UNV Zambia Newsletter January - March 2014

I can now boast of a new skill. I will

surely put my newly acquired knowledge

into practice. Those were the words of

Maureen Chilufya, one of 30 vulnerable

w o m e n b e n e f i c i a r i e s o f a n

empowerment programme supported

by the UN Volunteers in partnership with

the Ministry of Community Development,

Mother and Child Health.

The beneficiaries were drawn from a self

-help women organization within the

Mapepe and Chilanga communities in

Lusaka Province.

They were mainly women giving

voluntary care and support to elderly

persons within their vicinities. For three

days the women were immersed in

financial l i teracy, post -vegetable

harvesting and processing training to

improve their socio-economic status

Volume 1, Issue 1 January

March 2014

Inside This Edition:

My Memorable Rice Field Day

Message from the UNV Programme Officer

International Volunteer Day 2013 - A Pictorial

Photo News: - Sharing Skills; Impacting Lives

Volunteer Voices

Straight From The Heart

The Helping Hands of Volunteers

A Renewed Commitment to Volunteerism

University Students Debate the Contributions of Volunteerism to National Development

Engaging With Youth Volunteers

Childrens Event: Kuthandizana Day

Empowering Women With Marketable Skills

A quarterly newsletter of the United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV) in Zambia

Bolstering Rural Agro-Enterprise Development Agriculture is one of the main sources

of income in Zambia with about 70 per-

cent of the countrys population of nearly

14 million people dependent on farming.

Most people in the rural areas own less

than one hectare of land and many

families in these areas are unable to

meet their nutritional needs. Within this

context, agro-enterprise development

emerges as a way forward for rural

people to improve their lives.

Under the aegis of the Asia Youth Ex-

change Programme (AYVEP) and Youth

Environment Management and Educa-

tion Project (YEMEP), UN Volunteers

are making significant progress in in-

creasing agricultural productivity and

promoting sustainable production of

major food crops and livestock for

Both programmes are aimed at tack-

ling food insecurity by targeting small

and medium sized farmers to improve

their organizational capacity,

Francia Villavicencio, an International UN Volunteer from the Philippines trains farmers in soil testing.

small-scale farmers in Choma, the

provincial capital of the Southern Prov-

ince. UN Volunteers are building the

skills and innovation that smallholder

farmers need to adopt sustainable

farming techniques to broaden their

income opportunities.

AYVEP provides a mechanism for

volunteers from Asia to volunteer in

Africa and transfer skills and

knowledge in the fields of agriculture

and private sector, especially with

small to medium enterprises. The

project is based on the long-standing

commitment and interest of the Japan

Government towards development

assistance to Africa, which started

through the Tokyo International Con-

ference on Africa Development. Continued on page 3

A group of women learning how to dry vegetables using solar energy thanks to a project

supported by UN Volunteers and the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child

Health (Photo: Micro Bankers Trust) Continued on page 3

2

Uni ted Nat ions Volunteers Programme (UNV) in Zambia Volume 1 , Issue 1 page 2

My Memorable Rice Field Day By Rajendra Uprety, IUN Volunteer Irrigation Specialist

It was 9.30 AM when I reached Mr.

Kester Limataas house in Mumzela

village, Kazungula District to attend

the commemoration of the Rice Field

Day with my PACO friends but there

were very few farmers. Participants

arrived slowly and more than 80

farmers attended the memorable

Rice Field Day. When we returned

from Mumzela village it was 5:00 PM

and most of the participants were

happy to attend the Rice Field Day

hopeful and determined to scale-up

rice farming the following season.

Rice Field Day started at about 11AM

with a prayer. At the beginning, par-

ticipants introduced each other and

the District Agriculture Coordinator

(DACO) outlined the objectives of the

program. The Master of Ceremony,

Mr. G.M. Sikute of Zambwe Village

took us through the field day pro-

gram. After a short discussion, partic-

ipants went in the field to observe the

upland rice and sunflower fields.

The upland (Nerica) rice was already

harvested but the sunflower field was

close to maturity. Despite the water

level, the sunflower field was attrac-

tive and 25-30 percent of the plants

had very big flower-heads.

The host farmer, Mrs. Limataa, de-

scribed her sunflower farming experi-

ence to everyone who had turned

out. No sooner had she talked about

her passion for farming than a dis-

cussion ensued on sustainable farm-

ing methods. Mrs. Limataa and the

district agriculture extension officers

were present to address questions

around production, constraints and

market opportunities.

The next crop introduced was cow-

peas, a multipurpose crop, grown for

both humans and livestock. Cowpeas

thrive in sandy soils and tolerate

drought better than most crops. Par-

ticipants got engaged and asked

questions related to the production

and marketing of cowpeas.

The participants then proceeded to

observe a large rice field near the

main road grown on a flooded and

swampy land. Rice is a completely

new crop for most of the farmers in

Southern Province accustomed to

maize production.

Most people were curious about rice

farming method and sought to find

out the opportunities and challenges

associated with its production. How-

ever, all concerns were addressed by

the host farmers. At the end of the

day, majority of the participants were

eager to go home and convert their

flooded swampy land into rice fields

as an additional income generating

activity.

The rice field day was exciting with

plenty of time to socialize. I greatly

enjoyed my experience in the field but

most important was the assurance to

farmers to be supported and trained

in rice cultivation by Mr. B. Miyanze,

Principle Agriculture Officer.

The farmers were very happy and

evaluated rice field day as being

informative and useful. As a partici-

pant and resource person in rice

farming methods, I consider the day

as being memorable for me. I am

happy to have shared my knowledge

and experience with farmers and

agriculture officers.

As a result of sharing information and

expertise, areas that were previously

flooded and thought to be useless are

now used for rice production to sup-

plement the traditional maize staple

crop.

Editors Note: Rajendra Uprety is a former International UN Volunteer from Nepal who served as an Irrigation Specialist at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Choma. He concluded his UNV assign-ment in Zambia last year. Rajendra now works as a Senior Agriculture Training Officer within the Ministry of Agriculture Development in his home country, Nepal.

Rajendra says he left Zambia, especially Choma, with fond memories and was happy to have served here.

(TICAD) in 1993.

Closing dance and celebration.

Rajendra Uprety in the rice field.

Rice field observation and discussion.

3

Bolstering Rural Agro-Enterprise (continued from page 1)

Uni ted Nat ions Volunteers Programme (UNV) in Zambia Volume 1 , Issue 1 Page 3

Empowering Women (continued from page 1)

and ably take care of 15 elderly

people. The training also served as

a prelude for further work learning

how to start their own businesses

and run Village Savings and Loan

Associations (VSLA).

The Village Savings and Loan Asso-

ciations provide an opportunity for

the women to participate in a savings

programme, earn interest on their

savings, as well as access credit to

expand their businesses.

The training enabled Maureen to

gain knowledge and hands-on expe-

rience in food handling, hygiene,

basic food values and packaging.

Acquiring numeracy skills was an

immense source of joy for all the

women. Christine Mushanga, a

beneficiary said the training was

useful as she plans to start running

her own chicken rearing project.

The women were trained by the

Sylva Food Solutions Limited

(SFSL), one of Zambias best in the

food chain business. Facilitation

methods used were a combination of

lectures, group discussions and

games. Practical exercises in vege-

table drying and cooking were done

for most of the post-harvest training.

Since starting the financial literacy

and post-harvest vegetable training

Ms. Morgan said UNDP/UNV and,

indeed the United Nations would con-

tinue to support the Government of

Zambia to improve the countrys devel-

opment and the quality of life.

Southern Province Permanent Secre-

tary, Mr. Bert Mushala challenged the

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to

build capacity in the adaptation of

innovative agricultural practices.

He said there was need for the farming

community in the country to start using

smart methods of agriculture.

Mr. Mushala thanked UNDP and the

UNV Programme for supporting the

Government in improving the lives of

many Zambians.

Most beneficiaries think the projects

have an excellent potential to enhance

the role of agriculture and agro-

enterprises in inclusive growth, youth

employment, and the attenuation of

rural-urban migration.

production and productivity through

crop diversification. Direct beneficiaries

include women and the youth repre-

senting a significant portion of the rural

population, whose capacity in sustaina-

ble methods will be strengthened in

order to reduce poverty at household

level.

"Any development which is not an-

chored on the improvement of peoples

lives is not development at all," UNDP

Country Director, Viola Morgan said

during the official handover of a Toyota

Land Cruiser jeep, five motor bikes and

office equipment to the Ministry of

Agriculture and Livestock on behalf of

the United Nations Volunteers Pro-

gramme (UNV).

The vehicle and motor bikes which

were procured at the cost of more than

US$ 35,000 and US$25,000 respec-

tively were donated to ensure the

smooth implementation of AYVEP and

YEMEP aimed at transferring skills in

the agriculture sector, especially

among small-scale enterprises and

provide an opportunity to develop and

apply integrated environment and

natural resources management practic-

es through youth volunteerism.

A land cruiser jeep and motor cycles procured to facilitate AYVEP and YEMEPs activities (Photo: Yotam Shawa/UNDP)

Maureen and Christine said they are

now able to dry vegetables using

solar energy and properly do food

handling and processing, something

that they couldnt do before.

A previous economic empowerment

project in Lusaka supported by UN

Volunteers benefited youth and

women groups aimed at poverty

reduction.

By increasing womens access to

financial services, improving their

numeracy and literacy skills, and

enhancing their economic skills in

viable sectors, we are decreasing

womens economic vulnerability and

ensuring that they have the self-

c o n f i d e n c e a n d f i n a n c i a l

independence to take a stand

against violence in their homes and

in their communities, said Flavia

Sembera, UNV Programme Officer.

UN Volunteers will continue working

with the Mapepe womens group to

build their skills in sustainable

livelihood activities, she said.

Since the training several months

ago, 20 of the beneficiaries have

moderately enhanced their status,

cascaded the skills to additional 35

women and are still voluntarily

caring for 15 elderly people.

Vegetables and fruits ready for processing (Photo: Micro Bankers Trust)

GOOD GUYS DONT ABUSE

WOMEN.

STOP SEXUAL VIOLENCE

AGAINST WOMEN AND

CHILDREN!

4

Volunteer Voices Refugee Children with Special Needs Enjoy Right to Education

By Angela Maswau - National UN Volunteer Community Services Assistant, UNHCR Field Office, Solwezi

With a population of 18, 106 Refugees,

the Meheba Refugee Settlement in

Northwestern Zambia houses refugees

and other persons of concern from the

DRC, Angola, Rwanda, Somalia and

Burundi.

The UNHCR and its partners have

scaled up efforts to offer a favourable

protection environment, ensure fair

protection processes and documenta-

tion, security from violence and exploita-

tion. The response include targeted

programs that provide services for

persons with specific needs.

Access to education, a right to all chil-

dren even in refugee situation, is one of

such targeted programs for people with

special needs.

Three refugee children with multiple

disabilities who needed special educa-

tional services were identified. North-

western Province has inadequate ser-

vices for children with such needs.

As a Community Services Assistant, I

collaborated with colleagues from the

Ministry of Education, Science, Voca-

tional Training and Early Education to

transfer the three children to St Mulumba

Special School in Choma District, South-

ern Province with support from UNHCR.

The school officials, Ministry of Health

and sponsors were engaged for medical

assessment and assistance respectively.

All these actors have contributed in giving

hope and a chance for three refugee

children with multiple disabilities to ac-

cess a specialized school located more

than1000 kilometers away from Meheba

Refugee Settlement.

A lengthy medical assessment procedure

is required for one to access St. Mulumba

Special School. In order to fulfil the re-

quirement, I steered the collaboration with

all stakeholders. At the end, we were all

pleased that the three children had been

given an opportunity to realize their full

potential in life.

Thank God the children are now amongst

the 210 children admitted by the school

to access this specialized school, and

enjoy their right to education.

Indeed, One family torn apart by war is

too many.

First day at school - Two of the boys flanked by their teachers at the St Mulumba Special School

(UNHCR Photo)

Being a UN Volunteer with the United Nations High Commission-er for Refugees (UNHCR) is an opportunity to make other peoples lives better. One of the most excit-ing things about my job with the UNHCR is the possibility to con-tribute to the huge but rewarding task of directly assisting those who have had to flee their home coun-tries, and who may never be able

to go back and see their friends

and families.

I have been working within the Protection Unit as a Field Monitor in the Meheba Refugee settlement in the Northwestern Province since 2011. My roles have evolved from assisting refugees with their vol-untary repatriation back to their homes to facilitating the holding of the multifunctional protection panel to some aspects of child protection relating to best interests determi-

nation.

Between 2011 and 2013, I have witnessed UNHCR being engaged with numerous refugees, mainly from five countries, namely: Zim-babwe, Sudan, Rwanda, the Dem-ocratic Republic of Congo and Angola. I assisted them to return home ultimately removing the label of refugee, as no-one wants to be

a refugee.

My most recent role as of now is

linked to the Protection Panel

which reviews individual protection

needs and spearheaded by the

UNHCR Protection Officer. The

panel is a multifunctional team

comprising UNHCR and Govern-

ment implementing partners and it

is fully functional in the Meheba

Refugee Settlement. The mecha-

nism serves as a protection ap-

proach to enhance counseling and

referrals so that refugees can

access basic services and secure

durable solutions in the form of

repatriation, local integration or

resettlement in accordance with

UNHCRs mandate.

Generally, cases are identified and

assessed by partners and docu-

mented on individual protection

needs identification forms which

are reviewed by UNHCR, a func-

tion I perform in collaboration with

the Protection Officer. Refugee

identified to be at higher risk are

referred to the protection panel for

further assessment and recom-

mendation. The panel sits twice a

month but of late the demand for

their services has become obvious

given the high number of cases

which need intervention by the

panel. Being a part of this Protec-

tion Panel meetings gives me the

opportunity

Continued on page 6

Restoring Hope: Having an Open Ear

By Milumbe Kapopo - National UN Volunteer Field Monitor, UNHCR Field Office, Solwezi

One family

torn apart by

war is too

many.

Angolan refugees at a protection information meeting (UNHCR Photo)

United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV) in Zambia Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 4

5

A large number of children affected by

wars are still being denied their right to

primary education, one of the eight

Millennium Development Goals which

should be achieved by 2015. Increas-

ing the numbers of children who enroll

and continue through their primary

education is key to national develop-

ment.

The United Nations High Commission

for Refugees has taken an extra step

to achieve this goal by ensuring that all

camps and settlements that are occu-

pied by refugees provide quality edu-

cation. The Meheba Refugee settle-

ment in the Northwestern Province is

no exception. The camp covers an

estimated area of 720m with a popula-

tion of more than 18,000 refugees who

also include people of concern.

The settlement has one high school,

five basic schools, nine community

schools and four pre-schools. The

intervention is to ensure that all chil-

dren of school age are able to access

the service. UNHCR works in collabo-

ration with the Ministry of Education

and other line ministries as well as UN

partner agencies in order to provide

this service.

One of my result areas as a National

UN Volunteer attached to UNHCR,

is to monitor the community schools

and ensure that they are providing

quality services. I also have to en-

sure that all community schools have

furniture, teaching aids and most

importantly that teachers are regular

to provide quality education to pu-

pils.

In order to encourage pupils attend

school regularly, UNHCR in collabo-ration with the Word Food Pro-gramme (WFP) embarked on a school feeding program which sup-plements the school meal with soya

beans and vegetable oil.

The schools were also supported with cooking utensils. The communi-ties also contribute by providing firewood and water to prepare the

meal and soap to wash utensils.

In the latter part of 2012, UNHCR and WFP were not able to continue with the school feeding program due to budget constraints. However, the two agencies were able to engage and lobbied the Ministry of Agricul-ture and Livestock to incorporate the school feeding program in its plans

and budget.

To date, there is continuity of the

intervention and it is hoped that

Continued on page 6

Volunteer Voices

United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV) in Zambia Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 5

Since the 1960s, the Zambian

Government has consistently granted

asylum to populations seeking refuge

from Angola, Burundi, the Democratic

Republic of the Congo (DRC),

Rwanda, Sudan, Namibia, Zimbabwe

and Somalia. Zambia is presently host

to 48,000 refugees, of which 11,672

are living in the Mayukwayukwa

settlement in the Western Province.

The needs for refugee population are

always many ranging from a need for

legal and child protection, food and

shelter; health services, among others.

In order to address these needs, many

interventions have been put in place.

One of them is the formation of the

welfare group which supports and

cares for vulnerable people and

children in Mayukwayukwa refugee

settlement. The welfare group consists

of 140 volunteers, mainly refugees who

extend care to those less privileged

than themselves.

Activities conducted by this group

include, washing for the chronically ill,

the elderly and People Living with HIV

and AIDS and undernourished

children.

The welfare group meets often to

A Day with the Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlement Welfare Group

By Nkole Zulu-Thompson, former National UN Volunteer, UNHCR

discuss how they can serve their

community better.

To improve service delivery, the group

has been supported and trained by the

Ministry of Community Development,

Mother and Child Health and UNHCR.

Some of the support and training

include growing vegetables that are

then distributed to vulnerable people

and children as food supplement.

The spirit of volunteerism exhibited by

this group and the humility to serve

others is commendable and it helps to

remind me of my own pledge of

commitment to the United Nations

Volunteers Programme.

The Mayukwayukwa Ref ug ee

Settlement is situated in Kaoma

District in the Western Province and

was established in 1966 to host

Angolan refugees.

Editors Note: Nkole Zulu-Thompson is a former UNV Community Services Assistant with UNHCR in Mongu. She got a national staff post in November 2013 and is now the UNHCRs Assistant Community Services Officer in Solwezi.

Congratulations, Nkole!

One of the vegetable gardens set up by the welfare group. Produce from the garden is distrib-

uted to other refugees as food supplement (UNHCR Photo)

Helping Meheba Refugee Children Achieve Quality Primary Education

By Sarah Mukwemba, National UN Volunteer Programme Field Monitor UNHCR

One of the community schools in Meheba (UNHCR Photo)

6

Message from the UN Volunteer

Programme Officer

Uni ted Nat ions Volunteers Programme (UNV) in Zambia Volume 1 Issue 1 Page 6

to listen and tell the stories of people

torn apart by war: nursing mothers;

children; pregnant women; men and

the elderly.

The personal stories help us to identify

their challenges and to channel them

to the relevant Governmental partners

to resolve their ordeals.

An example is an elderly couple. The

woman is asthmatic and her husband

has chronic backache who were both

supported to access medication from

the Ministry of Health.

Other cases supported by the Panel

include refugees deserving resettle-

ment and local integration.

The Protection Panel has therefore

served and continues to serve to protect

and restore lost hope

Restoring Hope .

(continued from page 4)

Helping Meheba Refugee Children

(continued from page 5)

it would go a long way to improve

literacy and numeracy skills among

refugee children in Meheba.

According to Zambias 2013 Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs) Report, the

country recorded significant progress in

primary school enrolment rates which

increased from 80 percent in 1990 to

93.7 percent in 2010.

These gains are as a result of the

introduction of free primary education,

improvements in primary education

infrastructures and discouragement of

early marriages.

Similarly, progress has been made in

improving primary school completion

rates. The number of pupils reaching

Grade 7 has increased from 64 percent

in 1990 to 90.9 percent in 2010.

However, concerns remain on the

quality of education received, as well as

secondary school enrolment and

Being a UN Vol-

unteer with the

UNHCR has given

me an opportunity

to protect and re-

store lost hope and

make other peo-

ples lives better.

One of my objectives as a

UNV attached to UNHCR is

to monitor the community

schools and ensure that they

are providing quality service.

The UN Volunteers Programme was launched in Zambia in 1982. Since then, more and more volunteers f rom d iver se pr ofe ss ion al backgrounds have voluntarily given their time and expertise, often in support of community development and the development strides of Zambia.

UNV Zambia is a story of teamwork. Our partnership with the Government, UN agencies, development partners and other Volunteer Involving Organizations (VIOs) has been incredibly successful and we have celebrated some great milestones together, including the annual commemoration of the International Volunteer Day. We look forward to growing our partnership through new initiatives to highlight the importance of investing skills and time to our communities.

Our goal this year is to help strengthen the culture of volunteering that inspires ordinary Zambians to do extraordinary things. To help meet this goal, we will continue to partner with the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (MCDMCH), VIOs and Youth Volunteer Networks that share the values and passion for volunteerism as a powerful force for positive change.

I assumed the position of UNV Programme Officer in Zambia on 10th August 2012 with a very warm and encouraging welcome from UNDP/UNV Country Team. Since then I have learnt so much; met so many amazing and inspirational people; but above all become more proud of all the great things volunteers have done and continue to do in this great country. I am always inspired and deeply moved to hear stories of the work being done by volunteers across Zambia from community service to the Post 2015 Consultations; environmental sustainability, governance and humanitarian assistance; improving livelihoods and mitigation of Climate Change, sustainable agriculture; operational and capacity building support but only to mention a few. I would like to thank each and every one of you for generously contributing your time and expertise. I appreciate the energy, dedication and enthusiasm you bring to volunteerism. The service you provide really makes a huge and incredible difference in the lives of people. Lets continue to maintain a culture of excellence through volunteerism.

I am delighted to report that this maiden edition of the UNV in Zambia Newsletter is dedicated to you, our volunteers for making a difference! Our newsletter is a unique way of sharing and communicating with you contributions from all of us volunteers.

Of course, we would not have been successful without the support of the Government and community members who open their hearts and their homes to volunteers across Zambia. The support from UNV Headquarters and our mother Agency UNDP has been very helpful and we are grateful.

I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all UN Volunteers, to welcome Ms. Janet Rogan, the new UN Resident Coordinator to Zambia. Already, her leadership and spirit of volunteerism has reinvigorated us to do more in the service above self for others!

The more than 70

ethnic groups that

make up the fabric of

the Zambian society

provide a rich tapestry

of traditional music and

dance. The country has

distinct dances and

songs that vary from

one tribe to the other.

CANDID CAMERA

caught up with this

dance group during the

commemoration of the

International Volunteer

Day 2013.

CANDID CAMERA

7

United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV) in Zambia Volume 1 Issue 1 Page 7

International Volunteer Day 2013 - A Pictorial

A group of university students involved in voluntary work.

Thank you so much and please convey our deepest gratitude to your colleagues Thanks for the support, said Mrs. Rosina Nchoba Kapelikisha, the Child Care

Harriet Nyamasambu, a volunteer from the University of Zambia talks to the

Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) about volunteerism.

The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Community Development, Mother & Child Health, Dorothy

Kazunga delivers the keynote address as UNDPs Deputy Country Director, Segio Valdini looks on. A group photo with some youth volunteers.

Representatives of Volunteer Involving Organizations in a group photo.

National UN Volunteer

8


Photo News: - Sharing Skills; Impacting Lives

A Day with the

Mayukwayukwa

Refugee Group

Sett lement Welfare

Group

Tiyakumbele charcoal burners in Southern Province demonstrating tree planting after an awareness raising campaign.

UN staff and the Lusaka City Council cleaning up Kalingalinga, a congested community in Lusaka.

Farmers in Choma learning soil testing and management techniques. A training session for women in vegetable post- harvesting and processing supported by UNV Zambia and the MCDMCH.

These charcoal burners got two seedlings each to plant in their homes.

Children at the Chilenje Transient Home happily receive reading materials from volunteers as part the UN Giving Tuesday.

9

Working as a UN Volunteer has been

a very heart-changing and humbling

experience for me. I have been serv-

ing as a National UN Volunteer Field

Monitor within the Protection Unit at

UNHCR Representative Office in

Lusaka since May 2013.

I am part of a Protection Strategy

project aimed at providing protection

and assistance to refugees living in

urban areas surrounding Lusaka. My

role is to give psychosocial counseling,

facilitate the processing of travel docu-

ments for refugees, facilitate family

reunification, and to sensitize refugees

on UNHCRs facilitation of voluntary

repatriation.

The most interesting part about my job

has been the one-on-one interaction

with refugees through psychosocial

counseling sessions and/or prison

visits. Almost on a daily basis, through

counseling sessions, I hear people

articulate their experiences, more

often than not quite traumatic. Many

have lived as asylum seekers for dec-

ades, some since birth even to second

generation. From time to time, I coun-

sel people within my age bracket and

what hits my mind the hardest is that

the primary difference between me

and them is which side of the table

either one of us sits across. The

thought that I might as well be the

traumatized asylum seeker compels

me to work tirelessly.

The stories inevitably trigger my imagi-

nation and can weigh in on anyones

emotion. Many watched family mem-

bers get killed, even minors, forced to

live in foster homes, or flee and get

intercepted and detained by immigra-

tion in land far from home with no

family after living formerly comfortable

lives. Many are victims of violence and

suffered post-traumatic stress, sexual

exploitation and they faced a wide

spectrum of other challenges. Having

to give comfort, restore composure

and hope to such sensitive cases is a

tremendous responsibility, which can

only be achieved with both empathy

and optimism.

Another responsibility I find fascinating

is to support the Protection Associate

with prison monitoring around the

country. The intervention involves

monitoring the traffic of asylum seek-

ers, old and newly arrived in detention

centers across the country and facili-

tating the release of those who particu-

larly have no criminal cases. We do

this in collaboration with Government

officials, implementing partners and

legal representation from Legal Re-

source Foundation. Prison monitoring

gives asylum seekers an equal chance

to apply for refugee status and en-

Isaac Bowa bids farewell to a Rwandan refugee who had voluntarily decided to return to his country.

sures their right to free and fair trial,

and helps transparency and consistent

information amongst stakeholders.

During these prison visits, I together

with legal advisors counsel asylum

seekers: educating them about the

laws of the country and basically pro-

vide emotional support and listen to

their testimonies.

My focus in refugee work has been

economic empowerment and alterna-

tives to detention. The office is current-

ly exploring ways of empowering refu-

gees economically through vocational

trainings to try and compliment or

promote self-reliance given the rough

economic conditions.

Only a fraction of asylum seekers in

the country can afford work or invest-

ment permits hence they have very

little economic power over their wellbe-

ing. Asylum seekers all over the world

are by definition displaced but are no

less than ordinary citizens, and can be

an asset to host societies. For in-

stance, Albert Einstein a German

refugee that only learnt how to read at

age 19, made an astounding contribu-

tion to the world of Physics. What has

also been intriguing is to observe and

learn from staff members who have

made asylum seekers the work of their

lives and how they are still driven to

fight for durable solutions for such

people. Its one thing to work to earn a

living but another to work to better the

Stra ight From The Heart With Isaac Bowa


living of other people, particularly

vulnerable people.

Volunteering with UNHCR has broad-

ened my empathy for refugees and

people affected by war. I am also very

grateful for the peace my country

continues to enjoy.

Furthermore, I have learnt that volun-

teerism endows a sense of responsi-

bility upon host societies by engaging

them in their own welfare. I have

been lucky enough to work with fellow

volunteers from within the country,

beyond both Zambian and African

borders, and even refugee volunteers

within my host institution. I have also

been privileged to meet volunteers

from other organizations whose pas-

sion continuously challenge me.

Overall, volunteerism has opened my

mind to realize that we are capable of

tremendous influence if we just give

ourselves to it. Volunteering has

further taught me that people dont

have to wait till they are in a formal

position to make a difference; that

positions cannot give people influ-

ence that they dont exercise within

their current social standing.

Isaac Bowa in conversation with Peace Corps Country Director in Zambia, Tom Kennedy(in the middle) and his colleague during International Volunteer Day in 2013.

The best way to find

yourself is to lose yourself

in the service of others.

- Mahatma Ghandhi

10

Children at the ChilenjeTransient

Home in Lusaka beamed with smiles

on their faces when they received

assorted items presented by the UNV

Field Unit. The items were contributed

by members of the UN family in Zam-

bia and other Volunteer Involving

Organizations.

The items included cleaning deter-

gents and washing powder, scouring

powder bleach, disinfectants, steel

wires, cooking pots, serving plates,

water heater, mortise locks and a flash

door for the bathroom with metal rein-

forcement to stop water sipping

through. The gesture was in response

to a need assessment done at the

Home.

Presenting the items, the UNV Pro-

gramme Officer, Flavia Sembera said

the support was part of outreach activi-

ties marking the celebration of the

International Volunteer Day.

We hope this contribution will bright-

en up the holiday season and create a

sense of hope for the children, Flavia

said.

How amazing! We didn't expect this.

Officer who manages the Chilenje

Transient Home.

The stories of children at the Home

have a fairy tale ending. Mrs.

Kapelikisha said the Home receives an

average of 50 to 60 children per year

mostly dumped, orphaned or mentally

challenged children who have been

abandoned due to their mental status.

The Chilenje Transient Home supports

and cares for more than 20 children in

a small house donated by the Lusaka

City Council in 1979 to flag off the

official opening of the Home under the

Child Care and Adoption Society of

Zambia.

Our vision for the future is to construct

a bigger house and extend care and a

happy future to more underprivileged

children, Mrs. Kapelikisha said.

A team of volunteers helped with

packing the items and spent an hour

playing and interacting with the

children.

According to the countrys recent

MDGs Report, maternal mortality is

still high and only declining at a very

slow rate insufficient to reach the 2015

target of 162 deaths per 100,000 live

births.

Through her service to the Midwives

Association of Zambia (MAZ), Ruth is

deeply involved with the advocacy for

safe motherhood - helping increase

pregnant woman's ability to make

informed choices about their health.

Inspired by the desire to effect positive

change and transform communities,

other national and international UN

Volunteers serving in Zambia re-

echoed similar commitments at the

end of a two-day workshop organized

by the UNV Field Unit last year.

The workshop aimed at building their

capacity to effectively advocate,

in teg rate and mobi l i ze for

volunteerism in Zambia.

The event was attended by all 28 UN

Volunteers, a record level of

participation.

The Helping Hands of Volunteers

Uni ted Nat ions Volunteers Programme(UNV) in Zambia Volume 1 Issue 1 Page 10

Volunteering is an amazing opportuni-

ty for me to use my experience and

expertise in order to reduce the risks

expectant mothers face in Zambia. I

remain committed to playing a vital

role in improving my country's mater-

nal healthcare by coaching community

health workers, midwifery and nursing

students, says Ruth Muzumala, a

retired Zambian midwife currently

volunteering with the United Nations

Population Fund (UNFPA).

Her career is lengthy and impressive,

but her accomplishments didnt stop

with retirement. Ruth, 61, said the end

of her career actually marked the

beginning of some of her most impres-

sive achievements through volunteer-

ing.

Since retiring from active employment

several years ago, Ruth has found

volunteering as another way to further

fulfill her dream of working with moth-

ers and children.

She is determined to help improve the

health of women in her native Zambia,

where it is estimated that 38 mothers

die each month due to complications

relating to pregnancy and childbirth.

UNV Programme Officer, Flavia Sembera handing over assorted items to the Chilenje Transient Home on behalf of UN volunteers and volunteer involving

organizations (Photo: Moses Zangar, Jr/UNDP)

Rekindling the spirit of volunteerism (Photo: Moses Zangar, Jr/UNDP)

A Renewed Commitment to Volunteerism

Our vision for the future is to

construct a bigger house and

extend care and a happy future to

more underprivileged children.

Mrs. Rosina Nchoba Kapelikisha

11

Volunteerism Contributes to the

Development of Nations was the

central theme of the student debates

organized by the UN Volunteer

Progamme in Zambia in partnership

with the Ministry of Community Devel-

opment, Mother and Child Health. The

lively and cross-examination-style

debates brought together about 100

representatives from the United Na-

tions and Volunteer Involving Organi-

zations with participants drawn from

universities and other tertiary institu-

tions in the Lusaka area.

The debates which were held at the

Radisson Blu Hotel featured the best

minds from each participating institu-

tion. Each team was comprised of four

or five members. The event employed

the British Parliamentary style of de-

bate while five institutions of higher

learning battled against each other on

different motions.

The initiative was part of an advocacy campaign in the lead up to last years International Volunteer Day celebrated in Zambia under the theme Youth Volunteering for a Better Zambia.

The debates were meant to bring together university and college stu-dents into a dynamic discussion forum through which new ideas and strate-

gies can be mapped out in redefining

the spirit of volunteerism among the

youth in achieving national develop-

ment.

Speakers from various institutions

debated four motions: Volunteerism

perpetuates social inequalities; Gainful

participation over volunteerism;

Recognition of ones patriotism is

based on volunteerism and Renewed

commitment of youth volunteers is

necessary for national development.

The concept of volunteerism was

argued in various forms, but most

importantly, the speakers unanimously

emphasized the need to renew com-

mitment to offering young people

volunteer opportunities to become

active agents of change in their com-

munities. To do this effectively, they

think young people should be placed

at the front of designing and delivering

volunteering programs. Inspiring them

to participate might mean creating

more space for less mature ap-

proaches to volunteering and develop-

ment, a speaker argued.

For instance, the debaters argued that

for youth volunteering in Zambia to be

relevant, it is essential to position

programs to contribute to wider devel-

opment goals beyond personal devel-

opment so that volunteering is seen

to be not just as an investment in an

individual but an investment in the

nation and on the continent.

One major message resonated

throughout the debate - the drive to

use volunteerism as a medium to

attain development should continue,

using various channels such as radio,

social media platforms, drama, en-

compassing everyone - young and

old, men and women, rich and poor,

those who are more vulnerable and

those who are decision makers.

This is how transformation of the

world using volunteerism as a vehicle

University Students Debate the Contributions of Volunteerism to National Development


would be possible and the future that

we all want will become a reality,

another speaker said.

There were no special winners as

such. All participating teams were

considered winners but the University

of Zambia received an accolade for

producing the best debate team.

Edward Musosa from the University of

Zambia and David Mfungo of the

Lusaka Apex Medical University were

awarded certificates as the best

debate speakers.

University students arguing out the motion: Volunteerism Perpetuates Social Inequalities. Photo: Moses Zangar, Jr/UNDP

Edward Musosa and Namoonga Hazeze of the University of Zambia display their certificate

as the best debate team (Photo: Moses Zangar, Jr/UNDP)

A group photo of members of the participating teams and UN Volunteers

at the event (Photo: Moses Zangar, Jr/UNDP)

12

Ms. Janet Rogan is the new UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Rep-resentative in Zambia. She replaces Ms. Kanni Wignaraja. Before her appoint-

ment, Janet served in Her Majestys Diplomatic Service for over 20 years. In her

previous assignment, she was Senior Strategy Adviser to the Director for Defence and International Security at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), UK. She also served FCOs Deputy Director for Finance. Janet was Consul General and Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel (2005-2008) prior to which she undertook language training in Hebrew. From 2003-2004 she was seconded to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Basra, Iraq (then Bagh-dad). She was the UKs Political Ad-viser to the NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Europe from 2001-

2003 and from 1998-2001.

Janet began her career in 1986 with FCO in the UK as Desk Officer for Zambia and Malawi.

Mwaiseni ku Zambia

Welcome to Zambia

life makes a difference. With a spirit of volunteerism, all persons young and old from all walks of life can come together and make a tremen-dous contribution to development that may seem minimal at the start but the ripple effect can transform the pace of development.

Kayimbo Katengo, Head, Zam-

bian Universities & Colleges

Model United Nations: Volun-

teerism helps in the building of

strong and cohesive communities.

Volunteerism fosters trust between

citizens and helps develop norms of

solidarity and reciprocity which are

essential to stable communities.

Overall, volunteerism delivers im-

pressive social benefits. Through

voluntary action young create

groupings that can cement civic

responsibility and belonging.

Tom Kennedy, Country Director, US Peace Corps Volunteers, Zambia: As a young man, I myself served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon. My Peace Corps experiences trans-formed my life as - Ive seen that volunteerism has transformed so many others. Whether someone chooses to volunteer to serve others for two years, as Peace Corps Volun-teers typically do, or even for two hours as many can and do in their communities it makes a difference in people's lives and strengthens our communities.

If a volunteer no matter what country he or she comes from works on improving the knowledge and skills of those with whom they work, they plant a seed that will grow and flourish long after their departure.

Taonga M'shanga, UNV National Coordinator (Post 2015 Consulta-tions): The first time I ever volun-teered was at a local orphanage. I served as a librarian and helped the young school children to learn to read. Volunteering and seeing my efforts, skills and experience make someones life better than they were before (even in the smallest way) is the most fulfilling experi-ence.

In a nutshell, volunteering is more than self-gain, its beyond self-development but about making someones life better. I think every-one should volunteer to make the world a better place because at the end of the day we are all citizens of the global village. Therefore, if we want the village to develop, we all need to make sure no one has been left behind- women, men, children, young and old we all need to devel-op each other. Just changing one

Have Your Say What Does Volunteering Mean To You?


Ole R. Justesen is UNV Programme Officer and part of the Governance Team at UNDP. His areas of exper-tise in the development field include governance reforms, decentralisa-tion, elections and political economy analysis. Before joining UNDP Zam-bia, Ole worked for Global Citizen, a member organisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, mobilizing aca-demia, civil society and the private sector in support of sustainable development. Ole holds a master degree in Political Science.

Janet beams with a smile during a welcome ceremony at UNDP in Lusaka.

Velice Shizia Nangavo, Programme Officer, UNREDD: Volunteerism is the act of helping and supporting others. Volunteerism comes from within and it does not require moti-vation. Volunteers have a way of bringing their own unique motiva-tions to their work. People volunteer for various reasons either because you want to support your friends; you want to bring change or are passionate about it. I volunteer because Im passionate about delop-ing people and systems.

Moses M. Zangar, Jr., Communi-cations Officer, UNDP: In my view, volunteering means using your time and talents to help others and make a difference in peoples lives without expecting to be paid.

13

UNV Programme Field Unit UN House Ground Floor Alick Nkhata Road P.O. Box 31966 10101 Lusaka, Zambia For more information, contact: Moses M. Zangar, Jr. Communications Officer Mobile:(+260)967 605 747 E-mail: [email protected] Flavia Sembera UNV Programme Officer Mobile:(+260) 977 770 609 Email: [email protected]

Visit our website @: www.unvolunteers.org


The UNV Field Unit in Zambia has

scaled up its engagement with Volun-

teer Involving Organizations (VIOs)

and other volunteer networks aimed

at promoting a culture of youth volun-

teerism. The move is to enable young

people play positive roles in finding

solutions to some of the development

challenges affecting communities.

UN Volunteers is supporting the

training and mentoring of organiza-

tions and youth groups involved in

volunteer programs. Young people

are increasingly involved in programs

that address the needs and empower

communities with the hope that they

can become lifelong participants and

take on a sense of ownership in

development efforts.

As part of the UNV Youth Volunteer

Strategy which aims at helping young

people address their needs, the

Zambia Field Unit facilitated 21

students from the University of

Zambia to fulfil their field work

program with other VIOs.

The students gained field experience

in rural communities and had the

opportunity to interact and share with

other young people how youth

volunteerism serves as a tool for

positive development.

The advocacy campaign has also

included a phone-in program on

Yatsani Radio where a group of

university students discussed the

importance and contributions of

volunteerism.

The current focus is on strengthening

the youth volunteer network in

collaboration with the National Youth

Development Council and other UN

partner agencies.

Engaging With Youth Volunteers

It was an exciting day full of educational and entertaining activities! Dozens of school children converged and had plenty of opportunity for hands-on participation in a childrens event dubbed kuthandizana, meaning helping each other which was orga-nized by their school with support from

the UNV Field Unit in Lusaka.

The event at Kizito Community School was meant to promote the spirit of

volunteerism among children.

Skits were performed by the school children making it easier for the others to understand and relate to the mes-

saging.

The one hour program was enough to capture the audiences interest and show how exciting children can be in terms of helping each other. They had their audience laughing and applauding

their poems and traditional dances.

Majority of the pupils are orphaned or vulnerable, hence, the need to ensure

that volunteerism at a young age is promoted; keeping in mind that volunteer activities can reward young children with new skills and perspective

as they develop into responsible

citizenry.

The occasion engaged the young children by using various forms of communication such as story telling, poetry and drama depicting the importance of volunteering and helping

each other.

Volunteering is the perfect way for children to be welcomed as productive and active members of a community. Through volunteering, children can become valuable contributors to their constantly changing society, said Taonga M'shanga, a national UN

Volunteer who coordinated the event.

Most of the pupils said the knowledge exchanged will encourage them to be responsible and have a sense of ownership at their school, in their communities and homes by taking volunteer actions such as cleanups,

knowledge sharing and many more.

Childrens Event: Kuthandizana Day

A young girl sharing a story of how she

helps clean her school to keep it clean.

A Kizito pupil reciting poem on the

importance of helping each other

Radio discussion at Yatsani Radio

Station

Youth Volunteers listening to a

presentation on volunteerism.

There is incredible value in

being of service to others.

Elizabeth Berg - Author

Documents

UNV Zambia Newsletter January - March 2014