Our Project
School leadership selected twenty (20) young women, entering Grade 10, as the first recipients of the Lauder Family Foundation scholarships. Screening criteria included need, academic capability, leadership qualities and a demonstrated interest in giving back whether to their families or their communities.
These young women are remarkable:
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>80% are orphans, live with a single parent or their grandparents
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>90% have multiple siblings
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100% of their parents have no formal employment, eking out a living as gardeners, cleaners, day labourers or selling produce
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100% have known significant deprivation and experienced loss
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100% have known loneliness and all want to make friends
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100% get pleasure from the arts, particularly singing and music, or from sports such as netball
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100% aspire to a better future. Some articulate that as making a positive impact on their community and helping their family. Others also have professional aspirations to become doctors, nurses, midwives, teachers or members of the security forces
About Zambia
The Republic of Zambia, a beautiful landlocked country with three great natural lakes, shares its borders with eight countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mocambique, Malawi and Tanzania.
A peaceful democracy, its predominantly Christian population of more than 21 million people face multiple challenges including high rates of unemployment, lack of access to clean water and sanitation, and a high risk of teen pregnancy.
Girls are particularly vulnerable. With 70 percent of the population living at or below the Poverty Data Line (2021 World Bank), even though education is provided free to all Zambian children, requirements for parents or family to provide uniforms, books and stationery often mean that girls stay home and marry young.
Why Lifesong?
We chose to partner with Lifesong for Orphans given their track record in developing private schools with stellar academic results, their commitment to engaging and supporting the community, and their sustainable approach. The leadership team is committed to developing a number of stand alone businesses that both provide internship opportunities for school leavers and also profit that funds the academic enterprise. One hundred percent of every dollar we give to Lifesong is used to pay for school books and supplies, two meals for each student every day, wages for teachers and staff, medical care and operating expenses.
The Lauder Family Foundation does not endorse any specific religion or creed. While Lifesong for Orphans is a Christian organization, they base their education approach on sound academic principles and universally relevant values.
About our partner: Lifesong
Lifesong for Orphans is dedicated to helping vulnerable children break out of the cycle of poverty by providing education, daily feeding programs, health care and where needed to keep girls safe, housing.
Seven schools and 300+ teachers and staff are currently serving more than 1,750 children in the Ndola district: Chipata (770 Pre-K to Grade 12); Garneton (465 Pre-K to Grade 12); Kawama (250 Pre-K to Grade 7); Race-Course (75 Pre-K to Grade 7); Kamiseshi (250 Pre-K to Grade 7); Mulyata (100 Pre-K to Grade 7). Lifesong Unity High School with boarding facilities, is in the process of being built, with the first cohort of students expected in 2026. In addition, Lifesong offers a gap year-program to help transition students who have finished high school, preparing them for university, college or vocational training. The Harmony Vocation Training Centre provides 132 students with a safe, structured environment to learn practical life skills.
With the support of dedicated staff, students have demonstrated outstanding performance – in the two national exams (Grades 9 and 12), Lifesong students achieved an 100 percent pass rate, well above the national 71.19% and 55.89% averages (2024).