The Reformed Open Community Schools

02/06/2026

At Reformed Open Community Schools (ROCS), we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Ngoni Royal Establishment and the bereaved family following the passing of His Royal Highness Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV.

We join the nation in mourning the loss of a respected traditional leader whose unwavering dedication to preserving cultural heritage, promoting unity, and serving his people will be remembered for generations to come.

During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with the family, the people of Eastern Province, the Ngoni speaking people, and all those whose lives were touched by his leadership. May we all find strength, comfort, and peace as we mourn this great loss.

May the soul of His Royal Highness Chief Mpezeni IV rest in eternal peace.

MHSRIP

01/06/2026

Strengthening Community Voices for Malaria Elimination
Reformed Open Community Schools (ROCS), through the Towards Malaria Elimination (TME) Project supported by CHAZ, has successfully concluded a series of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with Community Change Agents across the five target districts of Mongu, Nalolo, Senanga, Sioma, and Shangombo in Western Province.
Conducted as part of ongoing support and learning efforts, the discussions provided a valuable platform for Community Change Agents to share their experiences, successes, challenges, and insights in promoting positive malaria prevention and treatment-seeking behaviours within their communities. The engagements also created an opportunity to reflect on progress made, capture lessons learned and identify practical recommendations for strengthening community-led malaria interventions.
As trusted champions of change, Community Change Agents play a vital role in raising awareness, influencing positive health behaviours, and empowering communities to take ownership of malaria prevention and control efforts.
Together, we continue to strengthen community action and accelerate progress towards a malaria-free Zambia.

28/05/2026

This week, the Executive Director, Mr. Marlon Phiri, Programs Manager Mr. Mubu Kalaluka, and the ROCS team are conducting courtesy visits to key district stakeholders in Lumezi District as part of the close-out activities for the Safe Water Project Supported by CO2 Balance.

The ongoing engagements are aimed at appreciating the strong partnership, collaboration, and unwavering support provided by district stakeholders throughout the implementation of the project. The success and impact of the Safe water Project would not have been possible without the collective efforts of local authorities, community leaders, cooperating partners, and other stakeholders.

During the visits, the team continues to share the project’s achievements, lessons learned, and the lasting impact made in improving access to safe and clean water, sanitation services, hygiene practices, and overall community well-being in Lumezi District. The engagements also seek to strengthen sustainability efforts by encouraging continued stakeholder ownership, collaboration, and commitment toward maintaining and building on the gains achieved through the project.

These engagements further provide an opportunity to strengthen relationships and reaffirm the importance of continued collaboration in advancing sustainable community development initiatives.

We remain sincerely grateful to all stakeholders for their dedication, support, and active participation throughout the life of the project. Together, we continue to make a meaningful and lasting impact in the communities we serve.

27/05/2026

The ROCS team, under the BECOME Project, continues to engage mothers and pregnant women in Chipangali District, Eastern Province, through ongoing sessions focused on early childhood stimulation from pregnancy to 3 years.
These interactive sessions are equipping mothers with practical knowledge on how early positive experiences shape a child’s cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and language development during the most critical stages of growth.
A key highlight has been hands-on learning, where mothers are creatively using simple, locally available materials to make safe and stimulating play items for their children. This continues to demonstrate that meaningful early learning does not depend on expensive resources, but on creativity, care, and intention.
Through these ongoing community engagements, we are strengthening the foundations for lifelong learning and healthy child development.

16/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Uen7Hk8dC/

Don’t let the dry leaves fool you – this is a successful harvest. 🌾

While the maize in the background looks weathered, it’s exactly where it needs to be. For Chazga, these cobs represent a massive victory over a difficult season.

Through our local partner, ROCS, Chazga learned “climate-smart” techniques like using a ripper instead of a traditional plough. This low-till method keeps moisture in the ground, allowing his crops to thrive even when the rain is scarce.

Now, Chazga’s field is a “demonstration plot”, where he’s teaching five other farmers how to be climate resilience.

This is how change starts – when it is led by, and done in partnership with local communities.

God’s work of restoration is unfolding right here, and you can be a part of it.

15/05/2026

This week, our team in conjunction with the Federer Foundation travelled to Sinda and Nyimba Districts in Eastern Province for a learning visit. While in the two districts, they visited Siyvwa and Mfumbize Community Schools.

The visit formed part of the onboarding experience for the new Country Director, Charlene Bangwe, who was accompanied by her Malawian counterpart and former Regional Coordinator for Zambia and Malawi, Martha Khonje.

The team also made a courtesy call to the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Provincial Education Officer (PEO), and District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) in Sinda. During the engagement, the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Dr. Lewis Mwape, highlighted Government’s strong commitment to transforming the education sector and expanding equitable access to quality learning for all children. He emphasized key priorities including the continued rollout of free education, strengthened access to bursary support, investment in rural education infrastructure, increased deployment of teachers to underserved communities, and the effective use of Constituency Development Funds (CDF) to expand and improve safe and inclusive learning spaces. He further underscored that these efforts are aimed at ensuring every child, regardless of background or location, has the opportunity to learn in a supportive and well-resourced environment.

It was encouraging to witness the remarkable progress the community has made through the SRI project, especially the growing number of parents willing to enrol their children in school.

The feedback from the Federer Foundation was very positive, as they were impressed to gain firsthand insights into the impactful work taking place on the ground and the commitment shown by the community towards education and development.

Together, we continue working towards creating better learning opportunities for every child.

15/05/2026

08/05/2026

Yesterday, the WANU Project team spent time with farmers in the community, celebrating the positive impact of climate-smart agriculture practices on household livelihoods.

One inspiring story came from Bester, a hardworking and resilient farmer whose commitment to early land preparation and timely planting led to a successful harvest this season.

With joy and gratitude, Bester shared that the harvest will help sustain her family with food until the next farming season a powerful reminder that climate-smart agriculture is not just improving yields but also strengthening resilience and hope within communities.

Through the WANU Project, ROCS remains committed to supporting vulnerable households with sustainable farming practices that promote food security, self-reliance, and long-term community resilience.

06/05/2026

How do you lower malnutrition in a community for the long haul? 🍎 For this community, it starts with leaders like Grace.

Trained by our local partner, ROCS, Grace is a nutrition promoter, sharing vital lessons on health, hygiene and nutrition.

Here, she’s demonstrating a traditional way to preserve food – wrapping it in leaves to keep it safe and nutrient-dense all year round.

Since the project started in 2018, Grace has seen the “cycle of poverty” begin to break. She’s seen malnutrition drop and children grow up healthier and strong.

This is how change starts – when it is led by, and done in partnership with local communities.

God’s work of restoration is unfolding right here, and you can be a part of it.

01/05/2026

https://youtu.be/PCVR6kVO6Bc

Labour Day Message | Executive Director, Reformed Open Community Schools (ROCS)