St. Thomas Community School was established to provide basic education to orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia. It caters for over 450 orphans and vulnerable children who are enrolled in grades one to seven. Most of these children come from disadvantaged families who are not able to afford basic education.
Many families have benefited from the community and educational services provided by the school since its inception in March 1996. However, the school has never had constant running water and has even experienced shutdowns after being unable to pay utility bills.
In addition to funding the purchase and installation of a 10,000-litre water tank through the SMEC Foundation, local SMEC teams provided technical support for works including borehole drilling, laying of pipes and cables, installing the tank and stand and mounting the electric control panel. The water reticulation system is now providing running water for the entire school, supporting a healthy and safe learning environment.
Zambia