Kalomo

Some information before we leave, about the

Kalomo Area Development Project

where we will be staying, observing and learning.

World Vision started work in the Kalomo area in 1999, enabling locals to identify and develop projects for their own needs, helping them to reach long term solutions to poverty.

“The people of Kalomo have become more resilient to cyclical drought because of their group work and the farming support they received from World Vision. Today, the community is empowered to transfer the knowledge they gained through livestock training and other programs, and they are able to reap better harvests. People are also becoming less dependent on external support and are more likely to be able to support themselves in the future — they are also deeply grateful to the donors who supported the World Vision Gift Catalogue because a gift of goats has allowed them to diversify.” More of Kalomo’s people are receiving proper health care from better-equipped and trained health workers. HIV-prevention activities have been critical. By raising awareness about HIV and AIDS, we are helping reduce stigma. Trained peer educators are sharing HIV-prevention skills to help protect the next generation. HIV testing and counselling is more widely available, and trained traditional birth attendants are helping reduce the risk of HIV transmission from mother to baby. The needs of orphans and vulnerable children are also being met as sponsors help us cover the cost of school fees, extra food and clothing, and bed nets to combat malaria. It’s all pointing to a more positive future for the people of Kalomo.

Accomplishment: New Techniques = Bigger, Better Harvests Generous Canadian sponsors are helping World Vision introduce new farming techniques to the families of Kalomo, which is helping them boost income and improve harvests. By providing nutrition training, start-up seeds, tools and livestock, we have helped them put food on the table each day and have money left over to meet other basic needs.


Accomplishment: Better Access to Health Care
In 2008, more people in Kalomo were able to receive health care thanks to better-equipped and trained health workers and reduced stigma about HIV and AIDS. HIV-prevention activities were a major focus for this community. We trained 25 peer educators and 24 teachers to teach life skills and HIV-prevention skills, offered mobile HIV testing and counseling to 1,061 people, and trained 18 traditional birth attendants to help reduce HIV transmission from mother to baby. Together we also empowered the people of Kalomo to meet the basic needs of orphans and vulnerable children and increased the standard of care.

Accomplishment: Job Skills Give New Hope Angelina Mweene supports her young baby and her sister’s family through her work as a tailor, but only a few years ago, she had no income and relied on family members to help when they could. A World Vision-sponsored tailoring course gave Angelina the training she needed to begin a successful business. At the end of her three-month course, Angelina went home with a donated Singer sewing machine. She borrowed money from her older sister to buy material to sew 20 school uniform skirts. By the time she had sold these uniforms, she was able to pay back her loan and buy more material. She exchanged some of the clothes she made for maize to feed her family. As her business increased, Angelina began sewing women’s suits and baby clothes. Today she is able to support her family. Angelina wants to encourage other young people in her village to become tailors. “My plan is to encourage other youths of my age to join me,” she says. “This training will sustain others as well.”