Report from BHW Zambia Partnership Facilitator

Key person: Sarah Nyirenda

Recent Events

Income Generation

Pigs
Originally six pregnant females were purchased once the housing was complete. The plan was for these pigs to have two litters per year, with an average of seven piglets in a litter. The piglets would be grown on for three months and then sold for an average price of 1,000ZMK (US$38). After feed costs and medicines, the project was to make a profit of around 40,000ZMK (US$1,500) per year.

So far in the first year, they have had a few struggles with diseases and piglets being eaten by the mothers. They have sold four piglets at 900ZMK, and then two of the older mother pigs at 2,800ZMK (US$105). They sold two of the mothers to ensure they could manage the feeding costs.

Currently they have four sows and 20 piglets that are growing well. The prices are remaining high, and the market is still good. They have learnt a lot in the first year concerning the management of the project. 

They have also been able to source a hammer grinding mill which now helps with the supply of maize bran for feed. (Customers bring maize for grinding and a byproduct is maize bran.)

Chickens
The chickens are proving to be a very good method of helping to feed the household. They are doing batches of 200 birds at a time. When the broilers are ready for sale, they keep 30 birds for feeding the household, and then sell the other 170 (less a few losses), which gives them the capital again to complete another round of 200 birds. This includes all the medicines, feed, charcoal for keeping the chicks warm and bedding.

They have provided the actual numbers, noting that since we did the initial budget the costs have significantly risen. The sale price fluctuates between 100ZMK to 130ZMK (US$3.80-$4.90) depending on the size of the bird at seven weeks.

The household is very thankful for this project that provides consistent meat for consumption.

Grinding Mill
This was donated by another donor and has proved very useful. People from the community come and are charged 4ZMK per gallon of maize to have it ground. This year so far the business is a bit thin as a result of the drought and farmers lacking any maize crop.

A side benefit of the mill is the production of maize bran that they keep and add soyabean cake to which produces very good pig feed. 

Maize Trading
In 2023 a capital amount was given to Ukuseniminwa to purchase bags of maize from growers early in the harvest season, and then to store the maize and sell it later when the price has increased. This was to generate some income, plus be able to ensure a supply of food at reasonable prices from November through to May when food is short in the area.

They initially estimated making a profit of 8,750ZMK but the actual profit came in at 19,150ZMK. The price of buying maize was ok, but they found transportation to be an issue for farmers, so had to go and collect from various areas. However, the selling price was much higher than estimated. They had estimated to sell at 192ZMK per bag, but by selling in medas (5kg tins) they obtained a price of 300ZMK per 50kg bag so a great result for the profit of 19,150 making nearly US$1,000.

With the income received of 60,000ZMK (since Bright Hope World funded all the costs), 40,000ZMK had to be used to keep the household going due to fuel and food price hikes. Zambia has been facing increasing costs of living, and this is going to get worse in the next 12 months. That leaves the capital of this project at 20,000ZMK to buy maize again.

With the drought that has occurred in the country and the President declaring a national famine, around 50% of the provinces have had very poor yields in crops.   

Farming and Gardens

To supplement the food costs of the house, they have continued to farm the land using the methods of Foundations for Farming. They have currently been preparing the land for winter cropping, and vegetable gardens. 

Community Outreach

Ukuseniminwa continues to be a light in the community. They have continued with sports ministry and community empowerment. There are over 350 youth that are impacted in various ways by the programmes. Sarah has witnessed a real change in people who have come to know Jesus and instead of getting drunk, doing drugs or impregnating someone’s daughter, they now are looking for work and being connected with the community. There are three programmes, girls’ corner, women’s programmes and farming empowerment.

With the drought that has occurred many of the lady farmers who were trained in Foundations for Farming and whose maize crops and vegetable gardens have struggled, needed some encouragement to see how they might still be able to provide for their families. A South African lady, Marty Van Zyl, came and helped to teach the ladies in knitting and crocheting to explore new ways of raising a little income in this difficult season.

Vulnerable Children

Sarah continues to look after the 59 children that are with Safe Haven Ukuseniminwa. There are still 11 that are away at deaf boarding schools, completing their education.

The hardest challenge at present is the higher costs of living, especially food and fuel. Thankfully due to the gardens and crops they have grown they have at least a little to help supplement the household needs.

Personal Stories

Cholwe

Isaiah 41:10 - 'Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

The transformation drives me (Sarah) to want to do more. Cholwe is a deaf girl born with sickle cell disease with little to no hope of an education and a healthy life. From a sad sickly child to a joyful little lady! God is so good. I look at her now and I see a miracle. This is my life to see real lives transformed.  

James Phiri

James has been helped by Ukuseniminwa to go to university to study a Bachelor of Arts with Education. Sarah saw his Grade 12 results, was amazed at how well he had done and didn’t want this man’s intelligence to go to waste.

He had no one to help him out as he stays with his 82-year-old grandmother. His mother is doing nothing to help as she has mental health challenges. He has five other sisters.

Sarah says that “His mum is mentally ill, and he has been coming to do small jobs with us, sponsoring himself to school and at the same time supporting his mum and siblings. When I looked at his results I was brought to tears. He had done so well but wouldn’t get into college because of sponsorship. He is completing his teaching university this year thanks to the education support we receive from Bright Hope World.”

James works very hard in his studies so as not to waste this opportunity he has been given. Currently he still struggles to pay for accommodation at university, buying food stuff and some requirements for the courses he is doing.

Martin

This man, who was one of the first vulnerable deaf children to be in the household, has been going from strength to strength. 

His latest endeavor has been to start his own NGO. They are translating the bible into sign language, as in the signing symbols for each word or letter. He has managed to raise funds and has 12 people who are helping him. 

Current Issues and Challenges

To understand the pressure that people are under for the food staple of maize, we discussed the crops yields and household consumption. The previous season Ukusenaminwa planted half a hectare and harvested 29 bags of maize to help with food for the home. This year they planted ¾ a hectare and harvested not one bag. The rains stopped in late January, and only one more came in late February, so basically no cobs developed.

The household consumes around 270 bags of maize per year, and the price this time last year was 156ZMK, now it is 350ZMK. Mealy meal, which is ground up maize is now 350ZMK per 25kg bag, more than double last year. The price of maize that is around now, will be the cheapest this year as by the end of the year it is expected too at least double again.

In short, the house is in trouble as they currently have no bags of maize in stock. So, they have made some plans:

• Use the grinding mill that was recently donated to them to grind maize up, and receive payment in either money, or a percentage of mealy meal that is ground up.

• With the new bore hole and pump they were donated, they have planted very large portions of winter vegetables, tomatoes, ocra and onions. Because they have access to water via the borehole, this will give them something to sell. The community has come to help with the garden bed preparation and planting and watering, on the understanding that they too will benefit with a supply of vegetables from the garden. Sarah has contacts on the Congo border where they will sell at a price three times higher than in local Kabwe town. They can then use this to buy some maize. 

• Reduce the portion sizes they consume.

 They are now also about to receive a requested top up of 20,000ZMK (US$800) to add back into the capital maize trading fund.

We discussed the potential of buying of maize and where will they be able to source it, since so many local farmers' crops have failed. The area of Serenge has a good supply currently, but that will only remain for a short time. They have requested a change in budget timing, to take US$1,500 off the December payment and send it in June to allow them to get a truck to go and transport the maize before it runs out.  To make a full truck load, there is also a one-off request to send another $750 to help to get the household through this year.

A great side effect of the maize purchased, will be the maize bran created to feed the pigs, as described above. 

Comments

It would be very beneficial to help with maize. One truck can hold around 250 x 50kg bags. This would mean they have around 110 bags for maize trading later in the year, plus another 140 bags for household consumption. With the other initiatives of vegetable growing and the hammer mill, this will go a long way towards feeding the household in this extremely difficult year. The BHW Exec has agreed to send an additional US$750 to maximize a full truck load and therefore reduce freight costs per bag.

The Foundations for Farming course with Edwin from GLO is also very much wanted in the community. Sarah talked with the chief and there has been 35 people selected to attend a two-day training course if approved.