About Sakeji School
Introduction
Sakeji School is a Christian primary boarding school situated near Ikelenge in a
small finger of land which lies between Angola and Congo, in the remote northern
tip of the North Western Province of Zambia. It is 70 kilometres north of
Mwinilunga and 600 kilometres (about eight hours drive) from Kitwe.
The school takes its name from the Sakeji River, a tributary of the Zambezi
River which is itself not far from the school on the Zambia-Congo watershed at an
altitude of approximately 1400 m. At this altitude the climate is pleasant, with
warm days and cool evening temperatures, especially during the dry season months
in June and July. The average annual rainfall is 1400 mm, almost all of which
falls between October and April.
The school site is very attractive, and overlooks the Sakeji River, which
provides both hydro-electric power for the school and a pleasant recreational
environment for the children. Despite its remote location Sakeji is able to
provide excellent boarding amenities and modern educational facilities. The school
is supplied with fresh meat and dairy products by Hillwood Farms, while fresh
fruit and vegetables are purchased regularly from local growers. Other foodstuffs
and supplies, which are readily available in Zambia today, are brought by truck
from the Copperbelt towns. By means of short wave radio, daily contact is
maintained with other mission stations and with mission support personnel in the
Copperbelt towns.
Sakeji can accommodate up to one hundred students, but presently there are fifty
four, representing some ten different nationalities. Almost all of these are
boarders between the ages of 6 and 13. The staff usually includes 14 missionary
teachers and care-givers from Europe, North America and Australasia, who minister
to the educational, spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the children. Other
support staff are employed locally by the school to assist with maintenance,
catering, laundry and other domestic duties.
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