History

The Jerome Fleischer school began about 21years ago. When Fay Yalenga noticed a growing number of kids on the streets picking food from garbage heaps, begging for money and just loitering. Her office was at Zecco near George, Lilanda and Matero compounds, some of the most populous compounds of Lusaka. She began interviewing some of the kids she came across and was horrified to learn that some of those kids who were as young as 8 were taking care of their younger siblings because they had lost their parents. They had to find food and money to survive in an adult world. Almost all of them were not in school. She was drawn to help feed the hungry children, share the love of God from the Bible and told the kids to meet her the next day. Fay expected about 15-20 kids to come and prepared food for about 25 kids. A crowd of 374 kids showed up. Fay contacted her husband Alex and asked him to find more food for that day. The Lord provided and the kids kept coming each and every day. Some had to be turned back, and Fay had to find some volunteer teachers to begin teaching these young and excited brains. The Jerome Fleischer school was then born, and we had to reorganize. Trained and certified teachers replaced the volunteers, class sizes were reduced to maximum 30 kids per class and through divine help we have been able to buy our own land in these neighborhoods and have since built two campuses taking care of over 400 children from 1st grade to 12 grades. The Jerome Fleischer school is among the top 5 schools in academics in Lilanda Matero zone consisting of over 58 private, government and community schools. In sports our school has been among the top three. We have started producing nurses, soldiers, electricians, mechanics, plumbers and others from the children we started off with.

African schools face numerous challenges,

including extreme poverty, inequitable access to education, poor learning outcomes, inadequate resources, and teacher shortages. Moreover, the lack of infrastructure, outdated curricula, and insufficient teacher training hinder educational quality. Many children, particularly in rural areas, lack access to schooling due to distance, poverty, and sometimes conflict. Schools often lack basic infrastructure, textbooks, and teaching materials, impacting the learning environment. There many schools still meeting under trees or in mud and thatch buildings. Many classrooms are overcrowded and led by undertrained teachers. Most African children do not have food at school unless they carry some lunch from their homes. Orphaned children face additional barriers to accessing quality education in Africa. The African orphan faces additional and numerous disadvantages compared to the other African children. They have difficulty accessing education, food, healthcare and often suffer exploitation and psycological distress. Being an orphan in Africa presents numerous disadvantages, including vulnerability to exploitation, limited access to education and healthcare, and psychological distress. Orphans are faced with economic hardship (with no help from governments) child labor, human trafficking, and sexual abuse due to the absence of parental protection. To be an orphan in Africa is sometimes like a death sentence.

The school

The Jerome Fleischer school is a school under the Ministry of the Zambia Messianic Fellowship providing education to the most marginalized children of Africa, the orphans. It is a place where orphans find hope, transformation, growth, food, school, love and both biblical and secular education. It is a place where young lives affected by tragedy and disease find wholeness and comfort. It a place where the abandoned find love and acceptance. The school used to meet in an old garage before moving on to the new location. And today the Jerome Fleischer school is made up of two campuses and has children from grade 1 to grade 12. The school is non-profit, and all services rendered to the children are free. This keeps them in a safe, supportive environment in the day…no matter what the difficulties they face each night. A Place of Hope and Transformation The Jerome Fleischer School is more than just a school—it is a sanctuary where orphans find hope, transformation, growth, nourishment, education, love, and biblical teachings. It is a refuge for young lives impacted by tragedy and disease, offering them wholeness and comfort. For those abandoned and forgotten, it provides love and acceptance. What began in a small garage has now grown into a fully established school, operating as a non-profit institution. Every service provided to the children—from education to daily care—is completely free, ensuring they remain in a safe and supportive environment during the day, no matter the hardships they face at night. You Can Make a Difference The best way to support these children is by becoming a sponsor through our “Sponsor a Child Program.” Your sponsorship of just $45 per month helps provide food, education, and care. Sponsorship also includes keeping a child in prayer and corresponding with them, helping them feel seen and valued. To contribute to this mission, please write in your memo: ZMF: Day School.

The Reality in Zambia

• Over 50% of Zambian children suffer from malnutrition and lack access to clean water.
• 52 million orphans live across Africa, with 2.5 million in Zambia alone.
• Zambia has one of the highest orphan populations in Africa, second only to Zimbabwe.
• Between 64–69% of Zambians survive on less than $1.25 per day.
• The number of orphans in Lusaka Province and Copperbelt Province is alarmingly high.
• Over 4,600 households in Zambia are headed by children between the ages of 12–17.
• Many orphaned girls are forced into early marriages, while boys often become child laborers to survive.

Be the Hope They Need

Your support can change a life—partner with us today by donating, volunteering, or becoming a sponsor. Together, we can bring hope and a future to Zambia’s most vulnerable children.

Sponsorship:

• 1st Grade to 7th grade -$35 monthly.
• 8th grade to 12th Grade-$45 monthly.