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A community’s proactive approach pays off

A community’s proactive approach pays off

A community-led approach to development results in sustainable initiatives. This is the spirit shown by members of the Masebela Community in the Kabile Ward of Chibombo district. A month ago, a member from Kalubila village of the Masebela community invited ZGF through a letter seeking a partnership between their community and ZGF in completing a classroom block which the community had already started to construct. Although the ZGF approach is not emphasising infrastructure development, we found this an opportunity to introduce the Community Foundation concept to the Masebela Community.  ZGF believes that establishing a functional community foundation is one effective way that a community can take charge of their development.

On 6 July 2023, I was one of the team members to visit Kalubila Village, where we found a half-constructed classroom block built from the community’s own resources. To the team’s surprise, we found over 30 people gathered and came to learn that Kalubila village is one of the three villages that make up the Masebela Community. Among the people gathered were the Councillor for Kabile Ward, the Constituency Chairperson, the three Village Headpersons and two teachers from the Zonal School, Kalala School, besides Masebela Community School’s Parents Teachers Committee members. Kalala School, situated over 6 kilometres from Lusaka-Mumbwa Road, is the nearest Government school to the Masebela community.

Village Headwoman of Kalubila shared a poignant story of how in 2010, a young girl lost her life while walking to Kalala school. This tragic incident compelled the community, traditional leaders, and civic leaders to seek a solution. The Village Head person of Kalubila provided land for the establishment of the Masebela Community School, hoping to create a safe environment for young children to access some education.

The Deputy headteacher of Kalala Primary and School, Ms Machila, shared that now that Masebela Community has a community school from Early Childhood Education to Grade 2, young children wouldn’t have to travel a long distance to Kalala School which is the nearest, posing safety risks. Their duty as a zonal school is to offer short pedagogical training to the two untrained teachers at Masebela school to improve their teaching methods so that children receive a quality education.

The Kabile Ward Councillor, Mr Kalimukwa, expressed his happiness in how the community has been cooperating and encouraged them to continue working together even as they engage the Ward Development Committee (WDC) for support.

Through a River Code Role play performed by two schoolgirls, the ZGF team introduced and explained its community-led development approach, where ZGF and the community should work together in tackling development challenges, with the community making decisions. To deepen local giving and not perpetually depend on external support, ZGF introduced the concept of community foundations and asked the community whether they were willing to establish one with ZGF support.  The Masebela community members present embraced the approach, recognising its potential for improving its community and avoiding over-dependency on external donor support.

If your community is interested in setting up a Community Foundation in your community, please get in touch with ZGF at zgf@zgf.org.zm

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