Members of the Children’s Rights Club (CRC) at Mbabala Secondary School in Choma District, Southern Province, faced significant challenges related to inadequate learning space. The school is centrally located and attracts hundreds of learners from within and outside the community. As enrolment increased, the school was forced to conduct lessons in shifts, with some learners attending classes in the morning and others in the afternoon. This arrangement reduced the number of subjects learners could study each day and affected the quality of learning.

Through the Children’s Rights Club, learners gained knowledge about their rights and developed advocacy skills that enabled them to engage school authorities on issues affecting their education. Recognizing the need for additional classroom space, CRC members raised their concerns with school management and advocated for the construction of more classrooms.

The school administration, which values and promotes child participation, responded positively to the learners’ concerns. As a result, efforts were made to identify potential partners and well-wishers who could support the school’s infrastructure needs. These efforts were successful, and the construction of a 1 x 6 classroom block is now underway. Once completed, the new classrooms are expected to improve the learning environment and enhance the quality of education for learners.

The influence of the Children’s Rights Club extends beyond the school environment and into the wider community. Mbabala Secondary School is located near a facility that provides free Wi-Fi services 24 hours a day. While the service offered learners opportunities for research and learning, it also presented challenges, as some learners frequently absconded from classes to access the internet during school hours.

Concerned about the negative impact on school attendance and academic performance, CRC members, with support from the school administration, engaged the managers of the internet facility. They highlighted the effects of unrestricted Wi-Fi access on learner attendance and proposed making the service available after school hours. This was done, and as a result, Wi-Fi is now only accessible after learners have finished school for the day.

Reflecting on the initiative, Teddy Mweetwa, President of the Children’s Rights Club, explained:

“Many learners were spending time accessing the free Wi-Fi when they should have been in class. We felt it was important to find a solution that would help learners focus on their education while still benefiting from internet access after school.

The engagement demonstrated children’s ability to identify community challenges, propose practical solutions, and drive positive change. These achievements are clear evidence of the effectiveness of Children’s Rights Clubs in empowering learners to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their lives and contribute to improving both educational outcomes and community wellbeing.