School Facilities

Over the last ten years, the Banani School campus has expanded considerably. Although the early years saw a very rustic campus, requiring students and staff to sport rubber boots almost constantly during the rainy season, the campus today is one of the most comfortable, peaceful and attractive educational settings in Zambia. Not only are the administrative, instructional, and residential facilities functional, but care is taken in creating a scenic environment as well.

Instructional Facilities

These include six classrooms, a science laboratory, a 30-station computer lab, and agricultural areas where the students learn farming techniques and livestock care. The school library is growing yearly. There is a good variety of research and recreational reading sources as well as encyclopedias and magazine retrieval systems on CD-ROM. The librarian and librarian assistant are available to help students with research topics. The library is open Monday to Friday and during scheduled times on weekends.

Residential Facilities

The students live in dormitories along with their youth mentors and in close proximity to the matron's house. The nurse's office is adjacent to the dorms and the nurse is on duty or on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The dormitories include showers, washing facilities, and bunks to accommodate up to 150 students. Students are required to bring their own bedding and other personal items. A full list of recommended clothing, toiletries, and other supplies is available at the main office. One of the newest buildings on campus is the Senior Common Room, which includes a large recreational space, a rehearsal room complete with large wall mirror, and a recording studio. Housed in this building as well is a relaxation room with basic kitchen facilities for the use of the youth volunteers.

Recreational Facilities

These include a multi-purpose ball court, running track, two sports fields, and a 25-meter swimming pool. In addition to academic uses of the computer lab, students have supervised access to the Internet and their e-mail accounts. A digital satellite TV system also provides a source of supervised entertainment, with students and teachers often competing for a good seat to watch soccer matches or to tune into the latest world news. The campus tuck shop is stocked with stationery, toiletries, and snack foods which the students may purchase twice a week. Students are required to have a sum of money deposited on their tuck account from which purchases may be deducted. There is a spending limit placed on the amount of sweets allowed, but no limit on toiletries and stationery.