The Siachitema community programme
The Siachitema community development programme is located in
Kalomo district and reaches a total population of 30,000. World
Vision's partnership with Siachitema started in 1995 and is
envisaged to be come to an end in September 2012. Then, the
community will be fully equipped with the resources and skills to
continue on their development journey without World Vision's help.
In the past year, significant improvements were made in the areas
of economic development, nutrition, and health and sanitation.
Issues covered: Health, water,
sanitation, economic development and nutrition
Updates on World Vision's work
Economic development and nutrition
- 115 farmers' groups (representing 2300 households) worked with
the Zambia Farmers' Union to build a shed that can store up to 1000
tonnes of crops and produce, where produce can also be sold from.
This step will help reduce marketing costs, raise families'
household income and nutrition, benefiting about 7500
children.
- 1565 community members participated in training sessions on
food preservation, processing and storage to ensure food supplies
are available right through lean seasons.
Health, water and sanitation
- 13 new boreholes were drilled and another five repaired,
enabling 4500 community members to access clean and safe water, and
to reduce the prevalence of water-borne diseases.
- To improve access to better sanitation for poor vulnerable
communities and school children, 200 sanitation platform (cement
latrines) and 120 ventilated pit latrines were installed in
households.
The Siachitema community is in the eighteenth year of its
development journey with World Vision.
Life on
the ground in Siachitema
Mubanga High School ensures quality
education
The new Mubanga High School, built with
the support of generous Kiwis, was officially opened on 4 August
2011.
The final construction phase of the newly built Mubanga High
School in the Siachitema community was competed in 2011, and the
school was officially handed over by World Vision to the government
of the Republic of Zambia on 4 August 2011. Solar panels were
installed in the science laboratory to provide lighting and power.
In addition, a borehole was sunk and a water tank of 10,000 litres
installed at the school, not only to supply clean and safe water to
students and teachers, but also to 350 community members in the
area. Toilets were also installed. The new high school can
accommodate 360 pupils. It also has two dormitories and seven
three-bedroom teachers' houses. Before, high schools and expensive
boarding were located only in main centres. Cretas Mushabati was a
student who completed his high school education in 2008 at one of
the city schools. He said: "I could not afford boarding school, and
had to rent a room in a shanty compound. Life was tough. Some boys
became involved in drugs, and girls in prostitution to raise school
fees." Cretas told Siachitema parents: "You must be happy that your
children can now learn at the new Mubanga high School under your
watchful eye". To ensure that the community is prepared for future
expansion of the school infrastructure, people came together and
moulded 133, 000 bricks to store. Community leaders are also
involved in awareness-raising campaigns to educate children,
parents and teachers on the importance of education to help reduce
poverty.
Zambia at a glance
While rich in wildlife and scenery such as the spectacular
Victoria Falls, economically-speaking Zambia is one of the poorest
countries in the world. Contributing to Zambia's poverty is the
high rate of HIV and AIDS among its population.
