The Literacy Club: Transforming Lives at Soloboni Community School

By Annabel Mumba
Annabel Mumba is AYC’s Donor Relations Coordinator in Zambia. She is a Scholarship Fund recipient, high school graduate and current college student, and also one of our Success Stories.

Co-written by Pamela O’Brien, African Education Program’s Development Director, who is mentoring Annabel as she pursues a journalism degree.

The community of Soloboni is one of the shanty compounds found in Kafue District. Life here is defined by “hustling”, where both young and old survive through market selling, domestic work, and manual jobs. For many, education is replaced by the daily grind to make ends meet and support their families. As a result, the majority of students at Soloboni Community School do not know how to read, write, or even identify letters of the alphabet.

The Soloboni Community School is 5 kilometers away from the Amos Youth Centre (AYC) which means these students are not able to access the academic support and after-school clubs and activities that the Learning & Leadership Center offers.

Children gather to listen to a story.

Children read to each other often.

Breaking the Cycle Through Literacy

To address the literacy needs of students like those at Soloboni Community School who are not able to physically access AYC’s programming, the Amos Youth Centre launched a literacy club and trained 30 facilitators in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) techniques to support children’s healthy development and learning. In April 2024, AYC launched Soloboni Community School’s first Literacy Club for 30 students in Grades 4 through 6.

Literacy Club sessions use songs, storytelling, and play to introduce letters, word sounds, and sentences. The approach is rooted in creativity and SEL, providing not just academic support but also emotional encouragement.

Remarkable Progress in Just Months

According to the school’s deputy headteacher, Ms. Angela M., the change is evident:

“When this program started, we had students who could not read, identify letters, or even form simple sentences. Today, out of the 30 students who joined, 20 can now identify letters and read basic sentences. The improvement has been overwhelming.”

Together, these boys are making great strides in literacy.

Building Literacy and Confidence

With funding from the First National Bank (FNB) Foundation, AYC expanded the Literacy Club to reach 70 students. Through the support of FNB, books and learning materials were purchased, enabling structured literacy sessions.

In September, AYC organized the first LitClub competition, where students showcased their progress through spelling and reading contests. The event was attended by Soloboni’s head teacher, symbolizing strong school-community collaboration.

Rhoda Musonda, one of AYC’s teachers who helped to lead the Literacy Club sessions explained why the program is special:

“The LitClub is not only about reading and writing, it also gives children social and emotional support. We focus on kindness, courage, curiosity, friendship, belonging, confidence, and hope. These strengths shape a child’s learning journey.”

The impact is already visible. Peter, a Grade 6 student who once struggled with spelling, can now confidently participate in class. Blessings, a shy Grade 5 student, has developed a sense of belonging and now works with friends instead of keeping to himself.

Kelvin Banda, an AYC teacher leading LitClub sessions, put it simply: “I want to see learners who are writers and leaders, thanks to this club.”

And Chanda Kashina, the Young Learners Coordinator, added: “The seven strengths will help children develop socially and emotionally—something often ignored in schools.”

A Vision for the Future

AYC’s outreach at Soloboni Community School demonstrates the power of combining literacy with emotional support. By bridging learning gaps and nurturing confidence, the Literacy Club is breaking cycles of illiteracy and opening new doors for students in Soloboni.

Amos Youth Centre’s Programs Director and Co-founder, Lumuno Mweemba, explained:

“We have always wanted to reach more kids. These outreaches expand our services to children who don’t have access to our programs or Learning & Leadership Center. Our goal is to supplement the efforts of schools, offering what community schools like Soloboni cannot fully provide.”

The vision is clear: an informed generation of children and youth who can read, write, and dream beyond survival.