Tag Archives: Zambia

A Young Girl’s Walk for Water

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Water is a vital resource for agriculture, sanitation and for all human existence. Yet 780 million people do not have access to clean water. In recognition of World Water Day on March 22, Heifer International is highlighting the need for those struggling to emerge from poverty to have reliable access to water.  

Water. A simple requirement for many of us in the world, but not for Idess, a young girl living in Zambia who has to walk a mile four or five times a day to retrieve just a bucket of water or two.

Idess lives just outside of Ndola, Zambia, in a community called Kanyenda, with her family, which has received goats from Heifer International. At 15, Idess is in the 8th grade but school isn’t her only responsibility. She and her mother, Dainess, 46, are also tasked with going to fetch water from the community well. Though she is in her teenage years, Idess understands her role in the family dynamic.

Girl in Zambia who walks for water

Idess, a 15-year old girl with much hope, thanks to Heifer

I was able to spend time with Idess and her mother one Saturday to learn how they spend each day on chores like fetching water and cooking for the family. Though I had arrived early in the morning, they had already gone to bring water back once that day for the morning’s tasks. It was already time to walk back to the well to bring water for the preparation of  the family’s lunch.

We grabbed our buckets and began to make the walk in the hot, African sun even though Idess and her mother do not wear shoes. As we started to walk, Idess stayed close by my side to make sure I didn’t have any trouble carrying the empty buckets or get lost along the multiple dirt roads. Though she was young, she had made this walk so many times she does it with ease.

After about 25-30 minutes, we arrived at the well, about 40 feet deep. Attached to the well was a yellow Jerry can that is dropped into the well to lift out the water. Dainess showed us how to drop the can in the well and lift it out to pour it into the bucket. She did it with such grace that the 30-pound bucket seemed effortless to lift up. Next was my turn to try. After one unsuccessful attempt to fill the bucket full of water, I tried again. Idess explained that you have to turn the can to the side and lift up, turn the can and lift up again to get it fully filled.

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It was time to lift the can out of the well. My attempt had none of the grace of Dainess’ maneuverings. The bucket was heavy, the rope was wet and my hands were not strong enough to hold the rope and pull it up out of the well. Idess gave me a sweet smile and then asked if she could help. Water is a resource that no one can live without and she understands the importance of bringing back as much water as you can each trip.

Once our buckets were filled with water, it was time to return. I wanted to try to carry the water on my head the way Dainess and Idess do, to try to understand how they live each day. Idess helped me as I placed the bucket on my head. As the 15-25 lb bucket of water settled on my head, I started to feel the tension in my shoulders, back and mostly my neck. As we began to walk, water slowly sloshed out of the bucket onto my face, shirt and pants. (I had a real fear that there would be no water left in the bucket once we arrived at their house.) As we walked back, everyone was much quieter, focusing on their load. 

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Carrying back the water, though using two hands is cheating

After about 30 minutes, we arrived back at the house with water left in all buckets to use for cooking. To retrieve the water took about an hour and a half. Cooking prep took another hour, as did the cooking process. After about 3 hours, we had retrieved water, prepared food and cooked. Most days, Dainess and Idess have to do this two to three times for their family.

Zmabia women making lunch

Dainess prepares lunch with the water that was collected.

The water we collected was to cook and wash dishes with for that day. The other water collected will be for the goats the family received from Heifer, for the family’s consumption, small garden and for bathing.

As we think about World Water Day, let’s think about Idess. Her hopeful smile shows that the work we do at Heifer is impacting her family by showing them how to manage water consumption and practice water conservation to not only improve their lives, but the environment as well.

Give the gift of clean water today.

Heifer Zambia to Participate in Annual Dairy Forum

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Heifer International’s Zambia office is proud to announce Zambia’s first annual dairy forum in Lusaka on December 20, 2012. The Heifer Zambia office was approached by the organizers to put together a presentation and develop strategies for making this dairy forum successful in achieving two significant objectives under the theme of “Dairy for nutrition, incomes and job creation.”

Heifer Zambia Fisenge Dairy Cattle Project Phase II

Heifer Zambia Fisenge Dairy Cattle Project participant. Photo by Geoff Oliver Bugbee, courtesy of Heifer International.

The Government of Zambia would like to get input that will contribute to livestock development policies currently under development. Additionally, they would like for the stakeholders in attendance to provide key priority areas that will promote rapid growth in the dairy sector, meeting or exceeding the country’s great potential in this area.

Heifer ZambiaFour agencies will support the coordination of the agenda for this event alongside Heifer Zambia. They include representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Agriculture Consultative Forum, Dairy Association of Zambia and SNV.

Together these agencies are at the forefront of dairy sector development in Zambia, and Heifer Zambia is proud to be a part of this momentous occasion with key presentations to include:

  • Historical Perspectives and Current Status of the Performance and Competitiveness of the Dairy Sub Sector in Zambia by Prof. Pandey (GART)
  • Government Policy, Incentives and Programs Supporting the Diary Industry by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
  • Dairy Sub Sector Challenges and Opportunities; Community and women empowerment in the dairy sub sector: Challenges and opportunities by Heifer          International
  • Private-Public Partnerships in the Dairy Sub Sector by World Food Program
  • Dairy Markets for Smallholder Farmers: Innovations, Opportunities and Challenges by MUSIKA

This event is strictly by invitation only and will take place in the Government Complex, Lusaka, Zambia.

Heifer Zambia Family Receives Visit From Minister of Gender and Children

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Heifer Zambia participant Mrs. Elizabeth Lungu lives in a tiny brick hut in a small, remote village in the community of Baraka in Mpima District, Zambia. She shares her home with her husband and their small children. On the hot, dry day that we visited her, there was not a cloud in the bright blue sky. There was a lot of commotion when our car pulled up at her home. Women in colorful Kitenge, or sarongs, gathered curiously around the yard. Children fled to cling to their mothers’ skirts, away from the visitors. Babies on their mothers’ backs looked on skeptically.

We were accompanied on this visit by the Zambian minister of Gender and Children, Mrs. Inonge Wina, a slight but passionate woman who carries a strong vision for the future of rural women in her country. We were also accompanied by Mr. Zulu, the government extension agent responsible for providing veterinary support to to thousands of families living in this area. He knows the Lungu family well, as he knows many of the livestock-owning families in the area. He is the person they call for advice with their animals or when the animals need veterinary care.

Mrs. Inonge Wina, Zambian minister of Gender and Children, admires the Jersey dairy cow Elizabeth Lungu received from Heifer Zambia. Photo courtesy of Heifer International.

Mrs. Inonge Wina, Zambian minister of Gender and Children, admires the Jersey dairy cow Elizabeth Lungu received from Heifer Zambia. Photo courtesy of Heifer International.

Mr. Zulu approached the cow standing in the shed nearby the family compound with great familiarity. The Jersey dairy cow, imported from South Africa, was provided to the Lungu family by Heifer International through a Heifer Zambia project in December 2011. Within the project, 90 percent of families are headed by women, so the Minister of Gender was very interested in seeing what kind of difference the livestock can make in their lives. She probed for answers: How do they afford to feed and care for the animal? What return do they get? What is the impact on their livelihoods?

Mr. Lungu pulled out the ledger attached to the cow shed door and referred to his records. The animal costs $120 to feed every month. But in return, they earn $340 a month from the sale of milk alone. For them, the economics add up to significant income, far more  in a month than they both made before receiving the gift from Heifer.

For Elizabeth Lungu, the value of the animal extends far beyond its economic benefits. It has given her a tremendous sense of dignity to own something so valuable and to have been able to Pass on the Gift of its offspring to another family in the community as Heifer’s model requires. She has also seen her children become healthier as their milk consumption increased.

The Minister explained that in Zambia, property ownership laws have only recently been changed to allow women the right to own property. For example, the law requires that 30 percent of all land should be owned by women. But this is only the statutory law. Customary law – that which is administered by chiefs and other traditional leaders – has not followed suit. “It is the chiefs who are the custodians of culture, and they are not changing as quickly with the times,” Minister Wina added.

Within this Heifer Zambia project, the livestock is given to the woman and is legally in her name. This way, in the event of her husband’s death or divorce, she will not lose her entitlement or right to the animal. Although she rightfully owns the animal, the entire family receives Heifer training and shares equally the responsibilities and benefits of the livestock.

On the day we visited, a ceremony was being held in the village’s common space to celebrate the Passing on the Gift of 44 animals to new Heifer Zambia participant farmers, who also hoped to see their lives improved like the Lungus have experienced.

The Minister nodded in understanding and amazement over Heifer’s model. “This is truly how you make a difference in the lives of people.”

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Laura Bush Visits Heifer Zambia

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Former First Lady of the U.S. Laura Bush visited Zambia last month and took the time to visit one of Heifer International’s project sites there. She toured the Mpima milk processing center in Kabwe, and got to meet some of the families working with Heifer there.

Thank you from First Lady Laura Bush
A gracious thank-you note from former First Lady Laura Bush to Heifer Zambia director James Kasongo.
Mrs. Bush says she is grateful for Heifer’s work and “all the ways you help the people of Zambia.”  But the gratitude lies on our side: Heifer is extemely appreciative of the time Mrs. Bush took to learn more about our Zambia projects and learn about the needs of people there.  
 

Heifer Around the Web: Garbage-Men Care For the Earth with Eco-Friendly Music

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Every Sunday we will highlight some of the people who are funding our work creatively or helping us spread the word of our mission online. If you spot Heifer International while you’re surfing the web or know of a fun or creative fundraising effort, please share it with us here in the comments.

This is one of the most interesting stories I’ve come across lately. The Garbage-Men, a fun eco-friendly band of teenagers from Sarasota, Florida, make music using instruments made from recycled materials: guitars from boxes, a horn from pipes, and a keyboard from old bottles. Not only are they eco-friendy and care for the Earth, they give 100 percent of the money from one of their CDs, as well as money from merchandise, to Heifer. Read all about The Garbage Men on Time for Kids and their own website, thegarbagemen.com.

Garbage-Men play instruments from recycled objects

Teen band The Garbage-Men perform: (left to right) Jack Berry, Ollie Gray, Harrison Paparatto, Austin Siegel and Evan Tucker. Photo by Robin Rosen, www.timeforkids.com.

Basketball game for Heifer

Faculty and staff play students in a basketball game that benefits Heifer International. Photo credit: www.wabi.tv

Further north in Maine, the International Club at Eastern Maine Community College put together a basketball game with teams made up of students vs. coaches and faculty – entertaining for all. All the proceeds went to Heifer International. Watch some video taken by the local news here.

You’ll want to keep an eye on this group of adventures, the Arkansas Chuggabuggs. They are taking part in the grueling Mongol Rally, a 10,000 kilometer, six-week adventure across Eurasia in a second-hand car. They’ve selected Heifer  International as their team’s charity, and we can’t wait to hear more about their adventure!

Teen volunteer Kara Shen, of Central Bucks East, was honored at the 2012 Bucks County Teen Volunteer of the Year awards ceremony along with about a dozen other teens. Her work includes volunteering at Doylestown Hospital, teaching English to a class at a rural elementary school in Taiwan, serving as a peer tutor and participating in various service initiatives through Heifer International and the Key Club. Congratulations Kara!

Turkey at Heifer Ranch

A turkey walking the grounds at Heifer Ranch. Photo Credit: Flour Sack Mama

Flour Sack Mama (read the about section to find out the reason for the interesting name) blogger and her family visited Heifer Ranch. She wrote about their experiences and the Ranch itself every day this past week, well worth the read.

Nchimunya Muganya writes an opinion piece for the Times of Zambia on the positives of goat farming, and gives Heifer a mention about our willingness to set up a goat processing plan to enhance processing technology and value addition in the sector.

 

Give a Goat: It’s the Poor Man’s Cow

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Goats are versatile animals and are at home in a number of environments. Heifer uses goats in projects from Albania to India to Uganda. In addition to being one of Heifer International’s most popular gift animals, goats are an amazing resource to families.


Photo by Jake Lyell
After childhood illnesses left both Monica Mulongoti and her husband Jackson blind, the couple and their children lived for many years at the Fisenge Blind Center near Luanshya, Zambia. There was only enough food for one meal a day. But then Monica received dairy goats through a project Heifer had begun at the center. Monica now earns $5.38 per day from the sale of the goat milk, and the money affords the family three meals a day. “Heifer goes to those who are really needy, the really poor. They give animals that help us get food for our children,” said Monica.

Preserved Pastures
Grazing animals can damage vegetation and soil. Heifer project recipients are taught zero-grazing: a technique where animals are kept in adequate enclosures and fodder is brought to them. This technique preserves pastures and leads to higher milk outputs and better manure for organic gardening.
Dairy
Goats can have two to three kids a year. More goats means more milk, and more people worldwide drink goat’s milk than cow’s milk. Goat’s milk is easily digestible because of the smaller milk fats. Goat’s milk can also be turned into cheese and yogurt for family consumption and sale.
Education
The sale of extra milk or the money earned from renting a buck to others in the community for breeding can dramatically increase income for a poor family. For many, this enables them to send their children to school, an almost guaranteed way to break the cycle of poverty.
This holiday season, consider giving the gift of a goat in honor of Uncle Steve, whose laugh sounds more like a bleat. And read Heifer CEO Pierre Ferrari’s 18 Ways Goats Change Lives.

Read All About It

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The story of Dan West is a special one to all of us at Heifer headquarters. Without him, we wouldn’t be here. But West’s vision and his original gift cows mean more to many of our beneficiaries—often more than we comprehend. One example is Humphrey and Mercy Mwananyanda who were so inspired that they named their daughter Hope after one of the first heifers shipped overseas to help struggling families.
The Mwananyandas are just one of the many families Heifer is helping in Zambia, through a partnership with Elanco. That story is the main feature in the Holiday edition of World Ark magazine, coming soon to a mailbox near you.
You can also read about coffee’s long journey farms in Mexico to your morning mug, or the article about two young Heifer donors on a quest to raise enough money to buy a camel this year. 
The story of Ryan Bell and his younger sister Meghan is one that I find particularly inspring, and I hope you take a minute to read about the siblings from Connecticut on a quest to raise $5,000 for Heifer no matter how long it takes.
You’ll also find TheMost Important Gift Catalog in the World in this edition, too! Once you’ve picked out the Heifer gifts you’ll be giving this year, please pass it on to friends and neighbors so they can do the same. 

Wash Your Hands

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I tell you what, October is chock full of Official Days. I had no idea!

In addition to being International Day of Rural Women, it’s also Global Handwashing Day.

Handwashing is a critical part of hygiene and health and can mean the difference between life and death in some parts of the world.

We’ve blogged before about the tippy tap, which is a simple, appropriate technology being adopted in several of Heifer’s project communities in Africa.

I saw a tippy tap in action in Uganda, and Marleen New wrote about them on her trip to Zambia.