Real LivesCAFOD’s work in Zambia

Why does CAFOD work in Zambia?

• Zambia is a poor country.

• There is great need • Life expectancy is

40 years.• Millions live on less

than one dollar, or about 60p, a day.

What makes Zambia poor?

• About 16% of people are living with AIDS or HIV.

• 50% are unemployed• Copper mining is an

important industry but all the mines are owned by foreign companies.

• Extreme weather – such as terriblefloods in 2002.

• Tens of thousands of refugee soldiers fleeing the Congo.

Who does CAFOD help?

The Myambo family lives in Southern Zambia,in the village of Kalisowe, 56 km from Monze.

CAFOD has provided

• Two water pumps for their village – one is solar powered.

• The water supplies 300 homes and the school, and is used to water plants.

Before the pumps…

During the drought, people were walking up to 15 km to a water supply. Then they had to dig to reach the water.

Clean water means health:

• Less walking to collect water.

• Clean water does not carry disease.

• The family can grow fruit and vegetables and enjoy a more varied diet.

“We used to share dirty water with the animals but now we have clean water.” Anolaska Myambo, aged 14

The water pumps mean more free time for games, music and growing vegetables.

“When I’m free I like reading and playing. I like skipping.”

Odetta Myambo, 9

“When I’m free I like to play around with my

friends, we play netball.”

Anolaska Myambo, 14

“I also play music with the Jabalando Brothers – it’s a good way of spending time. I hope we can be a big band in the future. I play the instrument called the babatone.” Pancritias Myambo, 17

The school garden

• Provides both training in agricultural skills and food to eat and sell.

• This is long-term development – helping people to help themselves in ways that will last.

“The school garden is really good … Before the garden there was no source of income. Now we can sell tomatoes and use the money to buy clothes. Before there was a lot of hunger but now it’s much better because we have things to grow.”

Anolaska Myambo, aged 14

The school garden

Extreme weather means …

During the rainy season, the village was completely cut off by the rivers so children could not go to school.

Rain in Africa

So CAFOD helped …

• the ministry of education makes radio programmes.

• CAFOD helps to broadcast on the local community radio station.

“I’m studying grade 5 in the community school.… In the other schools you have to pay school fees but here you just learn for free; it’s great!”

Pancritias Myambo,

aged 17

There is still work to be done

“We want to build a proper school building so it becomes a reasonable school. At the school progress is ok but I would like someone trained to teach.”

Elisias Myambo (father)

Health is still an issue

• Two of the Myambo children have epilepsy.

• This is often triggered by malaria.

• The clinics are still a 15 km walk.

“We need electricity for education and a clinic because there’s nothing near here. If someone is seriously sick they could die before we can get them there.”Monica Mulongo

Message of thanks

“I am very thankful that God gave us people like CAFOD … It is important because we are starting to get agricultural skills. Before we didn’t have water, but now we do.”

Elisias Myambo

Picture credits:

Caroline Irby, Annie Bungeroth, Gideon Mendel,

Jerry Callow / PANOS PICTURES