About African Community Project and Garry Brooks

In 2002, I decided to change directions in my life, I volunteered with VSO Canada to go to Zambia as a Community Business Development Advisor. Since then I have been traveling back and forth to Zambia, working with rural communities and Traditional Leaders, striving toward a better life for these people. It is fine to talk sustainability to these communities but when you look around and see the condition of their water wells, their schools and clinics or lack of them; then this is, where you must start. This I am going across Zambia, in Communities that have asked for help. I work in partnership with these communities helping them find funding to do these projects and supply information to help them succeed. By the community for the community.

I am a proud Canadian living in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, born in Coombs on Vancouver Island in 1945. During my almost 60 years I never have went to bed hungry, I wear clothes I have chosen, and I never have suffered unemployment. Now, its payback time to help my fellow man who has not been so lucky.

AfricanCommunityProject.com is not a charity or religiously affiliated; I do not receive any wages or fees, from these community projects. The purpose of this venture is to bring together these communities and their Traditional Leaders in Africa with community's schools, concerned people or charities that would like to help. A partnership will be created; photos and stories exchanged, and recorded accountability available. These people want to move forward, they are tired of only allowed to read the directions on the can of paint, lets open the can for them, they may do a terrible job of painting, they may even spill most of the paint; but they are painting! Please email me if you have any questions, want more information or would like to help out in any way you can. Every little bit makes a difference.

Resume of Garry Brooks



Project Director

I am a self-funded volunteer working for Communities and Traditional Leaders in Zambia and expanding into Mozambique. I work very closely with Government both here in Canada and in Zambia. Here in Canada I also work as a consultant to a First Nations People on the Fraser River also I am working in partnership with a NGO called VIDEA (Victoria International Development Educational Association) on projects both here in Canada and Zambia.


Experience:
  • 2003- 2008 Working with Communities and Traditional Leaders in Zambia
  • 2002 Worked as a volunteer with VSO Canada as a Community Business Development Advisor in Zambia
  • 1963-2001 Owned and operate various businesses in British Columbia, from logging, added value sawmills, heavy construction, digging water wells, sewage systems, road building and commercial fishing.

Projects in Zambia:
  • Working on rehabilitating the Cashew Industry in Western Province
  • Rebuilt a bridge in Chilambila outside Lusaka
  • Rebuilt cattle dips in Kafue District
  • Helping Mileka Community School expand in Chief Sandwe's Chiefdoms.
  • Building a girls dormitory at Nysena School outside Petauke
  • Working with many communities on finding a way foreword.
  • Petauke Community Forests
  • Malundu Community Forests

References:
  • VSO CANADA Ottawa, Canada
  • VSO Zambia Lusaka, Zambia
  • CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSION Lusaka, Zambia
  • VIDEA Victoria, Canada
  • WWF Lusaka Zambia
  • District Commissioner of Petauke District, Petauke, Zambia
  • Chief Sandwe Petauke, Zambia
  • Chief Mwanachingwala Mazabuka, Zambia

Garry Brooks and Chief Sandwe

"I was honored to be taken to this spot and having my photo taken with Chief Sandwe the 9th. These two trees, one with white bark the other with black bark were planted over 150 years ago by the chiefs forefathers and Dr. David Livingstone when he went through the valley. It was to symbolize the white and the black man working together. I am working with Chief Sandwe and his people to find a way toward a 'sustainable livelihood' for the people in the valley." Garry Brooks

See More Photos in our Gallery
Garry Brooks in Petauke, Zambia

Garry's News Blog

Keep up-to-date with Garry via his regular web log entries. Find out where he is and what's happening with all the African Community Projects.
Visit Blog

CONTACT:

GARRY BROOKS
Consultant to Communities and Traditional Leaders

#102-25 Government Street
Victoria, BC Canada V8V 2K4
Phone 250-386-1447
Email: africancommunityproject(at)gmail.com