(Above) Mjr Heather Matondo spends time with a young student as she visits schools in Zambia and Zimbabwe that are supported by the Canada and Bermuda Tty’s Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship program 

“Every drop in the ocean counts.” This is a quote from a teacher at The Salvation Army Kawama Community School in Zambia, as she spoke about the support her school has received from the Canada and Bermuda Territory’s Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship program.

In October 2022, I had the privilege of visiting schools throughout Zambia and Zimbabwe and seeing first-hand the impact that this support is making.

I vividly recall the afternoon that we pulled into the school lot at Kawama. Even before I got out of the vehicle, I could hear the voices of young children singing together in unison. They were led by a young boy, who I could quickly see had the gift of leadership as he guided his fellow students through each song, directing them through melody and movement.

Each of the classes had worked hard to prepare a small program for our arrival. The youngest students recited a poem about the effects of COVID-19 and how to prevent it by simply washing your hands, while the older students presented beautiful songs. After the program had concluded, I had the opportunity to walk through the school grounds with the corps officer, who is also the school administrator. It was easy to see the struggles of the small school—not enough classrooms, not enough teachers, lack of school supplies—so many needs and never enough money to meet them. 

In Zimbabwe I had the opportunity to visit Cotton Research Primary School. Once again, the sound of young voices greeted my arrival, as the entire school had gathered outside under the trees. The children sang songs for us and told us about the impact of the Brighter Futures program at their school. One young girl said, “You have given us a blessing of education and empowered us to be the best in the world.”

As I walked through the school grounds, her words echoed through my mind. I loved how they had decorated their classrooms with such vibrant colours and artwork taped to the walls and hanging from the ceiling. However, beyond the colourful artwork I also saw broken windows and doors and cracked tables and chairs.

Despite the struggles at each of the schools, the teacher was right—every drop in the ocean counts. The support we provide through Brighter Futures is making a tremendous difference. My visits allowed me to meet children who are now able to attend school and have all the school supplies they need. I saw the flushable toilets that were recently repaired. I had the opportunity to physically hand over new desks to teachers. I saw the chickens that would provide ongoing income for a school. And I saw the students wearing new shoes. All funded through Brighter Futures.

At each school that I visited, I listened to the stories of children, teachers, parents and officers, all thankful for the support we give. All thankful for the difference it makes. Mockrails, a Grade 10 student at The Salvation Army’s Chikankata Secondary School in Zambia, summarized the support of Brighter Futures well when he said, “At a certain point we thought we would not be able to continue with our education and we were filled with so many emotions. But you saw it was important that there are some people in this world who are supposed to be helped and you came in and helped us. The time when we were stranded in our lives, you came and removed the stumbling block. The time when the doors were closed, you came and opened the doors for us.”

The impact of the Brighter Futures program on the lives of children and youth around the world is evident, and I witnessed just a small piece of a much bigger picture. Currently, Brighter Futures is supporting more than 8,100 children and youth in 26 countries. Collectively, our sponsors are working together so that children have access to education and are able to learn in a caring environment, equipping each and every one for a bright future.

To learn more about the Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship program or to become a monthly donor, please visit salvationist.ca/brighterfutures.

Major Heather Matondo is the sponsorship program manager in the international development department.