Mbabala Island - Churches changing a Community Lake Bangweulu, Zambia Executive Summary This proposal seeks to bring life-changing Hope to over 5,000 people living in extreme poverty on Mbabala Island located in Northern Zambia. The key initiatives of this project include: 1) Caring for people living with HIV/AIDS, 2) Livelihood development through agriculture training and microloan capital for 120 families, 3) A clean water initiative (4 new boreholes will be dug), 4) Eco-friendly reforestation of an island almost completely deforested, 5) Introducing energy efficient stoves to minimize the need for charcoal and hardwood. Proposed Budget: $103,195 (over 3 years) Expected Impacts after 3 years: Access to clean drinking water for the entire community (over 5,000 people) Average annual income increased by over 50% for 120 families (approx 960 people) participating in microloan program 86 HIV/AIDS victims given new hope through improved HIV/AIDS care training and health kits Over 15,000 trees planted 100 people trained and using energy efficient stoves to minimize deforestation 5 churches empowered with holistic gospel Project Background Mbabala Island is home to 5,265 people. The island is 25 km long by 2 km wide and is located in the middle of Lake Bangweulu in Samfya District. Nomadic fishermen use the Island as a trading point, bringing fish to trade for basic essentials like maize meal, cloth, oil, and soap. Those living on Mbabala Island face great poverty. The sandy soil prevents much agriculture from growing. There are barely any fruits and vegetables on the island and only a small amount of maize and cassava can be grown. As much as 80 percent of the Islands staple grain must be imported. Malnutrition is rampant and those struggling with HIV/AIDS face great difficulties obtaining enough nutrients to keep themselves healthy.
Page 2 In 2006 the Mbabala HIV/AIDS Care ministry was founded on the island. A representative from Samfya Community Care Providers (SCCP) visited the Island and encouraged the six island churches to work together to assist families affected by HIV/AIDS. Since then, 36 volunteers from 5 churches started caring for 86 clients. The churches contribute food items for their clients in greatest need. They also help families by fetching fire wood and water. Volunteers regularly visit the homes of their clients while church leaders make home visits to share the Gospel with clients who are too sick to come to church. Project Overview This project is designed to address the needs of the people of Mbabala Island in a holistic manner. We are addressing the physical needs of the community through providing clean water, introducing energy efficient stoves, and providing improved care for HIV/AIDS sufferers. We are also building the longterm sustainability of the people through agriculture training, microloan capital, and improved access to medical care. We will also be building into the five local churches through leadership training, evangelism training, and counseling from a local NGO (run by Zambians) that has been operating these types of programs since 2006. The following are brief summaries of the major project initiatives: Figure 1 Mbabala s elementary school overlooking Lake Bangweulu. HIV/AIDS Care Ministry From 2006 until today, this program has been running with literally no resources. The 36 volunteers would love to have training and health kits to better serve the HIV/AIDS patients. With a few resources, the Mbabala HBC could dramatically improve the care and recovery of the 86 clients currently on their program. Figure 2 Mbabala HBC Volunteers
Page 3 Agriculture Training / Microloans We would like to start a microloan program in order to increase the food available on the island. Small loans would be given alongside agricultural training so that the loan recipients could start a small vegetable garden that is capable to grow in sandy soil. These families would be able to eat better as well as sell the surplus to others in the community. In short, if a small loan program was started, the impact would be felt across the whole Island. Health Initiative This initiative would work in partnership with the HIV/AIDS Care ministry to provide skilled medical care and regular hygiene training the HIV/AIDS Care ministry volunteers. The nurse would visit the island once a month to see patients and collect health data. Clean Water Initiative Four boreholes and pumps are planned to be installed on the island. Currently, there are no working wells on the island so the community members must use lake water for bathing, food preparation, and drinking. Because this water is not treated, community members become susceptible to many water borne illnesses. These boreholes will be dug by contracting a Zambian team using a new drilling technique developed an American NGO. Since 2009, the Zambian drilling team has been drilling and repairing wells in the area. This program not only empowers local Zambians, but cuts the cost of drilling the borehole by over 75%. Reforesting Initiative Figure3: Well drilling team Zambia is one of the top five countries for highest rate of deforestation. Firewood and charcoal are used for cooking and without wood those living in poverty resort to burning grass to cook their food. The end result is under cooked food, poor or no water sterilization, and reduced standard of living overall for these families. Loans will be provided through the local church for trees to be purchased for the community. The loans will enable individuals to plant and manage a variety of tree plots. Eucalyptus and Black Wattle trees will be available. They are fast growing trees and good for both firewood as well as building material. The Musenga tree Figure 4: Eucalyptus seedling
Page 4 (Fitherbia) will be available as an agro-forestry tree which within a few years will eliminate the need for chemical nitrogen, saving farmers hundreds of dollars on costly fertilizers. Fruit and Moringa trees will also be offered to offset some of the hunger and poor nutrition on the island. Energy Efficient Stove Program A fuel efficient stove program would be a great complement the reforestation initiative. The rocket stove is the model of fuel efficient stove that would be an excellent design for the needs at Mbalala Island. Over a three year period 100 stoves can be built and sold on the island. Once some prototype models have been built and tested the team will look at initiating a rocket stove manufacturing business right on the island. The stoves will utilize locally available materials and will be built as simply and cost effectively as possible. The group selected to manufacture the stoves will be encouraged to market their stoves on the other islands in the lake and in the swamps where close to 30,000 people live with almost no access to fire wood. Local Church Capacity Building Figure 5: Fuel efficient Rocket Stove Since 2006, Bright Hope has been running a similar program in a nearby community (Samfya). The Bright Hope staff in Zambia has been developing the core team from Samfya to replicate the programs in other nearby communities. This core team (all Zambian nationals) will be doing the training and counseling with the church leaders and volunteers in Mbabala. The leaders from Mbabala will also be invited to different workshops including: church leadership development, evangelism training, and sustainable church-fundraising activities. Figure 6 Children gathered at the local school
Page 5 Monitoring and Evaluation Monitoring and Evaluation will be done by Bright Hope in-country field staff, Mark and Carmen Brubacher. Bright Hope will provide two written reports per year. Additional reports available upon donor request. 2012 2014 Mbabala Island Project Budget Activity Number Description unit 1. HIV/AIDS Care Ministry Number of units Frequency 2012 Budget 2013 Budget 2014 Budget 1.1 Care Provider Training per person 40 3 635 635 635 1.2 Care Provider Health Kits per person 36 1 3,175 3,175 3,175 1.3 Client Health Monitoring Books per person 86 1 1,060 - - 2. Agriculture Training / Microloans 2.1 Kitchen Garden/microloan Training Per Person 40 2 425 425 425 2.2 Kitchen Garden Loans Per Person 36 1 7,620 7,620 7,620 3. Health Initiative 3.1 Health Coordinator Salary per month 12 1 2,200 2,200 2,200 3.2 Transportation and Monitoring and Evaluation per trip 1 12 2,115 2,115 2,115 4. Clean Water Initiative (1st year only) 4.1 Water and Sanitation Training per Person 40 1 210 Drilling 4 new boreholes with per 4.2 pumps Borehole 4 1 7,055 5. Reforesting (5000 trees per year / 15,000 over 3 years) 5.1 Trees Tree 5,000 1 3,525 3,525 3,525 5.2 Fertilizer Tree 5,000 1 880 880 880 5.3 Seedling bags Tree 5,000 1 175 175 175 5.4 Transport Trip 1 6 840 840 840 5.5 Training Trip 1 6 1,050 1,050 1,050 6. Energy Efficient Stoves (33 per year/ 100 over 3 years) 6.1 Stove research and sourcing lump sump 1 1 635 6.2 Materials for stoves per stove 1 33 1,830 1,830 1,830 6.3 Transport across lake per trip 1 4 500 500 500 6.4 Stove use training per training 1 2 635 635 635 7. Local Church Capacity Building 7.1 Local NGO support lump sump 1 1 6,920 5250 5250 Project Total 41,485 30,855 30,855 3-year total = 103,195
Page 6 Next Steps The pain of poverty is an everyday reality for those living on Mbabala Island. Lack of clean water, insufficent food sources, and weak medical care contribute to the feelings of deseperation. However, the churches on the island are mobilized to fight against sickness and poverty within their community. Through this proposal, great impacts can be made to increase the food and clean water supply, care for those suffering from HIV/AIDS, as well as strengthening the local churches on the island. Won t you come alongside Bright Hope and the local churches in Mbabala to make a difference in this island community? Figure 7 Overlooking Lake Bangweulu