CRWRC has been working in Zambia since 1990. While Zambia is a beautiful land – home to the largest waterfall in the world, beautiful lakes, and amazing wildlife – it is also struggling under the burden of poverty. High unemployment, frequent drought, and the pandemic spread of HIV/AIDS are all barriers to prosperity.
CRWRC is addressing these issues by working alongside Zambian churches and organizations to transform communities. Two of the partner organizations are church diaconal ministries reaching out to the needs of the rural poor in the communities in and outside the church. These outreach programs focus on the long-term chronic needs of the most impoverished Zambian people. A large focus of the work is improving the agricultural and health skills of those that struggle to grow enough food to feed themselves and find basic access to health care. More recently, in response to the AIDS pandemic, AIDS awareness has been integrated into all ministries. Our response to the AIDS pandemic is three-pronged: communities are encouraged and supported to care for those orphaned within their communities; individuals living with AIDS are being helped with their daily physical and emotional needs; and, communities are being trained about HIV/AIDS prevention.
Population: 11,477,447 (July 2007 est.)
Area Comparative: slightly larger than Texas
Literacy rate: 80.6%
Life Expectancy: 38.44 years
Population below the poverty line: 86%
Gross Domestic Product per capita: $1,000 (2006 est.)
Religions: Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages: English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages
(From the World Factbook. CLICK HERE for more information on Zambia)
1. Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP)
CRWRC and it partner CCAP have developed 3 main programs working with communities located in the northern part of the Eastern Province of Zambia. In the communities in which they work, vulnerable families are identified and receive specialized training from CCAP staff and volunteers. This includes training in basic sustainable agricultural technologies aimed at increasing agricultural production and crop diversification. The second program includes mobilizing the community to; care for those living with HIV/AIDS, support the orphans and change people’s behavior to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. Thirdly CCAP engages and supports interested communities who want to run adult literacy centers, helping adults learn to read and write.
2. Reformed Church In Zambia
CRWRC works with the Reformed Church in Zambia to assist communities in need across the country. The Reformed Church in Zambia is split into Eastern and Western Regional programs.
a) With the Eastern Diaconia Department (EDD), CRWRC responds to needs of children and families in the eastern part of the country. A main focus of EDD is their food security program. Farm families are taught to grow increased quantities and quality of food in a sustainable way. Paralleled with their Food Security program is a Primary Health program which in teaches parents basic preventative health care measures every family can take and which monitors monthly the weight gain of children under 5. Families of malnourished children are then given additional training on how to produce and cook highly nutritious food. A third focus of EDD is on HIV/AIDS. While this focus is integrated into all programs EDD also trains church and community committees to reach out to those who are suffering with HIV/AIDS. In addition to fostering awareness about the disease, these committees provide support to those who are caring for AIDS orphans and people living with AIDS.
b) With the Western Diaconia Services, CRWRC works with farmers and communities in the western part of the country. Farmers are trained in agriculture techniques such as conservation farming, agro-forestry, crop diversity, dry season production, and marketing of crops. Community members also participate in literacy classes.
3. Reformed Community Services (RECS)
Through RECS, CRWRC is responding to the AIDS crisis across Zambia. This partner sets up HIV/AIDS projects in communities to help sensitize community members to the disease and creating awareness of AIDS in local congregations. RECS also helps churches develop home-based care programs for orphans and people living with AIDS.
4. Partners Worldwide
CRWRC and Partners Worldwide support small business development and other income generating programs across Zambia. These include:
a) Christian Business with Integrity (CBI) – This program brings together groups of small business owners for mutual training and support. Group members also save money each month and contribute it to a communal pool. After six months of saving, members are eligible to receive a loan from the fund to invest in their businesses. Through a match from Partners Worldwide, group members can receive a loan up to three times their savings amount. When this loan is repaid, additional funds are available for future loans to other group members. Currently, there are two CBI groups in Zambia -- one in the city of Chipata (about 65 members) and one in the city of Lusaka (about 45 members).
b) Farmer to Farmer – This program connects farmers in North America with farmers in Zambia. Through training workshops and field days, farmers are taught how to start a business, raise chickens, goats, fish, or keep bees. The income from these crops will help families purchase items they need to live and increase food security. This project is done in partnership with RCZ Eastern Diaconia Services.
CRWRC would like to introduce its ESAMT-Zambia team. Take time to read a staff newsletter- direct from the field!
CRWRC-Zambia
Plot # 12
Gizenga Road
Woodlands, Lusaka
Zambia
Tim and Andrea Bootsma
Tim and Andrea have been in ministry with CRWRC in Zambia since 1998. Currently, they share a Program Consultant position and work with the partners and programs in the eastern part of the country. Tim & Andrea live in Chipata, the provincial capital of the Eastern Province of Zambia, with their three young boys Austin (5), Jordan (3), and Luke (0). Austin and Jordan enjoy attending a pre-school 5 mornings a week. It's a 1.5 km walk (one way) to school, which gives the boys and one of their parents a little exercise each day. "Serving with CRWRC in Zambia has been a huge blessing to us," Tim and Andrea report. "God has provided faithfully in many different ways and has blessed our work. We attribute this to the faithful prayers of our supporting community, for which we are tremendously thankful."
EMAIL: crwrc@iwayafrica.com
Eli Toribio
Eli joined CRWRC-Zambia in the summer of 2006. Previously, he worked with CRWRC's partner organization, the Christian Reformed Church of the Philippines for more than 16 years. Currently, he serves as CRWRC-Zambia's Country Consultant. Eli and his wife, Evelyn, have two wonderful kids - Ian (11) who is his school's bet in chess, and Nadine (9) who is great in writing and singing. The family is living in the city of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. The Toribios consider their move to Africa as totally God-designed and engineered. "He gave us a heart for missions, the poor and the oppressed, even before we got married. He confirmed cross-cultural missions on the second month of our marriage. Then, He opened a window to Africa when a door was closing?" said Eli. Why Africa? "The Lord is doing a blessed work in Africa, we are just so privileged to join Him!"
EMAIL: eli.toribio@gmail.com
