Setting
Since 2007 we (Oasis Life Care) have been building a relationship within the community of Kantalomba. Kantalomba is a suburb of Ndola, Zambia and is home to around 8000 peoples and is typically described as a place full of disease, drugs, alcohol and crime. Whilst this may be true the people in Kantalomba – especially the women, desire so much more and we have been working with them to improve their health, education and social needs. We regularly hold a feeding programme with 400 plus children coming for much needed food and, more recently we have been roofing homes that have had roofs of plastic sheets and iron held on by rocks – these would leak, or worse, fall in on them during heavy rains. It has been a huge effort and at times exhausting and at others doubting if we were truly getting somewhere. That all changed last year when we were able to buy a plot of land with the aim of building a community centre, outdoor kitchen, ablutions block and caretakers’ home (necessary for security) strongly supported by the councilors in Kantalomba. Our partners in Kantalomba are led by Lloyd and Lainah Mutali . They are loved and doing so much in the community in building relationships and identifying and caring for those in need.
Project background
To date OLCM Zambia has a small 12-hectare farm which had been producing crops to help feed our children and to support the farm. They have chickens and goats and are looking to establish a piggery in the future. Unfortunately, severe drought and electricity load sharing has meant we have had no crops this year and had to decrease the number of chickens raised.
The Kantalomba Community Hub is an extension of the work already begun. It will allow all programmes to continue regardless of the season. The local council are very appreciative of the work of OLCM Zambia and have been active in finding land at a reasonable price and good location in the community. They fully support the building of this community hub and are excited about the potential for further community education.
Vision
- To seamlessly provide skills training and education programmes and provide food for the children to improve the future outcomes for the Kantalomba community.
Aim of project
- To build a community centre for skills education, health education, local crafts, meetings and child development programmes (CDP’S) with undercover kitchens and shelter for the children for the feeding programmes.
Timeframe for project
Tailoring and basic construction classes could begin withing 12 months of the completed build. Education classes could commence withing 3-6 months of the completed build. It is our objective to charge a small amount for participation in these classes to encourage a sense of ownership. CDP’s will begin in conjunction with local social workers and no timeframe is yet available.
Stages of project
- Complete brick security around perimeter to ensure people’s safety within 2 months
- Construction of:
- ablutions block (currently no toilets in the area) within 3 months
- outdoor kitchen withing 6 months
- community centre commence in 18 months (unless funds available sooner)
- caretakers home commence 18months (unless funds available sooner) NB: The caretaker’s home is within the perimeter of the hub as it is necessary to
have a security presence.
The multipurpose centre will be built with local contractors assisted by unskilled labourers where appropriate as soon as funds allow. The final build – the community centre will be helped by an Australian team in approximately 18 months from now (mid 2026)
Beneficiaries
All the peoples in Kantalomba will benefit, specifically children who are being fed regularly and those interested in skills training.
The nonskilled labour will benefit financially and have meals provided.
You can help…
If you wish to contribute to the building this community hub to allow this poor community in Kantalomba to thrive, please click on “Donate to this Project” on the right sidebar. Thank you!
All gifts are tax deductible and will benefit this project in their entirety except for bank fees.
