Zambia
Gwembe is situated in the drought prone rural area of Southern Zambia, with the majority of people living in extreme poverty. The communities practice loosely integrated agricultural production and lack the capacity to initiate the eradication of poverty by harnessing the Lake Kariba waters into a sustainable irrigation scheme for crop production.
The Capacity Building initiative by Beyond Borders International will make a difference in the lives of the poor rural communities of Chipepo by providing training in sustainable agricultural techniques and basic business skills. The community and leadership are participating fully in the project. This project will take one year and we expect:
1. Improved capacity for efficient agricultural and livestock production and marketing
2. Beneficiaries trained to commence a sustainable agricultural program with
• increased capacity for cropping and
• improved household food security
3. Training in basic business skills resulting in improved capacity for setting up and managing small businesses, new employment opportunities created
4. Stimulation of growth in rest of the economy
5. Better utilisation of water as a natural resource
6. Improved health and dietary lifestyle
The vision of FCE is community transformation, by identifying the community leaders’ perceptions of their needs and working in partnership with these leaders to meet these needs FCE.
The two biggest needs identified are quality education for their children as well as food security for their families and villages. Using training and education as their key strategies; FCE builds relationships with the local people by providing trained teachers to educate their children. Also, training the local people in farm practices and management, as well as working in villages on community development practices.
As a result of a devastating drought in Zambia in 1999, FCE expanded its vision to include training in agriculture. The 65 villages which have faithfully participated in the agriculture project have more than they need in spite of the drought.
Lucaena plants arriving at the farm for planting
Zambia has enormous land and water resources with huge potential for development. Involvement in the agriculture sector is an attempt to enhance the development of the economy. Other small scale farms are already being supported and enhanced by Maplehurst in other parts of Zambia. The dairy industry in Zambia is in a fledgling state, there is little infrastructure to support it.
Maplehurst Farm in Kabwe Zambia is a dairy farm that is making a difference in the local community & right across Zambia. Its farm personnel are involved in the dairy industry, the local agricultural shows and industry forums. This project is creating employment for local people, generating income for development projects like micro-funding for poverty ravaged families, assisting with the development of healthy communities, enhancing agriculture development & training for school leavers, orphaned and vulnerable children. New skills, expertise and technology have already been invested in at Maplehurst Farm that will raise the standard of development and increase efficiency.
Eagle Wings focuses on vulnerable children within a low-income community and assists them to realise and reach their unique potential. The Project focuses on community education initiatives - including schooling for both girls and boys, and vocational training for adults - and on medical clinics that help deal with important health issues such as intestinal parasites (see photo above).
Education plays a major role in developing both individuals and communities. Escaping generational poverty, freedom from child marriage and a knowledge of health issues indicate whether or not one has had the opportunity to gain a quality education.
Therefore Eagles Wings places a major emphasis on education, to enable the child and their family to have the opportunity to dream of and realise a better future. With the nearest government school located over 20kms away providing a local schooling option was paramount.
In addition, vocational training programs are offered - particularly for disadvantaged women - in literacy and numeracy classes, health seminars, food retailing, knitting and tailoring.
