Twin Palm Community School

A church-led initiative bridging educational gaps

Raised by a single mom, Matthews learned the value of education at an early age.  Despite being on her own, she made sure that each and every one of her children finished high school.  When Matthews grew up and became a pastor of a Baptist Church in Ng’ombe Compound, he realized that not everyone had been blessed with that same privilege of education.  In fact, he was the only one in the entire congregation who had finished school. 
 
When he recognized these significant educational gaps, he felt compelled to help.  He wanted to encourage and empower the church beyond Sunday mornings.  So he set up Twin Palm Community School for the children of the church and started adult literacy classes for his members. 
 
He notes that at the beginning, they were very unorganized.  They had no materials, no knowledge of the local curriculum, and no training to guide them. 
 
“I had the desire, but didn’t have the knowledge.  And it just wasn’t working out,” Matthews says.
 
Eventually, they stopped the adult literacy classes because they weren’t making an impact, but they continued to give the children the best they had to offer. 
 
Fast forward 20 years later and the partnership with Impact One is changing everything.  Having joined our program in January 2022, they are one of 12 community schools learning together in the Chikondano Network. The news is spreading throughout the community that positive things are happening here as a result of our training and mentoring.  Teachers are delivering quality lessons, creating locally made resources, and encouraging daily reading time - all of which is leading to more and more children being able to read. 
 
Parents and grandparents are proudly boasting to their neighbors, and more children are showing up to enroll as students.
 
From small beginnings as a church-led initiative, Twin Palm Community School is spreading their impact throughout the community as they bridge the educational gaps that still exist.  With the love and compassion of the church, 234 children are being equipped with practical skills to live out their God-given purposes.