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Zambia: Strengthening and consolidating our work.

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, give a man a rod and you feed him for life.”

SMIDOS

Through our involvement with the Wales for Zambia Consortium and SMIDOS (Small and Medium Sized International Development Organisations in Wales), we have been warned against creating African communities dependent on charitable donations. I do not think that HHI is in danger of doing this. We aim to lift the sick and disabled on to an equal ‘playing field’ so that through education, training or work they can support themselves.

 

Regular reports

From the senior staff in Monze we now enjoy receiving copious monthly reports, accounts and details of the work you are funding, as well as new requests for help which arise daily. Jonah Sialumano, our disabilities affairs manager is himself disabled and is a testimony as to what can be achieved. With the other senior staff in Monze, he sends us regular monthly reports of what has been achieved.

In one of his recent reports, he highlights the case of Alister Mweete. She was the only one to survive from a quadruplet birth in 1985. bespite a severe disability, with HHI’s help she has become a talented seamstress who makes aprons and tote bags for sale in the UK. At the moment, she is continuing her training by gaining ICT expertise.

Alister

Jonah reports that in Zambia negative attitudes towards disability often prevent women like Alister gaining employment. They are sometimes also rejected by their families. Your support of HHI has enabled Alister to enjoy a quality of life which would otherwise been impossible for her. Alister’s challenges have not come to an end. She now needs an operation to help her walk successfully with her artificial leg. Half the cost has been raised by her family, but another £225 is needed.

There are many stories like Alister’s. There are those in the print shop and those who help to serve food in the food outlet. There are the three motor vehicle trainees nearing the end of their course.

There are the three blind students who have just completed their first term in teacher training college in Mongu Western Province. There’s Tobias who will become a special needs teacher and Moscow, who is training to become a clinical officer. All are benefiting from your generous support and will in turn have the skills to benefit their own communities.

A generous HHI supporter has funded an expensive hammer mill to make the community of disabled people at Chipembele able to support themselves and to generate a small profit.

Hammermill operator

By grinding maize, for small farmers in their locality, they will be able to contribute to the cost ,which will make additional funds available to support those with disabilities.

HHI continues to send walking aids to Monze. Since January, 17 people have received wheelchairs and 35 walking sticks or crutches have been issued.

Here are some of the happy recipients, with their wheelchairs.


HHI not only gives the man the rod, but we make sure, that if he is disabled, he has the means to get to the water too!

 

Here's some more good news.

Three disabled motor vehicle trainees at work, in the HHI Compound.