5. Enhancing the development of Zambian agriculture: We contribute to local Farming and Agricultural shows and events. 

6. Making profit and paying tax: Tax on farming is 15% of profit. Some African countries suffer because much of the involvement from outside the country is based around the activities of aid and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), which don’t pay tax. This diminishes the capacity of the country to do all it needs to for its own people.

7. Creating a base for operations in Zambia and Central Africa: We regularly have groups visiting Zambia to visit our partners.

8. A place for training: We expect to train school leavers from our partnerships who cannot get into formal training. It also provides a place to train and encourage our partners and leaders. 

History Of Partnership

Back in 2002, Rob Purdue and Kevin Honore were travelling together in Zambia. They called into Maplehurst Farm to have a look but after talking to the owners went away with little further interest. 

Driving out of Maplehurst, Rob asked, "What would it take for us to do something like Maplehurst?" As they travelled around, they began to wonder if something like Maplehurst might be a possible way to create funds within the country rather than having to raise donations every year from the West to fund poverty focused partnerships.

Over the period of the discussion it began to become apparent that there might be other reasons to purchase the farm. The work of BHW was rapidly growing in Africa. With an increase in short term missions a base from which to develop was needed, and a place to train some of the older orphans as they left school would be valuable. Rob and Kevin came to the conclusion that if God wanted BHW to have a place, and if it was to be Maplehurst Farm, two things would need to occur quite quickly:
• one major donor to provide the bulk of the purchase price was required;
• someone with the skills to establish and develop the farm for 8-10 years was needed.

Miraculously these two things happened and by June 2005 Maplehurst was taken over by Bright Hope World Zambia.

Beneficiaries

The profit generated on the farm will be distributed to various partnerships in Zambia. Some of the actual partnerships are outlined here to give you an idea of the type of people who will benefit.

- Orphan and vulnerable care and education programme for children in Kawambwa district
- Development of a commercial farm in Kawambwa District
- Orphan and vulnerable care and education programme for children in Chaba village, Chilubi District
- Orphan and vulnerable care and education programme for children in Kaishe village, Samfya District
- Orphan and vulnerable care and education programme for children in Kaniki village, Ndola Rural
- Orphan and vulnerable care and education programme for children in Lulamba township, Chingola City
- Orphan and vulnerable care and education programme for children in Kamatipa village, Chingola Rural
- Orphan and vulnerable care and education programme for children in Chisasa village, Solwezi Rural

What We Like About The Partnership

The biggest attraction is that there is the capacity to generate income within the country of Zambia. However it provides many benefits apart from the profit generated, as outlined above. 

Relationship To Other Partnerships

All the relationships with this partnership are not yet established or determined. The relationships will be of a number of different types:

1. Financial: the partnerships that are funded from the profit

2. Training: many people in existing partnerships will benefit from the training and this will establish relationships. Leaders of other partnerships will come to the place for training and encouragement.  

3. Proximity: there will inevitably be relationships with those close to Kabwe. The most obvious is with Pro Christo (ZAM13 and ZAM25,) who are building a campus on adjacent land given to them by Maplehurst Farm. 

Key People

Leadership Profile

1. Aaron and Suzy Boddy and family. Aaron is the base manager and Suzy is in charge of the financial operations.

2. John and Cisca Vlaming. They arrived in Zambia at the end of December 2007 to take over the farm management. In August 2008 they returned to New Zealand but continue to oversee the running of the farm and make regular visits back there.

Other People Involved

There are about 25 Zambian employees from Ernest the farm manager, milkers, animal stockmen, drivers and guards.

A number of Zambians and New Zealanders are involved as a Board of Directors of the Zambian company that owns the farm. 

Vision And Annual Strategy

Maplehurst Farm has three major bottom lines by which we will measure success:

1. Financial – it has to return 10% on investment per year. A strategic plan will be developed and implemented to increase production and increase the number of cows being milked. In 2008 a tractor was purchased and some equipment.

2. Training – the establishment of a training base in partnership with Pro Christo Global Mission. This will see the development of a campus and the commencement of practical training courses

3. Operations base – teams regularly visit the farm before launching off to visit partners in other parts of Zambia. Other staff use the property as a base of operations in other partnerships. Ongoing maintenance and development continues on the base.

Annual Budget

There is no published budget for the farming operations. The Board of the company that operates the farm has a budget and all income and expenses are measured against that budget.