Response Network Zambia

Walking Down Memory Lane

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:05:28 -0700

Response Network Board Chairperson and Co-Founder, Hakon Spigseth, recently took a nostalgic journey back to where it all began, visiting Weston Siachongwe, Response Network's very first employee, at his home in Siulikwa Village.

The visit was filled with fond memories as the two reflected on the early days of Response Network—travelling from community to community, engaging traditional leaders and community members, and introducing the Self-Help Manual developed by Dr. Soli. Their shared experiences highlighted the humble beginnings and unwavering commitment that laid the foundation for the organization's growth and lasting impact.

The memory tour would not have been complete without a stop to visit Timothy, one of the first community volunteers. Timothy played a pivotal role in mobilizing communities and organizing meetings during the formative years of the organization. His dedication and tireless efforts were instrumental in building trust and fostering community participation in the self-help approach.

The journey also included a visit to Musanta Community School, where the Chairperson witnessed both the challenges and the promise of the future. Although the school currently has inadequate infrastructure, plans are underway to construct a 1×3 classroom block, which will significantly improve the learning environment for the children.

The visit served as...Read More

From Water Challengesto a Growing Family Dream

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:31:31 -0700

Iness Siambula, 45, is avegetable farmer from Sioni Village in Mangonda Ward of Zimba District. She is a mother of seven children aged between 7 and 26 years. In addition to caring for her children, Iness also looks after her mother and a person living with a
disability, making her household responsibilities even greater.

Before the LIFT-ZambiaProgram came to her community, Iness grew vegetables along a nearby stream. However, the stream would dry up around July, making water availability a major challenge. Her garden was also small because she relied on buckets to water her crops. The work was physically demanding, especially because she experiences
problems with her legs.

When the LIFT-Zambia Programstarted operating in her area, Iness was among the farmers who quickly embraced the opportunity. She began attending farmer trainings and took the initiative to invite project officers to her field to conduct practical demonstrations.

Through the knowledge andpractical skills she gained, Iness constructed a check dam along the stream. She says the check dam has helped her preserve water for longer periods, making it easier for her to continue farming even when the stream begins to dry.

“I want to thank the programbecause the knowledge I received helped me to construct a check dam along the stream. It has helped me preserve water,” Iness says.

Her transformation tookanother step when the LIFT-Zambia Program supported her with a water pump. The pump has enabled her to expand her vegetable garden and made irrigation much
easier.

“Before, watering was verydifficult because I was using...Read More

Determination Wrote My Story

Thu, 21 May 2026 06:02:30 -0700

My sponsors called it a “successstory” but to me it just felt like keeping my uniform clean and showing up every day with determination.

At 11 years old, in grade 5 atDambwa primary school, I was taken under a sponsorship program by Response Network. My mother earned a living by selling the tradition Zambian drink (munkoyo), but she often couldn’t afford my school fees, leaving me chased from school because of arrears. My guidance teacher noticed my determination and zeal for academics and recommended me for the sponsorship.

With the support, I completed myprimary school at Dambwa primary from grade 1 to 7. In grade 7 I wrote my examination to proceed to secondary school, scoring 745 marks and earning a place at St Mary’s secondary one of the prestigious school in Livingstone.
Despite the school being far from home, the distance never dampened my resolve.

I walked 2km each day to and from school, Joined study group and dedicated late
night personal study sessions, which helped me passed my grade 9 exams in 2018
and moved to grade 10 at the same school. When grade 12 came we wrote the exam
and I passed with 15 points, without containing my happiness I run to my mother
and showed her my results feeling like a dream come true.

My journey did not end with grade12 but it was only the beginning. Response network walked me into tertiary and I enrolled for a diploma in nursing at Livingstone college of Nursing and Midwifery, trading home chores for night shifts and anatomy drills. Each
semester passed like a wind on the sea with assignments, exams and lectures that felt like hours. That steadiness lit a stubborn fire which fueled me to finish, qualify and bring that salary home.

Response Network Hosts NAQEZ Delegation to Strengthen Collaboration on Quality Education

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:02:27 -0700

Response Network Hosts NAQEZ Delegation to Strengthen Collaboration on Quality Education

LVINGSTONE, Zambia – Response Network yestarday, hosted 35 delegates from the National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ), reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing quality education for all learners across the country.

The engagement provided a platform for strategic dialogue, knowledge exchange, and strengthened collaboration between the two organizations, both dedicated to improving education standards and outcomes in Zambia.

Speaking during the meeting, NAQEZ Director, Dr. Chansa, emphasized the critical role of education in national development:

“Education is an important ingredient in the attainment of socio-economic transformation of every country. It is a critical investment for present and future generations.”

He further highlighted the sector’s responsibility in shaping human capital:

“The education sector must produce individuals equipped with the right knowledge, values, attitudes, and 21st-century skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing...Read More

“Disability Is Not Inability” – My Journey of Hope

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 01:23:31 -0800

Every morning when I wake up in my village, I remind myself of one thing: my disability will never stop me from dreaming.

My name is Rudo Mowa. I am 17 years old and I come from Simango Village in Southern Province of Zambia, a small rural community where most families survive through farming. I completed my primary education at Simango Primary School, and today I am proud to be a Grade 10 pupil at Choongo Inclusive Secondary School in Monze.

I am the fifth born in a family of eight children. I live with my mother and father, who are peasant farmers. Our family depends on rain-fed agriculture to survive. When the rains are good, we harvest enough food. When they are poor, life becomes very difficult. My parents work very hard to provide for us, but with such a big family, sending children to school can be a heavy burden.

I was born with a disability, and growing up in a rural village has not always been easy for me. There are moments when life feels challenging, when moving around or doing certain activities takes more effort. But these challenges have also made me stronger. I have learned that my condition does not define my ability or my future.

I believe with all my heart that disability is not inability. My greatest dream is to complete my secondary education and one day become an accountant. I want to build a better future for myself and also support my family who have sacrificed so much for me. Education is the path that will help me achieve this dream.

My journey in school would have...Read More

From Struggle to Solar-Powered Success:

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:18:07 -0800

My name is Selina Munsaka. I am 58 years old, married, and a mother of six children. I live in Makowa Village, under Simango Ward of Musokotwane Chiefdom, in Kazungula District, Southern Province of Zambia. I am a peasant farmer.

For many years, gardening was my main source oflivelihood. I cultivated vegetables—mainly rape and a few tomatoes—on a small piece of land measuring one Lima. I relied entirely on traditionalfarming methods, especially flood irrigation. Every day, I carried water using buckets, spending nearly five hours just to water one Lima,and even then, the water was never enough for the crops to grow well.

I also lacked technical knowledge in land preparation, fertilizer application, and pest management. I farmed the same way my parents had taught me, without access to modern agricultural practices. As a result, my crops did not last long, yields were very low, and my income was poor. Life was extremely difficult—the work was labor-intensive, yet the returns were too small to meet my family’s needs.

In May 2023, my life changed when Response Network came to our area. Through group learning sessions, we were trained in modern garden management and introduced to the Micro-Investment Model. We received farming inputs such as drip irrigation kits, fertilizer, horticultural seeds,and 20-liter buckets, which we used as water tanks.

Through these trainings, I gained practical knowledge in proper land preparation, irrigation methods, fertilizer application, and pest control. I immediately applied what I learned in my garden—and the results were remarkable.

I expanded my garden from one Lima to two...Read More

From Buckets to Solar Power:

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:09:47 -0800

My name is Agrey Katapazi, afather of three children and husband to Lidya Namasiku. We live in MakowaVillage, Kazungula District, under Chief Musokotwani. Today, I proudly share the transformation of my horticultural and poultry farming journey—a journey reshaped by climate-smart agriculture and the support of Response Network and Norwegian Church Aid.

I began gardening many years ago, long before the introduction ofthe ClimateSmart Economic Empowerment (CSEE) Project in my community. Atthat time, my garden was very small, measuring only 30 × 30meters. Watering was a daily struggle. I spent long hourscarrying buckets of water from a nearby stream to irrigate my crops. This
method was exhausting, time-consuming, and left me with little energy for other
productive work.
In an effort to reduce this burden, I later purchased a petrol-powered water pump. While this initially improved irrigation, itcreated new challenges. Fuel was expensive and often unavailable. Many times, I was forced to stop farming midway through a production cycle because I could not afford fuel. As a result, my yields were low, production was inconsistent, and income remained unreliable.

Everything changed when the CSEE Project was introduced in our village. My wife and I received training in climate-smart farming techniques, including water conservation, the use of organic manure, mulching, and drip irrigation. This training transformed how we understood farming—not just as survival, but as a sustainable business.
The biggest turning point came when I received a solar booster pump and an irrigation kit. With this support, I expanded my garden from a small plot to one full acre. I am now able...Read More

Joy for Catherine as She Advances to Grade 8

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 04:00:02 -0800

There is great joy for Catherine Chibona Mubanda, a 12-year-old girl from a small township in Livingstone, Zambia, as she successfully advances to Grade 8.
Catherine lives with her mother and is one of the girls supported under the Sponsorship Programme implemented by Response Network in partnership with AKIND. Her hard work and determination have paid off—she passed her Grade 7 examinations with an impressive 725 marks from Victoria Falls Adventist Primary School. She will now begin her secondary education at Gembo High School in Pemba District.
Today, as Response Network distributed school requirements to girls in the sponsorship programme who have progressed to Grade 8, Catherine proudly collected her educational support package. She received one school bag, ten hardcover exercise books, four pens, a ruler, and one mathematical set.
Filled with happiness, Catherine shared her gratitude:
Catherine’s mother, Caroline Mapangani, also expressed her appreciation for the support:
In total, 133 girls transitioning to Grade 8 under the sponsorship programme will each receive a similar school requirements package, including school fees, ensuring that financial challenges do not hinder their access to education.
Through partnerships like this, Response Network and AKIND continue to empower girls by removing barriers to education and supporting their journey toward a brighter future.
Read More

Hope Takes Centre Stage as the LIFT-Zambia Southern Hub Is Launched

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 02:01:37 -0800

The sound ofdrums echoed through Leon’s Guest House in Choma on 4 September 2025, setting the tone for a day filled with hope, colour, and a shared commitment to change.
Songs, traditional dance, and drama welcomed guests as the Southern Hub of the LIFT-Zambia Programme was officially launched — a moment that marked the beginning of new possibilities for communities across Southern Province.
At the heartof the gathering was a clear message: lasting change happens when people, partners, and purpose come together. Speaking to partners and community representatives, Jonathan Lea-Howarth, Country Director for NCA and DCA, explained how LIFT-Zambia was shaped by the lived realities of communities themselves.
“LIFT-Zambiais an integrated programme informed by baseline findings,” he said. “It brings together interventions that tackle inequality, food security and economic development, climate and environmental stewardship, climate-resilient WASH, and gender-based violence — because these challenges are deeply connected in people’s lives.”
The Guest ofHonour, Mr Bestone Mboozi, Assistant Provincial Secretary for Southern Province, welcomed the programme with optimism, describing it as both timely and necessary for the province.

“This programme comes at the right time,” he said. “It will help lift the people of Southern Province out of poverty and strengthen their ability to face the future.”
Throughoutthe day, partners from JCTR, Response Network, and NOCAD shared how their work
fits into the broader LIFT-Zambia vision — saving lives, building resilience,and seeking justice. Their...Read More

A New Dawn for Learners at Siameja Community School

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:46:06 -0800

Access todecent learning infrastructure and the long distances to the nearest schools
remain major challenges for children in Zambia’s rural communities. Quite often, the reality for these children is learning in grass-thatched classrooms without desks, where they sit on stones or bare wood during lessons.
For many years,this was the situation at Siameja Community School, located in ZimbaDistrict of Southern Province, which serves 149 learners. Lessons wereconducted in a grass-thatched classroom, and learners had no proper furniture. This learning environment negatively affected learners’ concentration and contributed to poor academic performance.
Through the Rural Child Access to Education (R-CATE) Programme, implemented by ResponseNetwork in partnership with Norwegian Church Aid, the situation atSiameja Community School has significantly improved.
The school now boasts a standard 1 x 3 classroom block, with adequate desks forall learners. In addition, a teacher’s house, which is nearingcompletion, has been constructed to support staff retention. As a result, learners now have access to a safe and conducive learning environment comparable to that of children in urban areas.
Furthermore,the school has been provided with a 10,000-litre water point, which notonly serves the school but also supplies clean water to surrounding villages.
The HeadTeacher, Mr. Mbewe, expressed his gratitude to...Read More