Community Projects

Chipembele

In April 2009, the community of Chipmebele, which includes many disabled people, received a Hammer mill from HHI UK which cost £2,500. It is capable of grinding maize into different grades of mealie meal. This is the staple diet for all Zambians and grinding maize is a necessity. 40-50 people each day come to visit the Chipembele hammer mill and pay small amount to grind their bag of Maize. The income has already allowed the community to open a bank account and to purchase 35 goats, food and a bicycle.

A hammer mill needs to be protected from rain and it needs to be firmly fixed onto concrete as it is a powerful machine. The people had a dilemma in that their disabilities prevented them from building the required hammer mill shelter. However, they crushed stones and made bricks in readiness and, in August 2008, 13 Explorer Scouts and their leaders from Strathaven, Scotland, visited Chipembele and worked very hard to build the hammer mill hut. Having had a brief brick laying course before they visited Zambia, they managed to do an excellent job. They were even able to raise funds to pay for the roofing materials. The people of Chipembele are now aiming to use some of their income to support other communities.

Ntambo Disabled Community Monze East.

Ntambo community is a good example of the many communities which HHI has helped in the Monze district. This community consists of a large number of disabled people who have registered as a cooperative and have received training and guidance from Opportunity Zambia. HHI has helped them with maize seed and fertilizer so that the community can plant when the rains start to fall in November.

The people of Ntambo aim to grow enough maize to feed themselves and to harvest additional maize to provide food security for the following year. They have also received 10 female goats which were funded by the HHI alternative gift catalogue and which will give an additional income when the kids are sold for meat. They have also been given a bicycle, mobility aids and a manual sewing machine from the container which is sent to Zambia each year.

This hard working community produces craft products such as rag rugs, clay pottery, and baskets. The bicycle will give them the means to take their goods to be sold in a local market. HHI is also working with this community to bring some of the basket work to the UK to sell.

Communication with many of these rural cooperatives is limited but HHI has made sure that communities like Ntambo are kept in touch with news and views especially those affecting the disabled by giving them solar radios. Jonah Sialumano who is in charge of Disability Affairs at HHI Monze has often spoken about disability issues on local radio stations such as SKY FM. The programmes are intended to inform people about the rights and opportunities available for those who are living with physical challenges. It also informs parents and guardians where they can go for help and support.

Other disabled communities helped in a similar way as Ntambo include Mahiba, Kachiloma, Nabukuyu, Hatontola, and Kocileme Kunwigwa Menda.