12-28-10
by Agness Nshindano
Basic health care is everyone’s right and very essential to well-being – yet in developing countries, it is but a privilege. While targeted health policies and programs have enabled slight improvements in public health access and care, significant disparities remain. Countries like Zambia with limited access to education and employment, increasing poverty levels and illiteracy rates among other problems, find considerable health improvements a harder goal to attain.
Certainly, there are decisive ties between health and development. Without good health, a nation is robed of productivity. Students cannot attend classes, workers cannot report to work, policies cannot be made, programs cannot be implemented, and governments cannot be run… In fact, the solution to some of the problems faced by most developing countries strongly lies in curbing the health care problem.
To help give its students and staff the right to basic health care, Northrise University recently broke ground for a clinic to be called NUCare! Thor Development, a construction company in Zambia was awarded the contract and has since begun works. NUCare! will offer basic health care for Northrise University students, staff and the surrounding community. Having a health center on Campus means peace of mind… Peace of mind for the parents; being able to send their child to a university without over worrying when their child is sick. Peace of mind for students; being able to enjoy learning without the stress of how to access health care. Peace of mind for faculty and staff; being able to work with joy knowing that when they or their family member is unwell, care is available. Peace of mind for the community; it comforting to know that at last a clinic is within reach. Most importantly a peace of mind for Northrise University; knowing that it can offer basic health care, turning it from a privilege to a right because a healthy student is a healthy community; a healthy community is a healthy Zambia.
Posted in Building Projects, Education, NU Services, Staff | No Comments »
08-13-09
by Enock and Banji
Isn’t it nice to look back at those old school memories after you’re all grown and out of University? Some of these, happy while others seemed sad and frustrating at the time, but now you can’t help but laugh when you think about them. Many attributes of school life contribute to these reminiscent memories. One attribute for most is accommodation. Apart from just providing a place to stay for students, Northrise takes extra care to provide only the best service at its dormitories
To enhance the memories of the students while also making their stay comfortable, Northrise has set certain standards. Northrise University dorms are one of the most immaculate in the country. It has been furnished with state of the art furniture. Lounge suits, a functioning kitchen, student’s rooms, etc; have been tailored to the students’ comfort. Students staying there admit it’s a good environment to study as well. Chibale Chibale, a student staying there puts it well when she says, “the rooms are spacious, clean, nice and quiet. I study so well there.”
The dormitory has been built to carter for a total of 56 students. One part of the dormitory allows for 40 male students while the other part, 16 female students. It is strategically located at the future campus site, along the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriageway. It’s only about 15 minutes’ ride from the current campus building in the heart of the Ndola town. Students are provided with transportation to and from the University at a small contribution. Accommodation priority is given to students coming outside of Ndola, and for returning students; GPA and previous behaviour play a role in this criterion.
Students are given the opportunity to plan their own budget, menu, cleaning and extracurricular activities. They also do their own cooking and buying of groceries. So yes, life at the dorms is pretty much like a big family rather than “each one for him or herself.” As a way of strengthening their spiritual faith, students at the dorms scheduled meetings for Bible study when school opens in the third term. “We plan to meet on Saturday afternoon’s when school opens again,” said Chibale. Students are encouraged to be in doors by 8pm every day. For security, Northrise University has put in place an efficient security system, an electric wire fence, which is kept on at all times. The system is built with its own power saving mechanism. This safeguards any security breach when a power outage occurs. In addition, security guards are present at all times to ensure that everything is in order.
Because of the excellence (Being excellent at what is good) that Northrise University offers, students come from all over Zambia and Africa! Accommodation is available for them. More dormitories will be built in the future. The next dormitory building will commence soon.
Posted in Building Projects, Events | 7 Comments »
07-30-09
Once upon a time there was a barren land of ant hills and red soil. A land habited by creeping and crawling creatures. Where only shrubs, wild trees and grass grew. Today, there is a din of cranking machinery; battery powered cement-mixing machines, brick making molds and water generators. The Northrise land is composed of 600 plus acres donated by the Zambian government. The land has been divided into the main campus and Northrise Farms. A system of emerging road networks joins the 640 acres into an area that can easily be viewed on google earth.
The first of the infrastructure on the land was on Northrise Farms. Now the din of construction works is concentrated on the main campus site. The dorm currently houses most of Northrise’ students that are not local to Ndola. A few meters from the dorm the Business School is under way. Serious construction began in April of this year. This delay was due to the difficulty inherent in building during the rainy season. Zambia has rainfall from mid to late November until some time late in April. The rains hindered the construction works but did not halt them completely.
Today the Business School building is at window level. The construction is progressing at a fast paced rate. The weather offers favorable building conditions during this time of the year. Best of all, the contractor is dedicated, working as unto the Lord. The building will house two computer labs and six classrooms. Each room will sit 40 students. The total student capacity for the building is 300. Two large tutorial rooms have also been included in the building plan. This will offer a spacious environment for more students to attend tutorials. The building is also set to include the necessary amenities such as a building should have. These include a lounge, restrooms, and a reception area.
Students and instructors are looking forward to the day when the first lesson will be conducted at the Northrise Business School building. Estimated enrollment levels are increasing each year and it is indeed time we moved to the land.
We are thankful to our God for what has been accomplished so far in the building of the business building. To date, we have secured the doors and door frames, floor tiles, roofing material, the ceiling, and paint. Please pray with us as we are looking for furnishing and equipment for the lecture theaters, the classrooms, computer labs, the lounge, and tutorial rooms. Thank you for being part of what the Lord is doing in Zambia, changing lives – one student at a time..
Posted in Building Projects | 1 Comment »
