From a tree to a thriving school: Lasting change led by a community

August 28, 2024

Excited children in senior primary school arrive at their new school, which once stood beneath a tree. The school received its first Form One high school students in February 2025

Yapite sits on the edge of a National Park—a Game Management Area (GMA)—where humans and wild animals co-exist. This presents a serious danger to children, with daily threats from elephants and other wildlife. The human-animal conflict in the area means that even something as basic as walking to school can become life-threatening.

Then comes the rainy season. Storms become more intense, flooding is frequent, and roads often wash away—making travel to school nearly impossible.

To make matters even harder, the nearest school is 8 to 9 kilometers away—a difficult journey for anyone, let alone a child under 10.

The Evolution of Chimutengo School

Determined to change the situation, the Yapite community took matters into their own hands. In May 2015, they organized a small local preschool. This allowed children to learn close to home, without facing long walks or dangerous paths.

Misozi, just 20 years old at the time, stepped up as the volunteer teacher. Twenty children began their learning journey inside her mother’s kitchen—which doubled as a classroom. But the class quickly grew. When the kitchen could no longer hold them, Misozi moved the classroom outdoors—under a tree.

Despite the rough conditions, the children thrived. They learned, laughed, and played traditional games like Chiyenga using handmade mud toys. The school had no roof or walls, but it had something even stronger: heart.

“When I completed secondary school, I returned home to Yapite, where I had to leave years ago because we had no pre-school, primary, or secondary school. I started teaching a few children in my mother’s kitchen just to pass the time while waiting for my results,” Misozi recalls. “But the numbers kept growing, and soon the kitchen was too small. I found a big tree in the bush, cleared the space, and that became our first classroom. That’s how it all began.”

From Tree Classroom to Chimutengo School

In January 2016, the Luangwa Child Development Agency (LDCA), ChildFund, and UNICEF visited the outdoor school. Soon after, they held several community meetings, and planning for a proper school building began.

In May 2016, the community hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a self-contained preschool complete with running water and showers. The school was renamed Chimutengo—meaning “tree” in the local language—to honor its humble beginnings under the tree.

Support poured in. ChildFund and its Alliance partners from around the world donated learning materials. Misozi received a three-year scholarship to train as a certified teacher at Chongwe College of Education. In September 2017, construction began on an additional classroom block to accommodate the growing number of students.

By 2018, four teachers had joined the staff through support from the Ministry of Education. Chimutengo School was now home to 106 students, from preschool up to third grade.

Education Can’t Wait: A Motto in Action

As the school continued to grow, so did its facilities. New classrooms were built for Home Economics, Science, a Computer Lab, and an expanded library. The LDCA coined a fitting motto for the school: “Education Can’t Wait.”

By January 2024, 11 teachers were deployed to Chimutengo by the government, and 440 students were enrolled. The need to walk miles along dangerous paths was no longer a reality—for teachers or students.

In 2025, Chimutengo ranked among the top three schools in the Luangwa District and broke into the top 10 at provincial level. A landmark moment came in February 2025, when the school welcomed its first cohort of Form One students—officially becoming a secondary school.

Learning at Chimutengo is now a happy time for the preschool children

“We have our first Form One students this year, thanks to the teachers deployed by the government,” said School Head Raedness Makayi. “But this would not have been possible without ChildFund’s intervention in building teachers’ houses. The school is still growing, and we expect enrollment to keep increasing.”

The Power of Community

From a one-teacher, open-air class under a tree to a junior secondary school with 440 students, Chimutengo’s journey is a testament to what’s possible when communities come together with vision and determination.

The local chief, who granted land for the school, shared his pride:“It’s incredible to think this was once just a bush with a tree serving as a classroom. We are deeply grateful to ChildFund and all the partners. Thanks to them, the future of our children—and our community—is brighter than ever,” said Chief Mphuka.

12 year old Francis (brown Jersey and his friend are now able to walk to Chimutengo school safely, distance is no longer a barrier.

Twelve-year-old Francis, now in school and pictured proudly in his brown jersey, no longer has to walk miles each day to access education. With a proper school and safe pathways, learning is now a happy, daily reality.

A roof. A classroom. A future.

For the children of Yapite, education is no longer a distant dream. With the support of LDCA, ChildFund, the government, and—most of all—the community, Chimutengo stands tall as a symbol of hope, resilience, and transformation.