Zambia is undergoing a time of social and economic struggle.  The new government is working hard to produce a new constitution which will guarantee a fairer society.  The problems of corruption and tribalism which have been part of many African societies are being addressed.  However, there has been no magic wand that could instantly remove the damage which has been wrought by AIDS.

Zambia is set on a major transport route where these diseases have been carried by migrant workers and those in the transport industry.  The effect has been to wipe out huge numbers of the productive generations and leave grandparents and children without support.

Need 1.

Create the social networks to care for street kids and elderly who lack support from natural family.  We need the seed capital to create a reception center where we can place the old and young orphans in self-sustaining relationships.

We have been offered the sale of the house and land adjacent to our existing center. It consists of a main building, two small outbuildings and some 1500 square metres of land. We still need some £6900 to buy this property.  In a town with rocketing land prices this is an amazing offer.  Could you help with some or all of this sum?  The fruit from this seed would be enormous.

Need 2

We now have the letters of acquisition awaiting final ratification and deeds for 30 hectares of beautiful land outside of town on which to develop agricultural training projects and a fish-farm.  The revenues from produce  will enable local impoverished families to meet the statutory school fees for their children and also fund our on-going expenses in aiding street-children and grandparent support.

As well as your prayers for this project, we need immediate funds to break the ground and establish the infrastructure.

Need 3

Do you get embarrassed by the ‘stuff’ that you are given by well-meaning friends and family at Christmas?
Just a few pounds would buy a flock of breeding chickens. The eggs produce new chickens or can be sold to pay for school fees or other necessities.   
We reckon that sending a single Christmas card costs in the region of 80 pence.  For the same cost as sending 10 cards or entry to the cinema we can provide a Christmas food parcel for our old people during this time of food shortage which will feed them for almost a month.  Please see our page at My.Give.Net/GFNUK to contribute.  If you are a UK taxpayer then your gift multiplies by over 20% thanks to Gift Aid.

Need 4

The local school in the Solwezi township has had to take on a large influx of pupils who cross the valley from where their own school was demolished by the mining company, but not rebuilt.  They have nearly 1000 children on their rolls and are teaching them in relays throughout the day.  There are 19 classes with as many as 71 children in a single class. The parents have built a makeshift shelter to make accommodation stretch.

That’s not all, – they have only one WC for the boys and 2 for the girls. But none for the teachers. The situation is made far worse by the lack of running water or electricity. That creates real problems with hygiene and so we are hoping to  help them with the installation of a mains water supply and storage tank.  This will cost around £800.

In line with our policy that every benefit must create new benefits, the school have agreed to add market gardening to their curriculum.  The ‘grey’ water from washbasins will be fed to a new market garden on the school premises.  Thus we hope to teach the children how to make good use of any spare ground at home to supplement the family fruit and veg – better than just milled corn (nshima) which is the major part of their staple diet.

The crops should yield an income to help pay the water, bills with a surplus to provide school uniform starter kits for the poorer children in the area – again improving access to education.  See our Education page.