Year 2011

 

Project: Shikupa Maayo Breatfast Club 

Village: Chitanga

Community Forest: Mbulumo Community Forest 

Province: Northern Province

Description of project: Chitanga Community School is situated in a rural area 60 kilometers east of Kasama in Mungwe District, towards the Tanganyika border, Northern Province, Zambia. The school itself is built of fired brick with a metal roof that is standard throughout Zambia; it is community maintained and stocked. The three teachers salaries are paid in mostly kind (food) with very little cash. There are 224 children in the school attending grades one to five and a percentage of orphans and vulnerable children. Older children especially girls drop out after attending classes to grade five, those furthering their education must attend classes some distance from the village. The parents of the children attending the school eke out a living from substance farming. The head Teacher Fredrick Malaika is also a member of the Mungwe District Council and has been ACP’s Facilitator in the area since 2007. ACP has in the past supported the school with supplies and environmental education. ACP also has an expanding tree nursery in the village of Chitanga.

Our policy at ACP is to sensitize the communities, providing options and than helping them to achieve their goals. The programme is up and running, the necessary equipment has been bought, the cooks and mentors are being instructed in their tasks and the food staples are stored at the school. The Head Teachers Office is well secured and is acting as our storage room. The next while will defiantly have some ups and downs; procedures will need to be learnt on food safety, quality and quantities to be cooked. Timetables on activities and additional supplies will be on going. We are very fortunate to have a registered Dietitian volunteering helping out with menu corrections and food safety.

Status: On going 

Funder: ACP, Seeds for Africa and Kellogg’s 

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Project: Mapalo Charcoal Plantation
Village: Chongwe
Community Forest:
Province: Lusaka
Description of project: The project was started in 2010, when 7 ha. Was acquired in a partnership with the owner. Leucaena and other trees suitable for charcoal production. In 2011 we will plant approximately on quarter of the land in seedlings. As time goes by possible in the third year a charcoal kiln will be built on site and charcoal production will begin. After the fourth year the project will revert to the owner. And during the first four years the project will be used as a teaching tool for educating the land owners of Chongwe District on how to plant and grow commercial crops of trees for charcoal.
Status: On going
Funder: Funders needed.
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Year 2010

Project: Sanctuary Well Rehabilitation 

Village: Kalabo Village 

Community Forest: Mungulle Community Forests

Province: Central Province

Description of project: The hand dug well in Kalabo Village, located beside the Great North Road outside Lusaka has been in use for over 50 years. Even in the extreme time of the year has plenty of water. Our concern is that the well is unprotected from contamination and dangerous for the village children and women collecting water. The well has now been lined with baked bricks, a top is now in place and the well cleaned out. The first time since it was dug.

Status: Completed

Funder: ACP

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Project: Kaziparile Well rehabilitation 

Village: Kalabo Village 

Community Forest: Mungulle Community Forests

Province: Central Province

Description of project: This borehole in the village of Kalabo has been unusable for most of this year. Before that it produced very little water because as we found out when we removed the pump there were numerous holes in the pipes. The request to African Community Project to help came from the village headman Victor through Mr. Mwale our facilitator for Mungule Community Forest. It was arranged that the community would supply the labour needed to remove the pump from the well and that a tool kit could be borrowed from a neighboring village. After a morning of hard labour pulling the pipes and pump from 50 meters below the surface; the repairs needed were obvious. A split in the pipe was welded at a nearby shop and Mr. Mwale and I took the mini bus into Lusaka to get the pump rebuilt. When we got to Saro’s, the dealer who sold the pumps it was decided to buy a new pump rather than repairing the old worn out one. The cost to rebuild it would have been almost as costly. We can use the old one for parts or exchange later. The next day I returned to the pump site in the village and found the pump reinstalled and in already in use by the women of the village.  With it repaired they would no longer have to walk some distance to get water. Cement blocks and cement were than purchased to repair the apron around the well which was done the following day by the same crew and bricklayer. The crew appreciated the cool drinks bought when the job was completed.

Status: Completed

Funder: ACP

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Project: NEW WELL at CHISOYO COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Village: Mchekeni Village

Community Forest: Mumbi Community Forest

Province: Eastern Province

Description of project: African Community Project (ACP) has been successful in digging wells in this part of Zambia for many years. Acquiring the funds to do so is the greatest challenge of the project. Once the funds are committed our facilitators select a village or community school that is in need of a well. Meetings than take place between the headperson of the village, the PTA, the community at large and ACP. A community water committee (CWC) is than set up and a location for the well is established. ACP prefers to dig their wells as close to the school as possible. The ACP well technician than comes to the potential site and determines the exact spot. Once this is done the community starts to gather bricks for lining the well and river sand and stones to make the concrete. All this is coordinated by the ACP’s district facilitator. Work than begins on the well. The men of the community supplying the labour and the women cooking the meals for the well crew. An average well is from 7 to 12 meters deep and usually will take 2 weeks to dig. Sometimes large rocks are encountered and work can than be slow. Very few wells have been abandoned for lack of water or solid rock. When water is found an additional few meters is dug to create a reservoir and with this done the work on the well head begins. While the well is being lined a top is poured using concrete and reinforcement steel. After the apron around the well is poured the top is cemented in place. The project has been started and the digging of the well is in progress. On August 23 the well is 5 meters deep.

Status: Completed

Funder: The Project Solution

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Project: MUKUNI VILLAGE TREE NURSERY 

Village: Mukuni Village 

Community Forest: Mukuni Community Forest

Province: Southern Province 

Description of project: Senior Chief Mukuni has given us a spot for a tree nursery behind the curio market adjacent to the Royal Palace. The nursery was constructed and seeded during my visit to Livingstone in April. The nursery can grow up to10,000 seedlings at a time. The Chief has asked for us to grow Flamboyant to be used around the village, it is very colorful and provides shade. We have also planted Moringa, Jatropha and Leucaena.  The nursery is fenced with barbed wire to keep out the goats and cattle of the village. It has now become part of the village tours for tourists that have come from Livingstone to see village life. Many people from the area have become very interested in what ACP  is doing and visit the nursery asking for seeds, knowledge on how to grow trees and their uses. The nursery is still in need of a water line from the village water supply; the workers are now carrying water to the nursery in buckets.

Status: On going

Funder: ACP

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Project: MUKASIAMACHAKA MORINGA ORCHARD 

Village: Mukuni Village 

Community Forest: Mukuni Community Forest

Province: Southern Province

Description of project: Mukuni village is located south of Victoria Falls at Livingstone, Southern Province, Zambia. Most of the families in the village rely on the tourist trade for a living; the carvers in the village are world reknown. The purpose of this project is to educate the people of Mukuni village and the surrounding area about the many benefits of the Moringa tree.  The project is designed for the women of the village and will benefit the whole family. The project will ‘teach by example’ growing Moringa trees in an orchard setting and provide education on the planting, management and harvesting of the many eatable parts of the species. The project will also educate the community on how to process the leaves into powder for a very healthy food additive used that can be used in school feeding programs, family use and for HIV/AIDS patients around Africa. This powder is much in demand around the world and is in short supply. Along with the education about Moringa, the community will be educated on global environmental issues and how it is affecting them as well as the rest of the world. ACP has acquired almost 3 acres of prime land from the Traditional Leaders of Mukuni Chiefdom for this project. This land is located beside the main road to Livingstone on the outskirts of the village. The village water system is nearby and the connection has been approved by the water committee. Water will be piped to the site and stored in an elevated tank providing pressure for watering the orchard. The acreage will be fenced with barbed wire to protect the orchard from the village livestock. The trees will be set out in blocks to demonstrate different pruning techniques and planting methods. A caretaker’s residence is to be built and occupied by an ACP worker and his young family. He will be assisted by a worker who will water, plant and tend the orchard daily. Also on the site an open classroom will be built to provide space to hold classes on the tending of trees, both indigenous and naturalized. Environmental education will also be provided.  Tours to the tourist visiting the village will also be conducted.  In the second year of the project funding will be arranged to set up the necessary structures, training and provide equipment for the processing of Moringa powder for sale locally and for export. Moringa powder is made from the leaves, continually picked during the year. These leaves are dried in shelters and than crushed into a fine powder. Once this is done the powder is packaged in sealed plastic bags ready for market. This new business will be operated by the women of Mukuni Village; employing at least six women, thus creating sustainable incomes the year around.

Status: On going

Funder: ACP, Seeds for Africa

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Project: REFORESTATION of ZAMBIA

Community Forests: Mumbi, Petauke, Mukuni, Sandwe

Location: Zambia

Description of project: This project is on going. ACP facilitators across Zambia are working with individual communities, community schools and other stakeholders to promote reforestation and environmental education. ACP teaches these groups how to set up tree nurseries, supplying them with necessary material and seeds and also how to take care of their trees. As the interest grows in the community and the people have understood the need to reforest; millions of tree seeds are distributed. These seeds range from fast growing Moringa, Leucaena and Jatropha to fruit trees, shade trees and most importantly indigenous trees that are being over cut. Commercial trees like pine and eucalyptus are also planted. The uses of these trees are also taught like: Moringa for health products, Leucaena for firewood, charcoal and nitrogen fixing, Jatropha for bio fuels, Pine for building timber and Eucalyptus for power poles. ACP is active all across Zambia promoting reforestation and afforestation with the goal of creating a sustainable forests and livelihoods.

Trees started:

Status: On going

Funders: ACP

Photo: (unavailable) 

Project: SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Items: Pencils, pens, chalk, blackboards, books

Community Forest: Mumbi, Mukuni, Sandwe, Petauke

Province: Eastern and Southern Province

Description of project: Since this is an ongoing project: supplies are always needed. This year we have already given out pencils and pens to schools in Southern and Eastern Province. We also have supplied pens and pencils to a project in Rwanda. This fall we hope to distribute more blackboards and lots of chalk. A shipment of 4,000 pencils has just arrived in Eastern Province from Mercer County 9^th Grade Academy in Kentucky.

Status: On going

Funders: Mercer County 9^th Grade Academy, Altrusa International of Nanaimo and Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women

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Year 2009

Project: NEW WELL at NKHOLA COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Village: Nkhola Village

Community Forest:

Province: Eastern Province

Description of project: Nkhola Community School; it is in Chieftainess Mwanjawanthu’s chiefdom in Petauke District of Eastern Province. It is located literally on the border between Zambia and Mozambique. My GPS even had it located in Mozambique or at least in ‘no mans land’. When the Chieftainess, who was accompanying us, suggested it should perhaps be moved to a better location, I heartily agreed. When we visited the school in August to take them 2 new blackboards the school was out for the summer break. But within a few minutes of arriving we were surrounded by many children, their parents, the PTA and the teachers. There are 260 children attending the school, they are taught by 2 teachers that have morning and afternoon classes. When the community has ample maize these students are given a noon meal. Possible the only meal of the day for the vulnerable children of the community.

The school is in terrible condition so it was decided by the Chieftainess and the PTA to move the school to a better location. A new sight was selected and Mr. Tembo ACP’s Well Technician proceeded to dig the well with the help of the newly formed water committee and community supplying bricks and gravel. Water was located at 7 meters and the work was started lining the well and constructing an apron.

Status: In progress

Funder: Harbourside Rotary Club

Photo: (unavailable)

Project: REFORESTATION of ZAMBIA

Community Forests: Mumbi, Petauke, Mukuni, Sandwe

Location: Zambia

Description of project: This project is on going. ACP facilitators across Zambia are working with individual communities, community schools and other stakeholders to promote reforestation and environmental education. ACP teaches these groups how to set up tree nurseries, supplying them with necessary material and seeds and also how to take care of their trees. As the interest grows in the community and the people have understood the need to reforest; millions of tree seeds are distributed. These seeds range from fast growing Moringa, Leucaena and Jatropha to fruit trees, shade trees and most importantly indigenous trees that are being over cut. Commercial trees like pine and eucalyptus are also planted. The uses of these trees are also taught like: Moringa for health products, Leucaena for firewood, charcoal and nitrogen fixing, Jatropha for bio fuels, Pine for building timber and Eucalyptus for power poles. ACP is active all across Zambia promoting reforestation and afforestation with the goal of creating a sustainable forests and livelihoods.

Trees started:

Status: On going

Funders: ACP, Love Trees

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Year 2008

Project: SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Items: 100 Blackboards, pencil sharpeners, chalk, blackboard erasers 10,000 pencils

Community Forest: Mumbi, Mukuni, Sandwe, Petauke

Province: Eastern and Southern Province

Description of project: Lots of school supplies came our way this year. The blackboards were gratefully accepted; most schools go two each. We make our own from material we bring from Lusaka. 

Status: On going

Funders: LUSH, Mercer County 9^th Grade Academy, the Pencil Project, Altrusa International of Nanaimo

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Project: HEALTH SUPPLIES

Village: Various villages

Community Forest: Petauke Community Forests

Province: Eastern Province

Description of project: Mary Ellen at Victoria’s Dental Hygiene Clinic has donated hundreds of tooth brushes and tooth paste. We have packaged them into smaller amounts and have passed them out at villages that we are involved in with our reforestation and environmental education programs. This gift to the villagers was very well received and I think it was most of the kids first tooth brush and tooth paste!

Status: On going

Funder: Victoria’s Dental Hygiene Clinic

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Project: REFORESTATION of ZAMBIA

Community Forests: Mumbi, Petauke, Mukuni, Sandwe

Location: Zambia

Description of project: This project is on going. ACP facilitators across Zambia are working with individual communities, community schools and other stakeholders to promote reforestation and environmental education. ACP teaches these groups how to set up tree nurseries, supplying them with necessary material and seeds and also how to take care of their trees. As the interest grows in the community and the people have understood the need to reforest; millions of tree seeds are distributed. These seeds range from fast growing Moringa, Leucaena and Jatropha to fruit trees, shade trees and most importantly indigenous trees that are being over cut. Commercial trees like pine and eucalyptus are also planted. The uses of these trees are also taught like: Moringa for health products, Leucaena for firewood, charcoal and nitrogen fixing, Jatropha for bio fuels, Pine for building timber and Eucalyptus for power poles. ACP is active all across Zambia promoting reforestation and afforestation with the goal of creating a sustainable forests and livelihoods.

Trees started:

Status: On going

Funders: ACP, Roland Wille

Photo: (unavailable) 

Year 2007

Project: LUMAZ DRY KILN 

Location: Lusaka City

Province: Lusaka Province

Description of project: The purpose of this report is to finalize the project implemented by the Export Development Programme II (TDI Project Ref: LOC 043) to design and build a small solar powered dry kiln for LUMAZ.  The kiln is located in Lusaka.  Along with participating in the design and construction of this kiln, LUMAZ members have had the opportunity to learn about the principals of drying lumber in a solar kiln as well as universal drying terminology and costing.  They will be able to compare this technology with other lumber drying methods and utilize this knowledge in developing a timber drying programme that will suit their preferred application, be it pre-drying or a complete drying system using solar power.  Considering the high price of energy today, dry kilning of lumber can be a major cost obstacle in producing a competitive product domestically or for export.

As Zambia is situated only 17 degrees from the equator, solar powered lumber drying is a natural and economical method of drying lumber.  Drying times do increase with solar drying but the target of 10 to 12 percent moisture content is easily achieved.  The chances of case hardening, warping and splitting are reduced with this slower drying and the temperature drop in the hours of darkness gives the timber a chance to stabilize.  After the initial cost of building the kiln there are no heating costs unless auxiliary heat is added.  An ideal application for auxiliary heat could be the use of mill waste (sawdust and trim ends) to create heat.  Only a small amount of electricity is used to run the circulating fans per charge.

The LUMAZ kiln has been designed to dry 12 cubic meters of 4/4 stock in a chamber equipped with a solar collector and 3 circulating fans. The controls for the kiln were kept as simple as possible using a wet and dry thermometer and a simple moisture meter. Ventilation controls are also manual with options available for automatic controlling.  The kiln was placed on a concrete slab and built of construction steel, metal sheeting and fiberglass panels.  The kiln was built within the budget which had been agreed to prior to construction.        

Status: Completed 

Funder: ACP, EU

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Project: MUMWA CRAFTS ASSOCIATION DRY KILN

Village: Mongu Town

Community Forest:

Province: Western Province

Description of project: Mumwa Crafts Association (MCA) is located in Mongu, Western Province. They are a member of HAPAZA with a large membership of crafts people ranging from weavers to carvers. This membership covers the whole of Western Province with Mongu being its central point and connection to Lusaka. In October 2006 a solar dry kiln was delivered and a workshop on Solar drying of carvings was conducted at the Mumwa Crafts location. During the workshop a committee was elected from the membership in attendance to manage the solar kiln and they were given instruction on using the instrumentation and keeping of records. One of the carvers happily supplied wood for the first charge and the kiln was loaded. This wood was collected by funds given by the consultant and it was becoming clear that transport and its cost would become a problem. In early December the consultant returned to Mongu and met with the kiln committee. The wood that had been put into the kiln in late October was now dry. It recorded moisture contents of 10 – 12 percent. Records that had been kept during the drying time by the committee showed peak temperature in the kiln had reached the high 50 degrees (Celsius) during the late afternoons. The committee was now left with the task of coordinating the collection of carving wood and the management of the kiln.

Status: Completed

Funder: ACP, EU

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Project: NEW WELL at MPHANDE VILLAGE 

Village: Mphande Village

Community Forest: Petauke Community Forest 

Province: Eastern Province

Description of project: I am happy to report that the donation given by the Harbourside Rotary Club of Victoria this year went to a village that has asked for a well for over 2 years ago. I pass Mphande Village often, traveling to my forestry projects in Mumbi; watching the women and children waiting to draw dirty water from an open hole in a dry riverbed shared with the communities’ animals made me very determined to help them have clean water. I was able to meet with the village headmen and the community and proudly announce they would get the long promised well. After a lengthy meeting to discuss the need of clean water and of community health the community was ready to move forward. Our well technician, Mr. Phiri, was brought to the village and a site was selected to construct the well. At 7 meters fresh clean water was found on November 26 and the well deepened to accommodate a reservoir. Because of the shortage of cement in Zambia a delay occurred while we searched for bags of cement for the well lining and apron. Just days before my departure home to Victoria my truck arrived from Lusaka, 400 kilometers away with the much needed cement; it was from Zimbabwe. The well is now completed and is being used by 750 grateful people of Mphande village.

Status: Completed

Funder: Harbourside Rotary Club, Victoria

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Project: REFORESTATION of ZAMBIA

Community Forests: Mumbi, Petauke, Mukuni, Sandwe

Location: Zambia

Description of project: This project is on going. ACP facilitators across Zambia are working with individual communities, community schools and other stakeholders to promote reforestation and environmental education. ACP teaches these groups how to set up tree nurseries, supplying them with necessary material and seeds and also how to take care of their trees. As the interest grows in the community and the people have understood the need to reforest; millions of tree seeds are distributed. These seeds range from fast growing Moringa, Leucaena and Jatropha to fruit trees, shade trees and most importantly indigenous trees that are being over cut. Commercial trees like pine and eucalyptus are also planted. The uses of these trees are also taught like: Moringa for health products, Leucaena for firewood, charcoal and nitrogen fixing, Jatropha for bio fuels, Pine for building timber and Eucalyptus for power poles. ACP is active all across Zambia promoting reforestation and afforestation with the goal of creating a sustainable forests and livelihoods.

Trees started:

Status: On going

Funders: ACP

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 Project:   REHABILITATED of 5 WELLS

Villages: Chiponya, Kolwe, Chiwamira, Chintheng’u and Mumbi Villages

Community Forest: Mumbi Community Forest

Province: Eastern Province

Description of project: All these wells are located in small villages around Mumbi Village. The one in Mumbi Village had just been dug and a large rock had slid down restricting the full use of the well. It was broken up and removed. All other wells above were cleaned out and deepened by as much as 3 meters. The aprons around the well were also repaired at this time. Our Well Technician Mr. Tembo did a very good job on these wells.

Status: Completed

Funder: Maria van Sloun

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Project: SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Community Forests: Petauke Community Forests

Province: Eastern and Southern Province

Description of project: 30 new blackboards have been delivered to Community Schools across Petauke Community Forests along with chalk erasers and many cases of chalk.

Status: On going

Funder: ACP, Altrusa International of Nanaimo,

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Year 2006

Project: NEW WELL at SALATIYELE VILLAGE

Village: Salatiyele Village

Community Forest: Mumbi Community Forest

Province: Eastern Province

Description of project: This well was dug at Salatiyele Village located along side the Minga Road at Minga Bus Stop in Eastern Province. Until the well was dug, the 500 or so people in the village shared an open water hole with the village cattle. After explaining water borne diseases and the need for clean drinking water the community was very excited to form a well committee and help doing their part in the digging of their well. Mr. Phiri was ACP’s Well Technician on site. The men and women in the village are also involved in a tree nursery that has also been set up at the local school by ACP.

Status: Completed

Funder: Harbourside Rotary Club, Victoria

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Project: REFORESTATION of ZAMBIA

Community Forests: Mumbi, Petauke, Mukuni, Sandwe

Location: Zambia

Description of project: This project is on going. ACP facilitators across Zambia are working with individual communities, community schools and other stakeholders to promote reforestation and environmental education. ACP teaches these groups how to set up tree nurseries, supplying them with necessary material and seeds and also how to take care of their trees. As the interest grows in the community and the people have understood the need to reforest; millions of tree seeds are distributed. These seeds range from fast growing Moringa, Leucaena and Jatropha to fruit trees, shade trees and most importantly indigenous trees that are being over cut. Commercial trees like pine and eucalyptus are also planted. The uses of these trees are also taught like: Moringa for health products, Leucaena for firewood, charcoal and nitrogen fixing, Jatropha for bio fuels, Pine for building timber and Eucalyptus for power poles. ACP is active all across Zambia promoting reforestation and afforestation with the goal of creating a sustainable forests and livelihoods.

Trees started: 500,000

Status: On going

Funders: ACP, Sukhi Lulli

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Packaged seeds

 

 Project: DRY KILN for MUKUNI CARVERS ASSOCIATION

Village: Mukuni Village

Community Forest: Mukuni Community Forest

Province: Southern Province

Description of project: A solar dry kiln was built behind the curio market at Mukuni Village to dry the carvings that are being carved in the village. Also an agreement is now in place to ship carvings all over the world by DHL for costumers.

Status: Completed

Funder: ACP, EU

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Project: NEW WELL at Mumbi Village

Village: Mumbi Village

Community Forest: Mumbi Community Forest

Province: Eastern Province

Description of project: To dig a well in Mumbi Village to help eliminate the long waits at the other only other well in the village. This new well was dug at the far end of the village, away from the existing well. It is located in the middle of a field that can no longer grow crops. We would like this area to be reforested into a firewood plantation of Leucaena trees. The villagers will use this well for clean drinking water and it will be used by the community tree nursery. The well was dug in a week by one of African Community Project’s Well Technician and the community provided the bricks and additional labour. Good water was founding abundance at 7 meters.

Status: Completed

Funder: Harbourside Rotary Club Victoria

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Year 2005

Project: REHABILITATE 2 WELLS

Villages: Msala/Manga/Sasika Villages

Community Forest: Mumbi Community Forest

Province: Eastern Province

Description of project: These three villages are now combining into one, which will be called Manga Village. They will still have three headmen as leaders. They had waited not so patiently sometimes for the well at Mumbi to be completed; the road they use in and out of the area passes very close to the well. So, they were very happy to see the facilitator come and organize the work parties for the wells to be rehabilitated. While we are there, they are also getting the metal for the roof for their new community school. I was very happy to see them planning a watering trough for their goats and wanting to know when they were getting the seeds for a tree nursery. The repairing of the cement works around the wellhead is now completed.

Status: Completed

Funder: Ryan’s Well Foundation

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Project: REHABILITATE WELL at MUMBI VILLAGE

Village: Mumbi Village

Community Forest: Mumbi Community Forest

Province: Eastern Province

Description of project: This was the first well that was rehabilitated, the pile of debris that came out of it was shocking, lots of old buckets, pieces of rope and plastic of all shapes and sizes. The technician recommended we dig it a meter of two deeper and he had only gone a meter when the water came in at a very steady stream and going deeper unnecessary. When it finally leveled off it was three meters higher than the original level. The attendance of the people in the community was very high and enthusiastic. The community is now busy building a water trough at the end of the runoff canal for their cattle. Realizing what I have been telling them about continually cutting their remaining trees and what it is doing to their water supply the have requested help in setting up a tree nursery at the well and I have supplied them with seeds plastic pots and instructions on how to run a tree nursery. We will also build them a second well to take the pressure of the one we have rebuilt. Mr. Phiri has found water in a suitable location on the other side of the village.

Status: Completed

Funder: Ryan’s Well Foundation

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Project: REFORESTATION of ZAMBIA

Community Forests: Mumbi, Petauke, Mukuni, Sandwe

Location: Zambia

Description of project: This project is on going. ACP facilitators across Zambia are working with individual communities, community schools and other stakeholders to promote reforestation and environmental education. ACP teaches these groups how to set up tree nurseries, supplying them with necessary material and seeds and also how to take care of their trees. As the interest grows in the community and the people have understood the need to reforest; millions of tree seeds are distributed. These seeds range from fast growing Moringa, Leucaena and Jatropha to fruit trees, shade trees and most importantly indigenous trees that are being over cut. Commercial trees like pine and eucalyptus are also planted. The uses of these trees are also taught like: Moringa for health products, Leucaena for firewood, charcoal and nitrogen fixing, Jatropha for bio fuels, Pine for building timber and Eucalyptus for power poles. ACP is active all across Zambia promoting reforestation and afforestation with the goal of creating a sustainable forests and livelihoods.

Trees started:

Status: On going

Funders: Trees For The Future,  Gordon Head Lions Club, ACP

Photo: (unavailable) 

Year 2004

Project: REBUILD 2 CATTLE DIPS 

Villages: Kalambabakali Village and Manyanwa Village

Community Forest: Mwanachingwala Community Forest

Province: Southern Province

Description of project: On October 31, 2003, I was invited by WWF’s Project Manager, Nalumino Nyambe to go on a tour of the MCA and the surrounding communities. Accompanying me were Board members of a small struggling NGO, CEFI (which became African Community Project). The tour was conducted by Phanwell Moonga the Project Manager for MCA; we were introduced to Chief Mwanachingwala and his council, and visited one of the communities. The visit was a success. On my own, I have returned several times to visit Mazabuka and had the great privilege of introducing my wife to the Chief and getting to know him personally. At that time, I indicated that I would help him and his people in their quest for sustainable livelihoods.

Meanwhile I than returned to Canada, while in Canada and communicating with Nalumino it was decided that I would help with restoring the cattle dips on my return to Zambia in September, I personally committed funds to rehabilitate two cattle dips in the community. They are communal and were selected by Chief Mwanachingwala and his people; one being at Manyanwa and the other at Kalambabakali village.  The funding is in place and work is progressing at a steady pace, and is being overseen by the MCA Manager Phanwell Moonga. I am now aggressively seeking future funding to produce a workable five-year plan, in treatment of livestock diseases, in the community. This will be in the form of education, more dip tanks, vaccination use and in introducing better cattle breeds. All this will lead to milk, butter, cheese, beef production, and become income generating.

Status: Completed

Funder: ACP

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Year 2003

Project: CANADA BRIDGE

Village: Chilambila Village

Community Forest: Malundu Community Forest

Province: Lusaka Province

Description of project: This project was to rebuild a small bridge that had been washed out and which made any movement of vehicles impossible into Chilambila unless you went around to Chifwema. The schools at the two villages are ran by ZOCS (Zambia Open Community Schools) and I was assigned by VSO Canada (Voluntary Service Overseas) to work with ZOCS on some community projects, one of which was rebuilding the bridge. After consulting the community, work was started. Most of the bags of cement used were ferried from Chifwema on the back of my 125 Honda motor bike. The trip took well over an hour. Some days there was over 100 people working, carrying rock, shifting sand, cooking, settings stone and overseeing. This project started me off in the direction I am now going. I lost over 40 pounds living in the village; but gained well over 40 pounds of knowledge from the people, about themselves and mother Africa.

Status: Completed

Funder: VSO and VOCS

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