The Development of PIZZ School

It has been a great joy to have seen the school develop from a single classroom in 2005 to a school of 575 children, from pre-school to grade 9. I have been visiting almost every year, my last visit being in March 2023. Mrs. Sianga the founder and manager of the school has created an amazing project. What is critical is the fantastic care that the children and their families receive. If children do not attend school, someone will visit the families to discover the reason. These children come from families that often cannot provide enough food and where they have to cope with many extremely difficult issues. Sometimes the family need a bit of extra support for the children to be able to return to school. As a result most children continue with their education. In government schools the children would invariably stop attending and never complete their education.

Why PIZZ School is so special

Children often come to school very traumatised, timid and unsmiling. After a year or two at PIZZ School they are transformed. Normal, happy, healthy, cheeky, but very respectful girls and boys. It is a joy to see them develop.

The school provides free meals because many of the children will arrive at school without having had any food and the bowl of nshima (maize meal) at school is often their main meal of the day. You cannot concentrate on lessons when you are hungry!

The academic standard at the school is truly amazing. The school outperforms almost all other schools in the area. Mawiini is now a veterinary surgeon, Maxwell is a teacher, Bornface is a musician, other past students are now nurses and others have jobs locally. Very many have obtained their grade 12 certificates – equivalent to GCSE/A level. Without PIZZ school most of the orphaned and vulnerable children would have had no education and some would undoubtedly have become street children, with all the dangers found there.

The Future with you on board

I am determined to ensure that the project continues and that the orphaned and vulnerable children of Monze continue to have the opportunity to fulfil their dreams. I intend to establish a UK charity to obtain long term funding, but in the meantime we need to raise at least £10,000 – £15,000 to ensure that teachers are paid, the children are fed and other essential costs are met.

All the money raised will be passed on to the local charity account in Monze “Maluba Orphans and Vulnerable Children” to fund the school.

I am in regular contact with Mrs Sianga. I will probably return before the end of the year. I am happy to answer any questions.

Thank You

Thank you for being part of this wonderful project and tranforming lives!

Chris Barrell