Economic Empowerment
This is done through Skills Development, Social Economic Enterprises and Assertive Life Skills Training. Women, men and youth in peri-urban and rural areas of Zambia are targeted, with the more vulnerable groups (women and girls) positively discriminated as they tend to suffer more under the negative traditional customs and traditions that disfavour them.
Current projects are in Lukata Village, Chibombo District, Central Province, Katoba and surrounding Villages in Chongwe District and Chawama-John Howard communities in Lusaka Province.
Those trained engage in various activities such as:
ACJ has established local based community structures comprising of a cross section of people from parents/guardians to religious and traditional leaders, MPs, Councillors and other key individuals to facilitate community participation and promote a sense of ownership of projects for sustainability.
Those engaged in Farming have formed Coorperatives which allow them to jointly work and provide the much needed mutual support to each other. The results have been nothing short of amazing!
The picture on the left shows the field of a woman in John-Howard, Lusaka, who is part of the Loleni Coorperative formed by the women and youth there.
Besides growing different types of crops such as maize, sunflower, groundnuts, beans, brinjals, tomatoes, onions, etc., they are also into food processing. This has helped many of them in providing enough, nutritious food to their families all year round. For example, making milk from maize as a replacement for formula, vegetable juices and dried vegetables for preservation, etc.
The impact of this empowerment which has enabled women to contribute to meeting their household needs has further reduced cases of domestic violence, as reported by the women themselves.
- Community members' handiwork gains recognition at District level