Zambia remains one of the least developed countries in Africa, with 54% of our population living on less than $1.90 a day. Our literacy rate stands at 55.3%, with illiteracy much more pronounced in females than males. The recent announcement of free education for grades 1 – 12 has since doubled the average teacher-to-pupil ratio from 1:42 to 1:84.

The high school Mwenya went to had a teacher-to-pupil ratio of 1:48. Apart from the sciences, it was difficult to grasp concepts from non-practical subjects in class. In her final year of high school, she created interactive visual aids in Geography and Chemistry for effective learning. It encouraged community participation among her peers and has remained the blueprint of the initiative while integrating new methods.

“There is a missing element to the overall learning curriculum approach – the concept of focusing on the academic brilliance of a person while ignoring other characteristics that will help with an individual’s personality development is something that needs revisiting and improvisation at entirely every level of study.” – Mwenya Mwamba

The Paideia Project addresses challenges like the teacher-to-pupil ratio by establishing the Paideia club that focuses on a holistic approach to education in a community school. The club mirrors the work of the initiative, a hub where young people’s ideas, solutions, and stories change the world.