Baal Dan built and supports a pre-school in Zambia
Learn more about EBZEF here
A Wonderful Start, A Need for More
“Free the child’s potential, and you will transform him into the world.” – Maria Montessori
When I started my charity "Baal Dan" (which means "Donation to Children" in Hindi) over 17 years ago, I did so with the mission of helping children in need as directly and as efficiently as possible, providing food, supplies, healthcare, and – especially – education.
From birth until the age of six, children's brains develop faster than at any other stage of their life. This is a critical and foundational window of time, as neglect in these early years can have a damaging ripple effect throughout life. Early and steady nutrition, socialization, and engagement can head off so many adult problems before they take hold.
In a far-flung NW corner of Zambia, there is a small pre-school that Baal Dan helped to fund the construction of a few years ago.
The school is supported by the Elizabeth Bowers Zambia Education Fund (EBZEF) whose mission is to empower women, children, and the greater community of Lumwana West, Zambia.
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” – Frederick Douglass
Donate
The project began as a single, one-room classroom with a set of outdoor latrines. It immediately made an impact on a proud and grateful community, pulling children off the ground for class and welcoming them into a happy space built through local efforts (handmade bricks) and furnished with chairs, shelves, and tables build by area craftsmen using sacred, local mukwa wood.
Since then, the site has since seen the added construction of a school garden (for student-sustained nutrition) and a playground.
Headmistress Ireen Sandu reports:
“We opened school with newly enrolled children ages 3-4 at 27 girls and 23 boys for a total of 50 learners. From ages 5-6 we had 37 girls and 27 boys for a total of 64. The total of children for 2023 is 114. We have also sent 52 learners to grade 1 class.”
A blessing, to be sure … but the work isn’t done. As more students arrive, the school has ever-growing needs. These include a steady supply of food, fostering the vegetable garden that provides extra nutrition, on-site teacher housing, and school supplies.
This is where we need your help, and where I marvel at the continued generosity you’ve shown throughout the years.
As you may know, the vision and mission of Baal Dan is based on a plea from Mother Teresa: "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."
Even the smallest blessing or kindness can ripple out to save a moment, a chance, a life … even a community. I’ve always thought of fundraising in the same way – I’m grateful for every dollar, every promise, every impulse you might have to give. Now is one of those chances to make a small difference that leads to big change.
Please support our work with a contribution today.
When I started my charity "Baal Dan" (which means "Donation to Children" in Hindi) over 17 years ago, I did so with the mission of helping children in need as directly and as efficiently as possible, providing food, supplies, healthcare, and – especially – education.
From birth until the age of six, children's brains develop faster than at any other stage of their life. This is a critical and foundational window of time, as neglect in these early years can have a damaging ripple effect throughout life. Early and steady nutrition, socialization, and engagement can head off so many adult problems before they take hold.
In a far-flung NW corner of Zambia, there is a small pre-school that Baal Dan helped to fund the construction of a few years ago.
The school is supported by the Elizabeth Bowers Zambia Education Fund (EBZEF) whose mission is to empower women, children, and the greater community of Lumwana West, Zambia.
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” – Frederick Douglass
Donate
The project began as a single, one-room classroom with a set of outdoor latrines. It immediately made an impact on a proud and grateful community, pulling children off the ground for class and welcoming them into a happy space built through local efforts (handmade bricks) and furnished with chairs, shelves, and tables build by area craftsmen using sacred, local mukwa wood.
Since then, the site has since seen the added construction of a school garden (for student-sustained nutrition) and a playground.
Headmistress Ireen Sandu reports:
“We opened school with newly enrolled children ages 3-4 at 27 girls and 23 boys for a total of 50 learners. From ages 5-6 we had 37 girls and 27 boys for a total of 64. The total of children for 2023 is 114. We have also sent 52 learners to grade 1 class.”
A blessing, to be sure … but the work isn’t done. As more students arrive, the school has ever-growing needs. These include a steady supply of food, fostering the vegetable garden that provides extra nutrition, on-site teacher housing, and school supplies.
This is where we need your help, and where I marvel at the continued generosity you’ve shown throughout the years.
As you may know, the vision and mission of Baal Dan is based on a plea from Mother Teresa: "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."
Even the smallest blessing or kindness can ripple out to save a moment, a chance, a life … even a community. I’ve always thought of fundraising in the same way – I’m grateful for every dollar, every promise, every impulse you might have to give. Now is one of those chances to make a small difference that leads to big change.
Please support our work with a contribution today.
|
|