Events industry charity Meetings Industry Meeting Needs (MIMN) is to fund secondary education for 65 youngsters in Kitwe, North Zambia.

Working with specialist charity Cecily’s Fund, MIMN will pay for half the school fees and other costs such as uniforms and shoes with a donation of £4718 through a bursary scheme. Kitwe is area particularly hard hit by the HIV crisis with 20 per cent of the population infected, compared to 14 per cent nationally

Cecily’s Fund aims to improve life prospects for Zambian orphans and vulnerable children, empowering them to lead self-reliant, healthy and fulfilling lives. This is done by ensuring that these children have access to education and gain knowledge, life skills and HIV information.  Director Molly Brech said: “Many of the orphans we support are double orphans having lost both parents often to AIDs-related illness and are therefore left in the care of elderly grandparents or older siblings. These carers find it very hard to make ends meet, let alone pay for the costs of going to school. The Zambia Government struggles to fund vital services, including those tackling HIV and the care of orphans with only 16 per cent of orphans receiving any form of external support.  This support will make a lifetime’s difference to 65 orphans, providing educational opportunities which have a long term impact in the fight against HIV and poverty.”

MIMN executive committee member David Hackett said: “Providing education is the sustainable way to make a difference to these youngsters’ lives and Cecily’s Fund is an organisation we are delighted to help achieve this.”