Poverty , Transforming lives

Thank you child sponsors!

Families in Mpika, Zambia, say thank you to Australian child sponsors for empowering them to change the future for their children.

12 life-changing years in Mpika

12 life-changing years in Mpika

After 12 years of work with the Mpika community, there are many achievements to celebrate as we prepare to say goodbye.

When the project started, most families were struggling to grow enough food and few had access to clean water. There weren't enough schools or health clinics and child abuse was a major concern. 

Thanks to the help of Australian sponsors, children in the Mpika community have improved access to education and clean water, their families have more opportunities to earn income and children are better protected from harm. 

Before World Vision partnered with the community, schools lacked basics like furniture and electricity. Now classrooms are much brighter and children have desks to sit at and audiovisual equipment to support their learning. 

Mpika community class World Vision

Mpika community classroom

Celebrating 12 life-changing years in Mpika

How the community has changed

 

2,144 children are benefiting from improved access to education

One primary school was built and seven schools equipped with furniture and learning aids. 

  • A science lab, a library and a toilet block have been built at the local secondary school in a special project supported by Scotch College in Melbourne. These improvements are helping to give students a much greater chance of successfully completing high school.
  • Parent-Teacher Associations have gained knowledge and skills to work with the government to ensure ongoing maintenance and improvements to local school facilities.
  • Child Protection Committees have been set up in schools and villages. They report child abuse incidents to authorities including the Zambia Police Victim Support Unit.

120,000 mosquito nets were distributed to protect children from malaria

This was accompanied by malaria prevention awareness campaigns.

  • Two health centres have been built in collaboration with the local government to increase families' access to essential healthcare. A borehole was also drilled next to each health centre to ensure a sustainable supply of clean water.
  • Safe Motherhood Action Groups have been set up to provide maternal and child health and nutrition support and education to local families.

11,000 people gained access to clean water following construction of 17 boreholes

Three of these boreholes have mechanised pumps so farmers can irrigate vegetable gardens. 

  • Local committees have been established and trained to maintain water infrastructure and administer a fee for a service system to cover maintenance costs.
  • Teachers have been trained on how to deliver hygiene awareness education and support and encourage their students to adopt good hygiene practices.

 

"The [new] clinic caters for over 5,000 people and now local residents have access to health services within their reach."

- Ethel, nurse-in-charge, community health clinic

 

 

Savings groups improve lives

Thanks to the generous support of child sponsors, 122 local savings groups with 1,884 members have been set up across the Mpika community to improve household incomes. 

Judith holding child with husband

Group members contribute a small amount each month to a joint fund which they can access in the form of low-cost loans to cover household expenses and invest in farming and other business activities. 

Group member Judith and her husband (pictured) have been able to replace their small grass thatched house with a new, larger brick home by taking out loans from the group. 

Judith has become a savings group promoter, sharing her experience to help form and mentor other savings groups. "I feel really good and proud of what I've done. I feel very smart."

"Savings groups are like village banks and I help other groups because I want to make sure other women benefit like me."

- Judith, savings group member

 

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