Despite the Zambian government’s free education policy from primary to secondary levels, access to quality education in the Southern Province particularly in the Mazabuka area remains a significant challenge. While the policy has led to increased enrollment, deep-rooted barriers such as poor infrastructure, long distances to school, and a shortage of qualified teachers continue to limit learning opportunities. For adolescent girls, the daily walk to school exposes them to safety risks, contributes to absenteeism, and often results in dropping out altogether. Most private schools have been established to address these challenges; however, they too have struggled with similar constraints, including deteriorating infrastructure and a lack of hostel facilities, which compound the very issues they aim to resolve.
One such example is James Corboy School, run by the Religious Sisters of the Holy Spirit (RSHS). As demand for education among girls grew and enrollment began to rise, the need for boarding facilities became increasingly urgent. However, with limited external funding and no proper infrastructure in place, the congregation faced a difficult impasse. “We had the land and students were coming in, but we had no hostel,” one Sister recalled. “The risk of girls dropping out was becoming increasingly real.”
In 2024, three Sisters from the Religious Sisters of the Holy Spirit (RSHS) joined the Social Enterprise Programme (SEP) Scale under the Sisters Blended Value Project (SBVP) a collaborative initiative implemented by Strathmore Business School in partnership with ACWECA and supported by Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. Through a combination of leadership training, coaching, and peer learning, the program equipped the Sisters with the skills and confidence to reimagine their approach to sustainable impact.
Their coach, Dr. Nancy Njiraini, encouraged them to shift perspective: “Start with what you have,” she advised. That simple guidance sparked a breakthrough. The Sisters decided to repurpose two unused classrooms into temporary dormitories. “That coaching moment was a turning point,” they recalled. “We stopped waiting and started building with what was in our hands.”
The impact was swift and measurable. Providing a safe, albeit temporary, boarding option significantly improved student retention. Girls who once missed classes due to long commutes and safety concerns began attending regularly. Absenteeism declined sharply, and academic performance steadily improved. To support the growing student body, the Sisters hired a full-time matron to oversee student welfare, added seven support staff, and expanded the teaching staff to 18. Encouraged by this progress, the congregation has begun constructing a permanent hostel designed to accommodate up to 900 students. Throughout the process, the Sisters have applied practical skills gained from the SBVP using structured planning, financial management, and strategic fundraising to guide the expansion.
“SBVP didn’t just give us tools it gave us a new mindset,” reflected one participant. “We began to see our school as a social enterprise, not just a mission.” This shift captures the essence of the SBVP, which equips Catholic Sisters with entrepreneurial skills to grow their ministries while remaining true to their spiritual charism. By integrating mission with effective management practices, the program helps congregations become more self-sufficient in the face of declining donor support and increasing social demands.
The Religious Sisters of the Holy Spirit, based in Zambia, have long been dedicated to education and pastoral care. At James Corboy School, they are showing that sustainable, community-driven solutions can tackle even the most persistent educational challenges. With ongoing mentorship and support, they are creating a model that champions dignity, learning, and social change. “We’re not just building a dormitory,” the sisters affirm. “We’re building the future of this nation.”
Article by Alex Okoth
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Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation foresees a world in which improving the human condition is a shared and sustainable goal. “Love one another, for that is the whole law,” Conrad Hilton wrote in his will. The peoples of the world “deserve to be loved and encouraged—never to be abandoned to wander alone in poverty and darkness.” That is our resolve.
