Project Zambia ( ga, Tionscadal na Saimbia) was initiated by St Marys CBGS Belfast,

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

, in 2002. It was a response by the school in Belfast to the issue of poverty in the compounds of Lusaka,

Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are t ...

. Since then the project has grown beyond the school. Project Zambia is today undertaken in association with the

Congregation of Christian Brothers The Congregation of Christian Brothers ( la, Congregatio Fratrum Christianorum; abbreviated CFC) is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, Edmund Rice. Their first school was opened i ...

, and an

NGO A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...

, Edmund Rice International.

Goals

Working in partnership with the people in Zambia, the project seeks to help, support and empower the host communities to develop solutions to their problems and difficulties. The project also reputedly seeks to raise awareness of the conditions and causes that offend the human dignity of so many people throughout the world and to forge close bonds of solidarity between communities in Ireland and communities in Zambia.

Misisi compound

Misisi Misisi Compound is a shanty town or komboni located in Lusaka, Zambia. In 2008, it was estimated to have 10,000 inhabitants. Plans for redevelopment were announced by President Edgar Lungu in 2019. Foundation Misisi was established in the mid ...

compound, the primary location for Project Zambia's efforts, is a shanty town home to around 80,000 people, and is one of the most deprived areas in sub-Saharan Africa.

HIV The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...

is common among adults and children, many of whom have lost their parents to the disease. Average life expectancy is just 32. The lack of clean water has led to regular cholera outbreaks. As in other Zambian urban compounds, food is scarce. Project Zambia is making headway in creating solutions to this problem. As well as extending the agricultural project, and providing chicken runs, it is also creating social economy projects, the profits of which feed back into the various projects. An example of this is the bakery project.

Mapepe village

Mapepe, a village on the outskirts of Lusaka, Zambia, was recognised as a potential area of development for Project Zambia. Since beginning the development in Mapepe, a school has been built with further development planned for future groups. A chicken run was also completed as of April 2009. Two bore holes have also been installed to supply the 2000 villagers with clean water.

References

{{reflist

External links

ProjectZambia.com
(archived / May 2019) Charities based in Northern Ireland Development charities based in the United Kingdom Educational charities Foreign charities operating in Zambia 2002 establishments in Northern Ireland