First Lady’s Office donates items to Bunda Bunda School

The Office of the First Lady donated a wheelchair to 15-year-old girl Grace Kaluwani, a Grade 6 student of Bundabinda Primary School in Musebo village in Chongwe District who had been having difficulty riding a wooden tricycle to school.
This comes after a concerned citizen, Emmanuel Mubita, who lives in the same area, called on the First Lady, Mutinta Hichilema, to assist Ms. Kaluwani in using a wheelchair as she was having difficulty going to school.

The Office of the First Lady, in partnership with the Merck Foundation, also donated various items such as 6,000 exercise books, stationery, 1,700 school bags and 3,334 story books to the school. The First Lady’s Technical Adviser, Shelly Tayali, who represented Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema, said the donations are expected to help students in schools who do not have access to necessary learning materials.

Ms. Tayali said it was important for every child to receive education as it was one of the best ways to improve their lives and secure their future. She implored parents in the area to take advantage of the free education policy implemented by the government and enroll their children in school.

“We believe that education is the great equalizer and no one should be left behind,” said Ms. Tayali. Ms. Tayali also called on community members in the area to work with the Office of the First Lady to curb child marriage. She encouraged the staff of Budabuda Primary School to select one day in the school calendar each semester to be dedicated to advocating for an end to child marriage.

Ms. Tayali further thanked Mr. Mubita for calling on the First Lady to help Grace Kalwani, adding that the move showed his compassion for the child.

Meanwhile, Chongwe District Education Committee Secretary Joseph Chanda expressed gratitude to the First Lady’s office for the donation.
Mr Chanda said the materials donated to the students will greatly improve the performance of students in the school.
He assured officials from the First Lady’s office that the donated items would be used for their intended purpose.

Grace Kaluwani received a new wheelchair and expressed her gratitude to Mrs Hichilema for reaching out.
Ms. Kaluwani said that for some time, it had been difficult for her to ride her wooden tricycle to school.

“I want to thank the First Lady, Mutinta Hichilema, for finding me a wheelchair which was much needed because it was very difficult for me to go to school on my old tricycle,” said Ms. Kaluwani.