Nabuur online volunteering tasks

Help us get reading books, reference books and toys for the Community Resource Centre

Asuman Kaggwa — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:24:43 -0500

Nakyerongosa village started a community resource centre after observing the need for such a facility in the area. The idea came about as a result of support from a retired community trainer who donated a few of his books because he wanted to give something back to the community. COMASA officials sensitised schools and community members about the programmes at the Centre. Since then people have realised the importance of the resource centre as a source of knowledge and it is making a world of difference for children whose schools are too poor to afford books.

Some of the initial programmes at the centre are storytelling for children and sensitisation on hygiene, HIV/AIDS, water and sanitation topics.

Currently, there are few reading materials whereas there is a high demand for literacy materials from both the school children and community members. We are therefore appealing to individuals and organisations that are in a position to assist the Community Resource Centre to do so. We will be very grateful for any reading materials, reference books and toys towards this noble cause.

Nakyerongosa

Help Finish classrooms at KEFRAMA College, Lira District- Uganda

Okello Augustine Kezzy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:04:16 -0500

Dear Neighbors,

First we would like to thank everybody who has been taking time to foolow our project through from inception until now. In 2011, 56 orphans and needy children started classes at KEFRAMA College. Until now, the 56 children shall be back in school on January 30th 2012 for first term of 2012. New entrants shall report to school for classes on 13th February 2012.
A number of great works were done during the past year with lots of support from individuals, organizations and friends. In 2011, we managed to use the unfinished classrooms and rooms for sleeping for our students. Because KEFRAMA is still in the process of devlopment of facilities, we have started work on more structures to accommodate the increasing number. We are now appealing to organisations, individuals to help us complete the work started by helping finish the existing structures. We shall be grateful for all your help with. If you would like to donate and you are in Uganda, you can write a cheque in the folling name: KEFRAMA College. For those outside Uganda, you may request for KEFRAMA College Bank account information so you can wire funds directly to the school bank account. You intend to send donations through Western Union Money transfer, use the name: Okello Augustine Kezzy as a reveiver and give us the Money Transfer Control number, Sender's name, Country where Money is sent from, Amount sent, Test question and answer to the test question. Names of all Donors will be published on this social network and our school webpage.

God bless all of you.

Barr

maintenance of local webpage www.vadgam.com

nitin2550 — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:44:47 -0500

Volunteers are welcome to help for better technical maintenance of vadgam web page www.vadgam.com

Share your valuable suggestions,information,comments and guideline to make local village website more attractive and useful.

Vadgam

sajos new face kids

DANIEL MWANGI NGANGA — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:59:12 -0500

we have small kids who were admitted to our school this year ,who need your help of ideas how we can get learning materials ,toys ,playing shoes,food ,cloth among others kids needs ,anybody with info. how we can get the items is welcome

Kiserian

Agriculture Development

nitin2550 — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 08:37:38 -0500

Here I like to Invite Agricultural Specialist to share there valuable knowledge with vadgam and help vadgam for new implementation in agricultural field.

You are most welcome to share your ideas,information, guideline on various field of the agriculture subject which helpful to village farmers to implementation in there farm.

Vadgam

Vadgam Tourism Development

nitin2550 — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 08:31:13 -0500

Here I like to Introduce the Tourism place around the vadgam and like to invite tourist around the world for visit vadgam and like to learn and know abt rural community and culture activities.tourist can invited to ask the question here abt there touring plan to visit vadgam and nearby places.

Vadgam

Help the Student for Their Career

nitin2550 — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 08:00:47 -0500

Here I started a New Topic to help village student's to choose right option for make bright Career in there life...here we need to provide them a better guideline and suggestion which help them to choose a right field in the sense of current requirement in market.we also provide them a guideline and suggestion for better preparation for competition examination as well as required awareness in this subject.

Vadgam

ON LINE FUND RAISING PROGRESS.

Josephat Nyagwaya — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:54:56 -0500

I am pleased to inform all of you that we have raised 18.75% of our minimum target in our on line fund raising.Also raised 2.75% off line locally.
The fund raising challenge started on Wednesday 23/11/11. I wish to take this opportunity to invite you to participate.Spread the message to your friends, relatives and workmates because you know them personally. I understand that together as a team we can achieve our target.We now have 26 days remaining before the end of the challenge.
Kindly take this challenge personally and reach out for support in your networks.Visit my fund raiser at http://www.globalgiving.org/dy/fundraiser/prevfund//gg.html?regid=6562.
We continue to appreciate and cerebrate you for your various forms of support that you have continued to give to this project.The project page is: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/educate-pupils-in-grapevine-sch-in-... or http://goto.gg/9180.
I also wish to welcome any ideas that may contribute positively towards this challenge.
Thank you.
Josephat Nyagwaya.
Grapevine Community school.

Sewage

Eyes of Africa

Esther 1230551936 — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:51:49 -0500

Early 2012, HAU will run an Eyes of Africa project together with photographer Melanie Rijkers (www.mery.nl). We want to give children in Kisozi (who participated in the hiv/aids workshops), teen mothers in Kisozi and street children in Jinja the oppertunity to discover their talents and develop their talents and show the world their lives through the lens of a camera and through art. It is a follow up program of the hiv/aids workshops and to create awareness about the situation of (pregnant) women in areas where there is no midwife (this part is linked to our maternity ward at the medical centre in Kisozi). And since Hau moved its office to Jinja this year and we are also operating in Jinja and surroundings now, we would like to include some street children in Jinja in this project. (Especially at night, we see many street children hanging around near the veranda of the catering project in Jinja). The plan is to organize an exhibition at the catering project in Jinja and one in the Netherlands. Some help is needed in this project.

We are looking for:

1) Someone who can design a poster for the Eyes of Africa project. This poster will be used in Kisozi and Jinja to promote the project and to give information.

2) 75 disposable cameras. The children who participate in this project will each get a disposable camera to show us their lives etc. Hau will make sure the photos are developed and that each child will receive their own photobook with memories.

3) 75 small photoalbums.

We have contacted some possible sponsors, but unfortunately didn't succeed. The disposable cameras often have an expiracy date and when it has exceeded that date, shops often don't sell them anymore and yet, those cameras could still be suitable for use in Uganda for this project.

4) 75 coloured pencils set/felt-pen sets

Not all children will use the cameras, we will also have a group of children who are going to draw and paint.

Is there anyone who likes to help us with this task? Contact us here or at info@hopealiveuganda.org

Kisozi

Providing opportunities for recreation while supporting global causes.

Biira Sylvia — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 06:15:57 -0500

Background:
In June, 2001 Luhwahwa Youth Development Foundation (LUOYODEFO) organized and sponsored “SPORTS FOR CHANGE” tournament for Kajwenge Parish. The event had (and hopefully will continue to have but not limited to) the following activities;-
(a). There was guest briefs on;- the role of youth in development; what is needed of youth to have sustained community; how youth can influence and contribute towards change; how the community can support youth building and formation; education as a tool; etc
(b). During tournaments, the opening/ concluding remarks and half-time shows will all be used to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS; youth behavior; the importance of education; supporting girl child education; youth building/ formation among the public.
(c). At the end, give a trophy to first team and some small prizes to the 2nd and 3rd teams, best player, top - scorer, and best goal keeper.
We engaged 14 teams (8 for males and 6 for females) and entertained 400 - 650 spectators at a time, of broad age range and a diversity of occupations. It is such an exciting event that gave young people and the community an opportunity to share, play, interact in a funny way, and raise awareness on health education and career development among the public.
Proposal:
We would like to engage the whole 5 parishes of Kisinga subcounty – allowing more teams to participate. We will discuss an appropriate framework for promoting the interest and social corporate responsibility goals with local and opinion leader, already formed teams, groups of youth and women, schools, and the lower local government in the area of publicity and awareness. Once a time frame is develop, we use the local FM radio to create awareness on the event (purpose; coverage; participation; eligibility; timing; benefit; sponsors; etc). At the same time, we will jointly work with these stakeholder to boost the existing organizing committee (that served for the previous event), which will then review existing rules and regulations, budget/ procure necessary materials and logistics for successful event.
Our goal:
Our sponsorship goal for the 2nd sports competition due in late December, 2011 is $ 3,200. However, part of this fund will be locally raised through registration fees for interested teams; well wishers’ contributions; and food collections from the community.

We procured and already have the trophies (cups – for males and females) that will be taken (and owned) by a team that wins it for 3 consecutive competitions a year.

Purpose and uses of the money you donate:
All funds raised will be used for event as may be budgeted for by the organizing committee in collaboration with LUYODEFO, the implementing organization, in addition to the following;-

Donation options to support the cause
$ 4 buys for printing/ buying 1 t-shirt for officials and recognized players (best player, goal keeper, smartest player, disciplined player, top scorer, etc)
$ 5 pays a trained/ skilled referrer for a match
$ 6 pays for travel allowances for 1 staff/ volunteer for a planning meetings with head teachers, team leaders, coaches, etc
$ 20 pays a gift for the 3rd winning team
$ 30 pays for marking a play ground
$ 30 pays a gift for the 2nd winning team
$ 35 buys either 1 football or 1 netball, and 2 whistles for a participating team
$ 40 pays for first aid kit for a participating team
$ 40 pays a gift for the 1st winning team
$ 40 pays a speaker for the event (field of interest health, education, welfare, etc)
$ 60 pays for food and refreshment for a participating team
$ 120 pays for a 1 – month sports even campaign on local FM radio station

What you get for your donation:
Sponsors for this colorful community event will benefit through;-
(a). Sponsor profiling or Mention in all our event spotlight on local FM radio station(s), and event day emcee announcements
(b). Placing logo (if you have one) on event-day banners and on promotional flyer
(c). Placing logo (if you have one) on event T-shirts and Caps for teams, officials, and or for sell to fans to generate income for the organization.
(d). Placing logo (if you have one) or profile (if you don’t mind) on our social network fans page with link to sponsor website
(e). Crowning gala speeches by sponsor representative if applicable
(f). Running sponsor’s advert jingles and exclusive sale of sponsor’s services during the event if applicable.

If you have anything to say or contribute, please emial us at luyodefo@hotmail.com

Kajwenge

Social Tourism marketing

sesf2345 — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:12:15 -0400

Dear neighbours

Makalu Arun Social Trek (MAST) a registered non profit distributing trekking company has been established in Khandbai in Sankhuwasabha District of Eastern Nepal in 2010 by Sankhuwasabha Education Scholarship Foundation (SESF).

MAST would like to offer our guests a unique and alternative trekking service around Makalu and Arun Valley region, of Nepal, a mostly untouched trekking area where the skyline is a panorama of rugged Himalayan peaks including Mt Everest, Mt. Kanchanjunga, Mt.Makalu and other peaks above 8,000m.

MAST organizes, coordinates and facilitates treks in the region in collaboration with the local communities, other trekking companies with similar objectives, ensuring a win-win situation between hosts and visitors. A big part of the generated resources will be used to support the Sankhuwasabha Education Scholarship Foundation (SESF)'s child education support and Khandbari orphanage program.

MAST would like to advertise our new innovative tourism program around our potential customers around the world
How we can do it.

We are looking forward to hearing new ideas from you.

Warm regards

Tejanath

Local representative
www.makaluaruntreks.com

Sankhuwasabha

HELP US REPORT IN PICTURES – Donate a digital camera

Biira Sylvia — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 14:41:28 -0400

Help us report in pictures, enable us attract readers of our online posts - donate a digital camera you are no-longer using!

We have terrible difficulty to give evidence on the situation in the community, as well as the impact our projects. This difficulty is due to lack of a digital camera to enable capturing of events in a timely manner – as they happen or are done.

We have been hiring digital cameras, but we have faced several challenges to have the pictures ranging from untimely uploading to complete loss (maybe by deletion or faulty cameras, etc). This makes our organization fail to showcase the impact we create to our supporters; fail to attract readers of our online posts (updates, requests, etc); etc We resorted to hiring local (non-digital) cameras, but the getting pics is a lengthy process from developing to printing and scanning pics into digital format – even too costly as we don’t own a scanner.

We need to get pictures of our work (needs/ situation, implementation, and impact) in a timely fashion, while cutting the costs attached to using local camera or hiring digital cameras.

Kajwenge

Support our fundraising campaign on betterplace

Biira Sylvia — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:13:27 -0400

LUYODEFO successfully posted a project on betterplace.org to build a home for orphans and destitute children in Kasese, western Uganda. Our goal is to receive online donation through this site to help implement the project.

While we are creating partnership for our OVC program with WORC (www.orphcorp.org), we feel it is necessary to also explore various channels to secure funds. Though WORC is also fundraising to see the work done, but construction work requires very large amounts of money.

We know if this project begins, more than a single house need to be constructed; the living house, kitchen, store, toilets and urinals, etc need to be put in place. So we need to secure the money to get work done. Click on this link to visit the project
http://www.betterplace.org/en/projects/4575-home-for-orphans-and-destitu...

Once you are here, many thing can be done, and these include;
(a). Becoming an advocate for the project

(b). Writing on project blog

(c). Spreading the project via your e-mail contacts, social network pages- Facebook, twitter, linked in, etc, or on your website or blog

(d). Giving/ donating to the project

Every action you do on our project page counts! We need your support to achieve the goal

Kajwenge

CHLDREN SPONSORSHIP

Josephat Nyagwaya — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:47:32 -0400

Since the Commencement of this school, we have been able to enroll a total of 200 pupils and the number is on the increase.This is because we charge affordable fees, we offer quality education and we understand our parents. However most parents end up not being able to pay fees due to unreliable jobs,high cost of living and unemployment.
This forces parents to keep children at home and only allow them to come to school during exams. This negatively challenges our quest for quality Education and beats our noble purpose. Some of the parent argue that, their major concern is rent and food first then others follow.Most of these children lack uniforms and loiter in the streets begging for food.
I strongly believe that if these children get somebody to pay their fees they can excel since most of them are very bright. It is in virtue of these that I am requesting our neighbor, Friends and well wishers to give ideas on how these children can be helped. Otherwise the are potential gangs in waiting. Educating these children will mean a safe,secure and good environment for investment.

Sewage

Any volunteer who may know a hospital/organization that donates medical equipment to developing countries

barasa — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:38:06 -0400

Arrow Web Hospital is looking for volunteers who may help them to source an organization/hospitals that can donate the used medical equipment to hospitals in developing counties.

Arrow Web Hospital is getting a high number of newborn babies with difficult breathing. We need a baby suction machine to help our nurses deal with this.

Any one who has ideas on this please post here.

Kayole-Soweto

FARMING PROJECT TO GENERATE INCOME FOR THE SCHOOL PROJECT

Josephat Nyagwaya — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:24:54 -0400

We bought land for the school and we are planing to use for farming to provide food for the school for this appears to attract children since most of them do not get food or enough in their homes.
If we have food in school most will attend regularly and this will greatly improve our academic standards.
It is in virtue of this that we need support to do farming or even put up a green house.
The area has a very great potential for farming. A visit the the neighborhood to study and learn more on the productivity of the area got us on surprise. The area is very fertile for crop farming. Tomatoes, kales, papaws,and many other crops do very well. The only problem is lack of water. We are seeking support to enable us dig a well for the farming to take place in all seasons.You may wish to admire some of the crops in the farm and animals. WE plan to do crop farming as it does not require very close supervision.
We therefore need your support in form of ideas links among others.

Sewage

more challenges for the youths that needs to be solved

Patrick Chabu — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:33:22 -0400

PART1
Agriculture is one of the economic mainstays of the district. Most agricultural activities are rain fed and major crops grown include maize, Coffee, Wheat,ground nuts and vegetables. Urban backyard gardening and peri-urban farming crops such as groundnuts, maize, sweet potatoes and traditional vegetables are also practiced.. The increment of electricity tariffs by the only electricity supply company in the country and the introduction of prepaid bills, has led to the increase in the shift from the use of hydro electricity upon which most of the grid depend, to wood fuel.
Poverty levels are high due to the fact that the rate at which the population is growing exceeds the economic growth of the district. Consequently, majority of the total estimated district population resides in unplanned settlements. Due to the decline in the availability of formal wage employment, majority of residents in Mpongwe work mainly in the informal sector.
Since August 2010, I have had a memorable, inspiring and challenging expedition around Copperbelt and its neighbouring districts, Kalulushi and Lufwanyama, which historically were once part of Copperbelt, and depend on Mpongwefor most social and economic activities. My concentration or rather main interest has been in understanding the way of life for the youth in terms of education-primary and secondary, post secondary training, participation in politics and governance and other democratic processes, their social and economic integration into society, and more importantly their livelihood.
West of Mponwe, along Mpongweto Luanshya Road is an interesting and busy suburb, Ibenga, with a beautiful stream that provides water for agriculture and domestic use. The river has attracted the people of the suburb to live along it. The central business place of the suburb is the roadside,. It’s a busy business place with the main commodities being a variety of crops including carrots, maize, potatoes, vegetables, groundnuts, pumpkins, cassava, tomatoes, onion, and many other crops. Taking a walk along the river, I witnessed the dedicated invested of time and resources in the growing of a number of crops to earn a living. With 90 percent of the gardens along the stream cultivated by the youth, their produce is not only sold at the road side to the motorists and passengers, but also supplied to the three mining districts surrounding the suburb. Within the suburb are farms involved in poultry farming, animal husbandry, and growing of a few varieties of crops and these provide employment to many other youths and other residents. I had an opportunity to interact with the people of this suburb for about two weeks.
From there, I headed to Kalulushi district, a small district branching from Kitwe. This is classified a rural district because most of its boundaries are typical rural with some of the roads being impassable during the rainy season. Upon arriving at the market, one can tell that they are in the land of subsistence farmers, a lot of bicycles packed around and farmers are busy displaying and selling their produce to the marketers. Some take advantage of light trucks owned by farmers who have farms near to them and use that to transport their produce even as far as Kitwe. Going beyond the district headquarters, I headed towards the Lufwanyama district bordering with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The recently, declared district is the home of a number of gemstone mines and many agricultural activities. The district is surrounded by rivers and seasonal streams providing people with water sources for domestic and agricultural use. Most of the land in the district is customary owned (controlled by local Chiefs), and the local people have obtained reasonable pieces of land as subordinates to the Chiefs. With this land they are free to grow different varieties of crops and conduct other farming activities. However, for other economic activities such as gemstone mining to be practiced, the Chief of the particular Chiefdom is supposed to be informed and permission has to be obtained from relevant government authorities. Subordinates of a particular chiefdom pay a certain contribution whenever a new chief is installed as a successor, for them to continue owning that farm and receive a paper from the Chief to signify their customary land ownership. On one of the land ownership letter I read, the reason was indicated as I Chief ……….. wish to maintain and extend your farm at ………….. to ensure that ‘You expand your farming activities and grow more crops’……..
In the swampy areas surrounding one of the villages I visited, crops are grown which are taken to the district headquarters for sale. Many people grow crops to feed their families and they sale the excess. The money raised from the sale of produce is used to buy essentials and pay for their children’s school fees. Good enough, I came across a young man whom I met as I was visiting a school just few kilometres from Kalulushi, in his early twenties attending his nineth grade. This was because as I spoke to few pupils from this school about their career goals, way of life and families, I could not have enough time to have a meaningful chat with him. He concluded an account of a series of stories that I had learnt about the way of life in this village. I was challenged as the young man narrated how he struggles to combine raising money to pay for his school fees and concentrating on school work. He said that he depends on charcoal burning and sales this merchandise to Kalulushi district more than 30 kilometres away from his village, and depending on a bicycle as the mode of transport. Since he carries charcoal packed in about four 25 kg bags on his bicycle, the entire distance is covered on foot. The young man explained to me that engaging in agriculture would be much better but lack of proper skills and income to buy input resources, are the main constraints himself and his family has been facing.
Low levels of literacy have haunted this neighbourhood, as a result of parents lacking income to support their children. The land and water resources are abundant but people do not have the knowhow skills and input resources for them to effectively engage in agriculture which happens to be the only environmental friendly and sustainable income generating activity than charcoal burning as most of the trees have been used for charcoal and fire wood. The people of this neighbourhood know that agriculture can work for them but means of engaging in the practice are limited. For the few who have the knowhow skills and finances to buy crop growing inputs, they have small fields in which they engage youths on piece work basis and pay them.
Agribusiness can create employment for the many poor urban and peri-urban youths, and provide for them an opportunity to improve their livelihood and that of their families. It can also provide skills and opportunities, making available a number of skills in which youth should engage in the world of work, while providing income generating opportunities for the improvement of their livelihoods and enabling them to be integrated into society socially and economically. Once self-sustainable, literate and independent and by participating and being in-charge of their lives as well as frontiers of change, the youths will become effective community leaders who would be able to drive sustainable development of their communities , environmentally, socially and economically. This way the youth will participate in development and will prove to be actors and resources in development cooperation.
Effective, meaningful and profitable engagement of youth in agribusiness requires the availability of a number of issues .The youth should acquire skills that will enable them to; carefully choose the right venture to undertake; prepare their fields and be able to handle their crops or livestock; market and sale their product, and this should be backed up by continuous extension support. They should have access to reliable land for their agricultural/livestock activities. They should have easy and affordable access to input resources. In addition, the youth should be helped to have access to the readily available market where they can sale their produce, engage in networking for information and knowledge sharing and exchange coupled with business development and field expansion incentives made available to them.
Considering the lessons I have learnt in this my mini expedition, there are a number of constraints that youth are facing and would face if they engage in agribusiness. Constraints include: skills acquisition, land acquisition, agricultural, livestock and fisheries inputs and other resources acquisition, production know how skills and continuous extension support, market sourcing, networking for information and knowledge sharing and exchange , business development and field expansion.
However, applying a number of aforementioned issues for effective, meaningful and profitable engagement of youth in agribusiness, agribusiness has the potential and can provide employment and income opportunities and improve the livelihoods of the poor and unemployed rural, peri-urban and urban youths. Furthermore, the application of Critical thinking, Creativity, Teamwork, Cross-Cultural Understanding, Self-Direction, Communication and Technology, should not be left out if this intervention has to be successful. Fore-instance Continuous learning, this becomes more workable with the support and availability of ICTs, has proved to be essential if agricultural ventures have to be successful. This is evident in the results of a study carried out by the United States of America based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in which it is estimated that variable climate reduces Zambia’s rate of economic growth by 0.4 percentage points on average each year. This is because those venturing in agriculture cannot adapt to the variable climate patterns which are cardinal to agriculture. Continuous learning and the availability of up to date information would largely contribute to the adaptation of these variable trends in climate.
Therefore, researchers, professionals, knowledge managers, ICT4D practitioners and professionals, donors and micro-financing institutional, agriculture/livestock and fisheries experts and other stakeholders should engage in closing the gap to ensure sustainable solutions are put in place in both short and long term. More so, it should always be noted that we are still celebrating and advocating for dialogue and mutual understanding as the theme for the International year of the youth and are besides being reminded to consider the ‘youth perspective and youth 21st Century Skills’ approach if we are to effectively and sustainably engage the youth in development.

PART 2
It is generally believed that as long as human beings will continue to eat, food must be supplied. From growing the crop to delivering it, there is a business opportunity for discerning minds. The opportunities for agribusiness in Zambia are enormous.
It is also true that agriculture is associated with the poorest people in this country. Hundreds of thousands of men and women whose business is to grow crop and other livestock-related products have failed to make money. While the opportunities remain open, especially now that land has been made available through commercialisation, many Zambians still need to know how best to make the money in this industry.

The first opportunity in agriculture is that this sector is highly cherished by the government. Among the government's economic priority areas, agriculture tops the list. It is also a sector that carries with it natural politics and this perhaps determines why there are many winners and losers.

OPPORTUNITIES: Whatever happens to Zambia, agriculture will be an attractive sector to invest money in. Most of the products we consume in shops are not produced locally. Some exotic products are produced by very few farmers.

In developed economies, agriculture contributes about 20 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. We are just at about 13 per cent, meaning that we still have to grow this sector. The opportunities for those with knowledge and passion are limitless.
The horticulture industry is in my opinion the greatest opportunity for those seeking to find value in agriculture. The local and international markets are presently demanding for constant supplies of fruits and vegetables, flowers, plantation crops, spices, aromatic and medicinal plants.

It has also emerged foreign investors are looking for huge chunks of land to grow most of these crops primarily for the export market. In any case, some important crops are presently under-invested. Medicinal plants are not grown commercially in Zambia and yet we now have so many outlets offering herbal medicines in the country. Most of these crops are imported from India and yet Zambia has the best climatic conditions to grow these plants.
There are further opportunities in the fisheries sector, animal husbandry and livestock and this may include the sericulture (rearing silk-worms for production of silk). All these products require little capital but a lot of expertise and attention. The trick with agriculture business is to have knowledge. Value is obtained by keeping costs low and yields very high.
The real opportunity in agribusiness (according to my assessment) lies in food-processing. We need Zambians who can convert mango, watermelon, masuku and pineapple into canned products. The success of the agriculture business depends on the value-addition industry.

RISKS: I need to emphasize that business is about taking risks. Every business is risky. What is important is to understand the nature of risks associated with agribusiness so that you do not lose out. The biggest risk in agriculture is government involvement. The taxes are not predictable. Government also gets involved in setting prices for certain crops. Maize for example, has not been very profitable for many Zambians who have gone into it.

There is also the competition challenge. When Zambians hear of an opportunity in one product, they all cluster into it. We have in the past 15 years moved from various products, most of them abandoned. We had paprika to which everyone with a little energy and money went into. We changed to quails, bananas, soya, chicken and now jatropha.

We are not dealing fairly with the markets and this has remained a huge risk. In fact, agriculture everywhere generally swings from one end to the other as people seek for new prospects. As they abandon one product for the other, those that remain behind harvest good prices.
The cash-based Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a huge market for Zambian farmers. There are crops that are out of the radar of government control in terms of export-bans. Additionally, certain crops will attract bank financing.
As a project Coodinator for Direct Aid from Family to Family Society, I m convinced that if we put hands together, the youths, the government and the international community we can reduce poverty, increase income at household level and create jobs for many unemployed.
Having this opportunity of acquiring land from the Government on Lukanga North youth Resettlement in Mpongwe, the sky is the limit for the Youth on the copperbelt to utilize this resources fully.

Choshi

HELP US FIND NEW MARKETS FOR JEWELLERY AND CRAFTS PRODUCTS

josephat bwire — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 13:21:06 -0400

The first initiative that Turning point project has established is the making of Jewellery and craft products such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, shopping baskets, purse, outing bags, household decorations, table mats,lavatory mats, door mats, portraits of animals & people and key holders and document purse.

Click here to see pictures of some of these items and the young people who make them.

This initiative has created employment opportunity to 23 vulnerable youths and Young single mothers thus making them self reliance and independent. The initiative has only local market which can't absorb in the products that is being produced thus we are worried because the initiative can't sustain the people involved because of the low sales they might go back to their social vices to sustain them thus we kindly request any volunteer who is interested to place orders or link the initiative to international markets or be ambassadors for the initiative thus vulnerable youths and young single mothers will benefit hence not fall back to social vices.

GITHURAI

Mpongwe youth resetlement project challenges

Patrick Chabu — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:14:08 -0400

Youth from Daff Society has finally been trained in business planing and proposal writing and 10 of our member acquired a piece of land 5 hactares each and a house built already by the Ministry of Sport Youth and Child Development in Mpongwe.
1. Introduction
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) if well planned and harnessed have the ability to bridge the digital divide and accelerate the rate of growth of economic groups that have traditionally been marginalized. They enhance accuracy and efficiency in work output at all levels of production in not only agricultural fields but also in all rural developmental strategies. Furthermore, they have the potential to provide effective collaboration among practitioners engaged in similar practices for exchange of ideas, experiences, challenges, knowledge sharing which broadens practitioner’s knowledge base and consequently improves work output.
The Copperbelt Province of Zambia has in the recent last two decades experienced an increase in a lot of people taking up agriculture as the main source of living and business. The Government of the Republic of Zambia has put up policies and strategies aimed at enhancing access to agricultural land, inputs, livestock and training to the locals through The Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives. Lately, the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development in collaboration with the Land Resettlement Scheme under the Vice President’s office and the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives has combined efforts in equipping youths with agricultural land, inputs/livestock and in some areas little start up capital. This programme aims at providing sustainable livelihood initiatives to youths since most youths in Zambia are not in formal employment or education. This programme has resulted in many youths acquiring land, inputs and training from various parts of Zambia such as Lukanga North Youth Resettlement Scheme on the Copperbelt Province. However, the main challenge faced by these youths is little or limited market exposure of agricultural products. Young farmers have very poor methods of advertisement and marketing for their produce. Owing to this challenge, they are exploited by the few buyers that buy their products as they dictate the price at which to buy from them.
2. Overview of Initiative
In order to address the marketing/advertisement challenge faced by most farmers especially the young person, a tool that could be used to expose specific agricultural products produced by particular youths including contact details to a variety of buyers could be developed. This tool can provide both audio and visual information and would be developed by using Free and Open Source Software such as Dreamweaver and easy Php for web designing, MySQL for databases and Wikipedia for blogs and wikis. This tool is a listing website that can be designed specifically for the marketing of agricultural products for young farmers.
4. Specific Objectives of the Initiative

• Market and Advertise Agricultural products and services for young farmers
• Provide a link between agricultural participants and the users
• Inform users about the type of agricultural products available in a particular area
• Enhance competition among farmers
• Create a standard for marketing prices for agricultural products
• Save people’s time in looking for agricultural products
• Expose various agricultural activities practiced in Zambia
5. Implementation of the Initiative
In order to obtain the database needed to be on the site, a simple structured form would be designed and deployed to be filled in by the young farmers on the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. The form would be designed in such a way that it furnishes the information required to be uploaded on the ‘Find the Young Farmer’ website which would include among other things the name of the farming business, contact person and address, type and category of agricultural products available etc. After the form is filled in, a digital/video camera would be used to capture photos and videos of the particular farmer including the agricultural products that are produced by the farmer for sale. These farmers would be encouraged to get trained in basic ICT literacy to allow them navigate the internet. The information obtained is used to create farmer profiles.
The website can be marketed to all government ministries and departments, telecentres, organizations and also on in the local press and media. By making the site popular, the farmer’s product gets to be marketed and advertised.
6. Sustainability
In order to run and manage the site, there is need to obtain very good bandwidth. Costs required to pay the hosting Internet Service Provider and any other initiatives made towards enhancing marketing of the products and administration would be realized by making the farmers pay for space. However, this is only possible after the participating young farmers actually realize the benefit of advertising the goods on ‘Find the Young Farmer’ website.
7. Conclusion
With the implementation of the ‘Find the Young Farmer’ listing website, farmers would have their agricultural products highly advertised and consequently marketed. The farmers would reach out to a variety of customers for their products. Users of the website would save time on looking for farmers having a particular product that they need. It should be noted here that the design, deployment and implementation of the ‘Find the Young Farmer’ website involves the use of ICTs in order to improve access to market for agriculture products from young farmers on the Copperbelt Province
Report by
Patrick chabu
Daff Society Project Coordinator

Patrick

Choshi

Support With School Materials and the building of Classrooms for Kolal Primary School

Reyna — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:35:00 -0400

Kolal Primary School in Kabondo is located in a hardship area in Kabondo, kenya severely affected by HIV/AIDS and with very low agricultural potential. The school was founded by the local community to help cut the distance the local children had to travel in search of education. Most children walked 10 to 15 kilometres to reach the nearest school which has currently been reduced to an average of 3- 5 kilometres. The school has 398 pupils out of which 183 are orphaned and vulnerable children some of whom may not attend school due to lack of food. The school therefore started a small community supported feeding program to keep them in school. Sometimes the local community cannot even afford this porridge that is given once a day.

The school's infrastructure is in a very poor state. Only 3 mud walled classrooms exist instead of eight. the rest of the children are forced to study under trees or in the open air exposed to adverse weather conditions of sunshine and sometimes rainfall. Even the few who study in the mud walled classes are exposed to dusty conditions and the jiggers which have become a menace to their young limbs.

A well wisher (Barb Briggs) donated books to the children that are recommended by the local education system which was welcome relief to both the volunteer teachers, pupils and the local community. While a lot more needs to be done in this direction, this was a significant first step. We request well wishers to come to the aid of this school so that these young children may be accorded a decent future.

Kabondo

Help us Design a Logo

Biira Sylvia — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:27:20 -0400

Our website is www.luyodefo.org, but we don’t have an existing logo. We need people interested in this task to help.

We are looking for volunteers to help design a very nice looking, simple, and catchy logo for LUYODEFO. The logo should not be round and should be suitable for most prints including T-shirts.

Kajwenge

A Volunteer needed to Develop a Business Plan for KEFRAMA Youth Development Foundation.

Okello Augustine Kezzy — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:08:15 -0400

Dear Nabuur memebers,
we urgently need a volunteer to help develop for KEFRAMA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION a Business plann that will help aid our work. We need to register as an Organisation. Anyone with interest and experience in doing this can contact us so the work can begin..you can do this from wherever you are and we will keep interacting via this social network and e-mail to make sure thins are alright.

Barr

INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY -FOR GRAPEVINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL.

Josephat Nyagwaya — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:25:08 -0400

We recently bought 0.375 Acres of land for the future development of our school.Our neighbors have leased land to us to use and pay them fro the harvest.
The land leased to us is about 4 Acres. We therefore have 4.375 Acres of land for Crop farming. We chose crops because the do not need very close supervision.
The area receives low rainfall but people have dug well due to shallow water table. Therefore we also feel that we dig our own well.The one nearest to us is about 1km away. The area is also an open ground which need to be fenced to protect the crops once they are planted.
The group member will provide labor when needed.
I on behalf of the members request our neighbors, well-wishers, friends,groups or individuals.To support us in this project.
This will support our feeding program and the surplus can be sold to meet other project expenses. Land preparation is next Month/September and planting is done in early to Mid October.
I welcome you all to give you support in terms of ideas, links to relevant Organization and any other relevant information that may help usachieve our goals.
By Josephat Nyagwaya.
Grapevine Community School.

Sewage

Sun Dried Fruit & Natural Fruit Juice Project. Advise on fruit processing/packaging, cane sugar processing and start-up funding

Twoli — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:56:20 -0400

We have a group of 30 girls that have been training in business skills. They would like to package sun dried fruits and natural fruit juice. The needed equipment and initial input is $3000. We need volunteers to help us raise funds for this project. We would also like to get volunteers with expertise in processing and packaging of sun-dried fruits. Uganda has a wide variety of fruits which come seasonally and become excess, leading to waste of those that cannot be consumed immediately. Most of these varieties can be dried and used later. Most of the fruits also can be processed into juice and sweetened using either other fruit sugar or raw cane sugar from chewing sugar cane. We would like to get volunteers who know have knowledge about the raw cane sugar extracting machines common in Hawaii and the Philippines.

Isalo

Help the Children Share Their Stories

Jennifer Wells — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 15:42:37 -0400

Storytelling, writing, and drawing are important elements of learning for the children in Vadgam. We would like to see if we can come up with an easy way for children to share their stories, drawings and writing with the world and also allow them to get feedback from others proficient in the English language. We were thinking of creating a blog - in this way children could also practice keyboarding skills, spelling, and get feedback via comments. Can you help create an easy platform for the children to share their pictures, stories and writing with the world?

Vadgam