In an effort to reverse the downward spiral of poverty and hopelessness in Zambia, three organizations have partnered together to educate Zambian citizens concerning basic nutrition and enhanced agriculture techniques. This multi-faceted international partnership (Feed Zambia Partnership) will consist of the following organizations:
- Seeds of Hope International Partnerships Inc. (SHIP), Arroyo Grande, California and Ndola, Zambia;
- California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly),San Luis Obispo, California;
- Northrise University (NU), Ndola, Zambia; and
- Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa.
The Feed Zambia Partnership will give Zambians the education and experience necessary to improve their way of life now and for future generations. Through this international partnership of universities, non-government organizations (NGO’s), community members, and Zambian nationals, a mentorship program will be developed impacting multiple levels of Zambian society. The goals of this program are to
- increase access to university level agriculture, science and nutrition education for impoverished farmers;
- demonstrate self-sustainable farms in communities and schools;
- establish a controlled demonstration farm for research with an accessible link directly to the community;
- initiate lasting and positive change in a severely poverty stricken region;
- create economic opportunities for small holder farmers;
- empower Zambians to be successful by giving them additional tools in business development, agricultural improvements, and education (nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation); and
- decrease the prevalence of new cases of nutritionally related diseases.
Through this partnership and grant, SHIP intends to expand their operations to include educational classes in agriculture and nutrition using their credible reputation and a network of relationships already established with local authorities and community members throughout Zambia. By adopting Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” philosophy, SHIP plans to educate local farmers and students in using new agricultural techniques at community farms. Initially, one community farm will be established in the Town Center of Ndola, Zambia and will have the capacity to educate 40 farmers per year. Demonstration gardens and basic nutrition classes will also be established at 2 primary/secondary schools near the Town Center. They will educate approximately 700 students at each school representing 11,000 family members per year. Two years after establishing a mentorship program in the Town Center, SHIP intends to expand its program to four other communities in the Ndola vicinity. Over 5 years potentially 600 local farmers and 10,000 students indirectly representing 80,000 family members will be taught better nutrition and farming practices. At the end of the year-long class, Zambian farmers and students will have learned new techniques to improve farm production as well as basic nutrition. These combined components will offer a renewed hope for their future.
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Several groups of students at Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, CA have been coming alongside Seeds of Hope to help with our work in Zambia. In 2004, the SIFE Club (Students in Financial Enterprise) helped Seeds of Hope create business plans for some our projects in Zambia. Cal Poly alumni and SIFE member Shiran Chi went to Zambia in the summer of 2004 and did business trainings. In January 2007, the SIFE club held a fundraiser for Seeds of Hope on Cal Poly’s campus.
In fall 2006, Professor Liz Schlemer connected Seeds of Hope with a Cal Poly engineering class focused on new product design. The class worked to develop a compressed earth block maker which was then shipped to Zambia in our container.
Most recently, SHIP has been asked to participate in a new agriculture project with Cal Poly, Dordt University, and Northrise University. Northrise is Christian university in Ndola, Zambia, committed to educating Zambians with skills in business and leadership. We will help in establishing a research project with Northrise University’s new College of Sustainable Agriculture Sciences. Utilizing the sustainable agriculture expertise of Cal Poly and Dort universities, this research project will facilitate bringing nutrition and education to the communities in Zambia where SHIP is working. A 15 year grant with USAID has been applied for to help fund this exciting endeavor. Please pray for this partnership, this project, and this grant that will bring food, health, and hope to those in need.
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