Food Security for Hungry Families in Zambia

A Loss

In 2024, Exildah's husband died, and her husband's family asked her to leave the house. Harsh as this was, custom favored the husband's family. Exildah had little choice except to leave the community that had supported her through a child's death and now loss of her husband. She knew that she must return to her birthplace and stay again with her family in the Copper Belt, 800 miles away. No one in the tightly knit group wanted this to take place. Exildah has been a friend and leader who helped to create prosperity for the Zambezi doll makers and farmers since 2004. These women have relied on each other through many hard times. 

Her farewell party was sad indeed. The strong women in this sisterhood all have children with serious disabilities and have relied on each other 20 years and more. She will be very much missed.

Zambezi Farm News

Last year's 9-month drought devastated the corn crop leading to famine for many in Zambia. Our corn was completely wiped out, so the AACDP made emergency monthly supplies of staples to 40 families in our community. This year the rains were plentiful, and we celebrated an abundant corn harvest, providing enough mealie meal, the staple food, to our families for three months. Many other crops are being harvested this season, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, kale and spinach, both for family meals and sale in town. This week green beans are being planted for the next growing cycle. 

In addition to vegetable crops, the goat herd has grown to 53. Twenty of these will be sold in August to bring in much needed cash for the farm families.

This year we were fortunate that the rains were adequate, but the possibility of drought is ever present. During the 2024 drought the water table lowered significantly.  The diminished water availability will not allow us to grow this quantity of food through another dry season. 

We need to put in another well soon for water security should the rains be again insufficient and will continue to campaign in preparation for future droughts.

Scholarship Sponsor's Program

This month we begin a program of finding sponsors for a new group of local students who are hoping to receive support to study nursing, engineering as well as trades such as car repair and catering. We will be sending out newsletters with details, photos and short biographies of the applicants who have ties to people in our community.

Links:

• Our website