Food Security for Hungry Families in Zambia

African Artists Community Development Program (AACDP) Communal Farm 

2022 was a great year of growth and learning for the AACDP Communal Farm, resulting from the hard work and ingenuity of the farmers, primarily mothers and grandmothers of children with disabilities in Livingstone, Zambia. They have already begun feeding their families healthy food they’ve grown themselves.

The previous year the AACDP acquired land for the farm. After having it cleared and a well dug, the farmers planted staple crops. In our April 2022 GlobalGiving report, we outlined the next four steps necessary to lead the farm toward self-sufficiency, and are very happy to report the following progress:

1. Creating a vegetable garden: Situated on land served by the first irrigation system, the vegetable garden has already provided crops of cabbage, chard and lettuce. 
2. Starting a goat rearing project: A housing shed has been built, and the first 10 goats were purchased in October. We plan to purchase 10 more in the near future.
3. Installing a second solar submersible water pump system: The second well has been dug, the pump has been purchased and installed. The blocks to support the tank are being made. We still must install the tank, build solar stands and install panels. When that is completed, drip lines can be connected to bring the water to the fields.
4. Purchasing a farm vehicle: A very generous donor contributed funds for a farm vehicle! Sydney Mwamba, our manager in Zambia, located a great used vehicle, a large & capable SUV appropriate for transporting both people and produce.

So the farm is on the path toward self sustainability. As we complete the current projects, we think of the future. 

The next urgent task is fencing the farm to protect crops from the local cattle which roam freely, and to protect the goats from theft.

Looking forward to the near-future we plan to start a fruit orchard! Orange, mango, lemon, banana, guava, avocado trees and more! Talk about seeing the fruits of your labors!!  We also need to build some simple housing so that the farmers and volunteers can stay at the farm from time to time. 

It won't be long before these women will not only cooperatively grow their own food, but also be able to sell their produce to the community.

Tuesday, November 29, 2022 is Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement, a day when people around the world come together for one common purpose: to celebrate and encourage generosity. This year GlobalGiving is offering a $1,200,000 Incentive Fund that will be distributed to participants based on the total of their funds raised on Giving Tuesday from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM. 

The AACDP has greatly benefitted from previous matching donations from GlobalGiving, and we hope people will seize this year-end opportunity to have their generosity increased. In addition to counting toward the incentive fund match, new monthly donations are also eligible for a one time 100% match (up to $200, paid after four monthly payments). If you are interested in playing an ongoing role in the development of the Communal Farm, Giving Tuesday is the perfect time to help this hardworking and deserving community.

Links:

• AACDP web site