KALUMBILA TOWN COUNCIL PARTNERS WITH FQM TO REHABILITATE 1,320 SCHOOL DESKS

First Quantum Minerals, through its Trident Foundation, has partnered with Kalumbila Town Council to co-fund the rehabilitation of 1,320 desks to improve education standards and advance literacy levels in communities surrounding its Sentinel Mine in Kalumbila.

FQM's efforts to improve education standards and advance literacy levels are framed by a broader vision of how corporate support can have the most impact.

Some 837 desks out of 1,320 target have been rehabilitated and sent to 18 schools. Speaking when the mining firm handed the rehabilitated desks to the Ministry of General Education at Nkulumazhiba Community School,

Mr Ngwira said that Trident Foundation was rehabilitating broken and damaged metal frame desks in 27 schools, adding Education is one of the key areas of support and we, at FQM strongly believe education can empower and liberate the mind, allowing individuals to live dignified lives. The co-funding of the rehabilitation of the 1,320 desks by Kalumbila Town Council and the Trident Foundation is an initiative that will add value to the education system in our district and the country at large.

Early this year, the foundation partnered with the Ministry of General Education through the District Education Board Secretary's office to rehabilitate 208 desks in local schools. To date it has contributed 4,784 desks to over 27 schools in and outside its catchment areas.

Other notable contributions the mining firm has made towards education in the past five years include the construction of two by three classroom blocks at Wanyinwa Primary School in Shinengene, a one by three classroom block, ablution facilities and three teacher's houses at Kisasa School, a one by two classroom block at Mbole.

At Jiundu Secondary School, the Trident Foundation built a brand-new kitchen with a dining area. The foundation also fenced off the girls' dormitory to safeguard the girls at Jiundu Secondary School, and built ablution facilities for better sanitation.

At Musele School, the foundation built a one by three classroom block and three teacher's houses were constructed, and one by three classroom block was built at Kankonzhi. Also partnering with the community a one by three classroom block at Kalumbila North Primary School, as well as a one by three classroom block and six VIP toilets at Mukila Wantambo Community school and a staff house about to be handed over. In 2019, two teacher's houses were built and handed over to Musanda and Chovwe schools.

Under its School Improvement Programme, the company is also supporting a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme, under which teachers are provided with training on modern teaching methods, including action plans on implementation. About 67 teachers have benefited from these programmes, which the Trident Foundation has been supporting.

The mining firm continues to donate teaching aids and learning materials, including textbooks, literacy materials and has sponsored 195 students: 75 at primary, 56 at secondary and 48 at tertiary level, along with 10 at special education institutions.

The company has spent over US$100 million on its sustainability and community development programmes, aligning its programmes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. SDG 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all and encompasses FQM's extensive education programmes at both its mines in North-Western Province, including the Kansanshi Quality Education Improvement Programme (KanEQuIP), support for Early Childhood Education, Solwezi Trades Training programmes and numerous other school projects.

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About First Quantum Minerals Ltd

First Quantum Minerals Ltd is a global metals and mining company producing mainly copper, gold and zinc. The company's assets are in Zambia, Spain, Mauritania, Australia, Finland, Turkey, Panama, Argentina and Peru.

In 2019, First Quantum globally produced 702,000 tonnes of copper, 257,000 ounces of gold and 18,000 tonnes of zinc.

In Zambia it operates the Kansanshi mine - the largest copper mine in Africa by production - and smelter and the Sentinel mine in Kalumbila.

The company is listed on the Lusaka and Toronto stock exchanges.

http://www.first-quantum.com/

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