PRISCILLA MWILA,    Lusaka
BUILD It International (BII), a non-governmental organisation, recently handed over two laboratories to Linda Open Community and Primary (LOCP) and a community school to Malcom settlement area in Chilanga district built at a cost of K2.5 million.
And BII has trained and graduated 40 youth from the district with Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) certificates in construction skills.
BII chief executive officer (CEO) Andrew Jowett said during the handover ceremony that his organisation is committed to improving the lives of vulnerable children and the youth in Zambia by imparting them with skills that will enable them to engage in income-generating activities.
“I am happy to be handing over these two projects to the Ministry of General Education. We decided to build the laboratories because we want the Grade Nine pupils to practise what they learn in theory.  We also want children to be in school instead of indulging in other activities hence the handing over of Chitukuko community school. We, in partnership with other stakeholders, have refurnished the laboratories and made them ready for use. I am also happy to see women graduating in what is known to be a male-dominated field,” he said.
Mr Jowett said both men and women should be given the same opportunities to thrive work as partners and not competitors.
He appealed to contractors to consider employing women in building projects stating that women have the ability to deliver required services.
Mr Jowett appealed to Government to consider deploying science teachers to LOCP to help pupils learn how to appropriately use the laboratories.
And Lusaka Province education officer Felix Ngoma commended BII for supplementing Government efforts in providing quality education to pupils in Zambia.
Mr Ngoma said Government will ensure that teachers are deployed to both schools in good time.