Country: Zambia

Area of focus: Kawama, Chifubu constituency

Population: 22,000

The COINS Foundation’s initial link with Kawama was through a local charity called the Kawama Widows and Orphans Project (KWOP). Since we believe in inclusive community development our relationship then extended to the wider community. Together we are working in partnership to improve the wellbeing of the residents. Together we are creating a flexible Community Development Plan (CDP) to address the most urgent needs as identified by the community.

Our project contacts in Kawama are Rex Chipoya and Ellinor Mukokili. Rex is a Chaplin and Ellinor headed the charity KWOP, both Rex and Ellinor therefore have a close relationship with the community and share a common goal to develop the livelihood of the all the people in the community. 

In the mid-1970s the price of copper, Zambia's main export, suffered a global decline. This was one of the main reasons why Zambia turned to foreign lenders for aid; repayments became increasingly difficult as the copper prices remained severely depressed and commodity prices increased. By the mid-1990s, Zambia's per capita foreign debt remained among the highest in the world. Despite the $3.8 billion debt relief in the 2005 G8, Zambia’s global monetary obligations are creeping up again. From being ranked the most developed country in sub-Saharan Africa in 1991 it is now one of the poorest countries in the world with 68% of its people living below the national poverty line. 

The situation has created widespread poverty and homelessness. Opportunities for employment and sanitation are heavily diminished and so the vicious circle of a poor economy continues. At the COINS Foundation we are working hard to address the needs of some of the most affected people. We work with long-term partners to create projects that change the root causes of poverty. If Zambia can find a solution to the challenges they face which can give a sustainable result, they will work towards a more secure future.

 

Kawama is a rural area in the Copper Belt of Northern Zambia; it was affected greatly by the copper crisis. Many people lost their jobs and were forced out of the city (Ndola) into rural communities like Kawama where life was much cheaper but also much poorer. Opportunities for employment, education and clean housing are far reduced in rural area; here in Kawama, where people’s lives are challenging implementing an adaptable Community Development Plan that can meet the changing needs of the people, will not only empower them but also make for an inclusive society.  

KWOP is an organisation working for the betterment of the community of the Kawama. They began as a group of widows who took it upon themselves to provide care and guidance to orphans and widows. They offered a range of services that could rebuild the lives of these people. They established: 

Our Partnership with the Kawama community                              

CF CEO meeting with Rex and Ellinor

The COINS Foundation has identified this organisation as one that shares a vision of inclusive community development. Together we have the potential to develop an entire community. 

Early practical projects are likely to be: 

Our goal: To develop long-term solutions to affect permanent change for Kawama; a model practice that can be replicated across the country.

In February 2009 we hired 10 zone co-ordinators to work at a very local level to gather and disseminate information for the Community Development Plan and to act as liaison for delivery of very local elements of the strategy. Together with our project partners, these representatives of the community, we evaluate what needs to be down within the framework of the CDP.   

Whilst Ric Law, the COINS Foundation’s CEO, is visiting our partners he regularly updates the COINS Foundation blog with news. Check out the latest entries - ‘Tales of Africa’.