Safmarine spreads container classrooms to Zambian mining town

ZAMBIA's Amano Christian School, at Chingola, a mining town in Zambia's copper belt, has celebrated the official opening of new facilities built from shipping containers donated by Safmarine, a Maersk Line subsidiary.

Twenty-five containers were used to build 10 classrooms, one science laboratory and an assembly hall. Safmarine also funded the conversion of the containers, which was done by Zambian labour. Construction began in 2003 and was completed in 2007.

The school currently has 78 students, most of whom are AIDS orphans, in grades one to 12 and aims to have 350 upon completion of its facilities.

Said Safmarine Africa region executive Alan Jones: "Containers play an important role in growing trade between Zambia and the rest of the world, and it is therefore appropriate that containers no longer required are able to add value to the Zambian community by providing its children with safe, secure premises in which to further their education."