled them into specific skills training programs. The performance of some of these boys has been very impressive. At their graduation, an award for best academic performance went to one of our LifeNet boys.
These children, and some of them are now young men, are the treasures /resources which were almost wasted. During their stay in our LifeNet Facility they have learnt many other skills including chicken rearing which they have been taught through our fundraising venture. Some of our LifeNet young men are already in employment in the community.
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