Project Zambia
Encyclopedia
Project Zambia was initiated by St Marys CBGS Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, in 2002.
It was a response by a school in Belfast to the cry of the poverty-stricken people of the compounds of Lusaka
, Zambia
. Since then the project has grown, spreading to communities throughout Belfast. Project Zambia is today undertaken in association with the Congregation of Christian Brothers
, and a recently created NGO, Edmund Rice International.
The Project also seeks to raise awareness of the conditions and causes that offend the human dignity of so many people throughout the world and to forge close bonds of solidarity between communities in Ireland and communities in Zambia.
Intended to link and unite people in Ireland and Zambia, it is hoped that it will help to transform lives and communities in both the rich western world and sub-Saharan Africa.
compound, the primary location for major Project Zambia efforts, is a shanty town
home to around 80,000 people, and is one of the most deprived areas in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV
is common among adults and children, many of whom have lost their parents to the disease. Average life expectancy is just 32. The lack of clean water has led to regular cholera
outbreaks, long eradicated in the western world but still a killer in underdeveloped countries.
As in many Zambian Urban Compounds, food is scarce. Project Zambia is making headway in creating both long and short term solutions to this problem. As well as extending the agricultural project, and providing chicken runs, it is also creating social economy projects, the profits of which feed back into the various projects. An example of this would be the bakery project.
In Kabwata Orphanage the following has been funded:
In Old Kabweza Village (45 km east of Lusaka) they have funded the building of a new four-classroom school.
St Marys CBGS Belfast
St. Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School is a Roman Catholic boys' grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland-History:...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, in 2002.
It was a response by a school in Belfast to the cry of the poverty-stricken people of the compounds of Lusaka
Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. Since then the project has grown, spreading to communities throughout Belfast. Project Zambia is today undertaken in association with the Congregation of Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
, and a recently created NGO, Edmund Rice International.
Goals
Working in partnership with the people in Zambia the Project seeks to help, support and empower the host communities to develop solutions to their problems and difficulties.The Project also seeks to raise awareness of the conditions and causes that offend the human dignity of so many people throughout the world and to forge close bonds of solidarity between communities in Ireland and communities in Zambia.
Intended to link and unite people in Ireland and Zambia, it is hoped that it will help to transform lives and communities in both the rich western world and sub-Saharan Africa.
Misisi compound
MisisiMisisi
Misisi Compound is a shanty town, which is located in Lusaka, Zambia. Misisi has been identified as one of the five worst slums in Sub Saharan Africa. Due to a lack of resources there has been poor record keeping, but according to best estimates, there are between 80 and 90,000 people living in the...
compound, the primary location for major Project Zambia efforts, is a shanty town
Shanty town
A shanty town is a slum settlement of impoverished people who live in improvised dwellings made from scrap materials: often plywood, corrugated metal and sheets of plastic...
home to around 80,000 people, and is one of the most deprived areas in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
is common among adults and children, many of whom have lost their parents to the disease. Average life expectancy is just 32. The lack of clean water has led to regular cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
outbreaks, long eradicated in the western world but still a killer in underdeveloped countries.
As in many Zambian Urban Compounds, food is scarce. Project Zambia is making headway in creating both long and short term solutions to this problem. As well as extending the agricultural project, and providing chicken runs, it is also creating social economy projects, the profits of which feed back into the various projects. An example of this would be the bakery project.
Mapepe Village
Mapepe Village, on the outskirts of Lusaka, Zambia, was recognised as a potential area of development for Project Zambia. Since beginning the development in Mapepe. A school has been built with further development planned for future groups. A chicken run has also been completed, April 2009. This has already brought sustainable income to the people of Mapepe. Two bore holes have also been installed to supply the 2000+ villagers with clean water. Further development is to come in the form of a piggery, a block-making facility, which will be used to improve housing in the village.Project Zambia's work
The St. Lawrence’s Centre in Misisi is entirely transformed with the following achieved so far:- four new classrooms in the school
- major extension completed in the special needs centre
- eight teachers salaries paid
- teachers’ accommodation block and community hall complete
- bore hole and irrigation system put in place leading to the tripling of maze production and a mill built helping with the processing of the maize
- agricultural programme extended and work is on-going
- bakery and chicken runs complete
- three dormitories completed at the Home of Hope
- new kitchens installed for the Home of Hope
- clean water supply installed for the school canteen
- joinery workshop outfitted with new tools and equipment
- work on piggery has begun
In Kabwata Orphanage the following has been funded:
- blankets for the children for the cold season
- new plumbing system installed in the orphanage
In Old Kabweza Village (45 km east of Lusaka) they have funded the building of a new four-classroom school.
- Teachers accommodation is also being built