GOOD NEWS STORY -1

ENT ZAMBIA 

Rain -and the maize is growing.

 One of the things I kept hearing from Zambians was,

“We cannot depend on NGOs and foreigners giving us money.   We are neither children nor beggars.   We must do things for ourselves.” 

One of the Zambians doing things for Zambia is Kotati Justin Nonde. He founded the  Centre for Livlihood, Environment and Watershed Management (CLEWM) and their work not only benifits Zambia, it benefits you and me as well. Justin somehow evaded my camera so I don’t have a photo of him.   I’ll get you the next time Justin! 

Saviours of the World in Katuba Community with their teacher Immaculate ( r. in stripes)

We  know that trees are the lungs of the world and without them we’d die.   And we know that  there has been major deforestation all over the globe.    Zambia lost trees  when the British cleared land for farming and cash crops.   More trees were lost when villagers needed firewood.

CLEWM is working to reverse that trend. Justin and his staff encourage people to plant trees for food, for fertiliser and for firewood.   They run courses for people in villages close to Lusaka in all aspects of forest management, tree cultivation, coppicing, fruit growing  and the use of trees to provide fertiliser for their land.   CLEWM develop tree nurseries where local farmers can buy the trees they need at a very reasonable rate.  

A bicycle made for two or three or more!

 At the same time CLEWM cares for  the quality of water in wells and rivers.    There has been a lot of water pollution due to human waste so CLEWM educates about how best to conserve the quality of water in their local watershed and helps them to develop practical sanitation. 

Latrine. Not glamorous but clean, practical and it doesn’t smell!.

  I met Justin because he wanted ENT Zambia to bring clinics to area where he works.   It fell to me to travel with him  and look at the facilities in rural clinics to see if it would be possible for us to do clinics there.  This meant I had the pleasure of Justin’s company for several days. And he STILL escaped my camera!   But Justin, I’m going to get you. 

Wall of clinic in Mungule

The rains had started. The Savage Sun had abated and the temprerature had dropped to the mid twenties.  Justin shivered a bit and remarked on the cold! He was appalled to learn that in Ireland we would consider this a fabulous summer day.

Mrs Tembo Assistant in charge of Mungule Clinic.

    IF YOU’D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE WONDERFUL WORK OF CLEWM, E-MAIL: KOTATI JUSTIN NONDE[[email protected]]