Response Network Zambia

“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

Saving Together, Thriving Together:

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:01:17 -0800

Rural livelihoods in Zambia largely depend on environmental conditions, with income-generating activities such as livestock rearing and crop farming relying heavily on rainfall. However, the increasing effects of climate change—particularly droughts and floods—have put these livelihoods under serious threat.
As a result, communities are being forced to find alternative ways to sustain their lives, either by working individually or by forming community-based groups.
In MalangaCommunity, located in Kazungula District of Southern Province, the Malanga Self Help Group was formed as a response to these challenges. The group consists of 15 members who came together to promote savings and self-reliance. Initially,the group faced several challenges, including limited financial literacy, poor record keeping, and the absence of income-generating activities.
Through theResponse Networks Community Education Program, the group received capacity-building support in financial literacy, record keeping, and group management. This support significantly strengthened the group’s operations and confidence.
Mostimportantly, the group has now successfully engaged in income-generating activities (IGAs), which have greatly improved its financial base. Beyond saving and lending money among members, the group has invested in poultry production and currently has 210 broiler chickens in their second production cycle.
The MalangaSaving Group has had a positive impact at the household level. Members are now
able to borrow funds to start or expand individual businesses, enabling them to meet essential family needs such as food,...Read More

From Play to Prosperity: Shooting Stars Sports Club’s Road to Self-Reliance

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:46:41 -0800

The Shooting Stars Sports Club is a community-based club with 15 members based in Mabombo Village, under Chief Chikanta in Kalomo District, Southern Province of Zambia. Initially established to participate in local village league sports, the club faced persistent financial challenges that limited its ability to cover basic administrative costs and sustain its activities.
Recognizing these challenges, the club joined the Rural Sports for Development Program,implemented by Response Network in partnership with NIF. The program uses sport as a strategic entry point for community development, leadership building, and economic empowerment.
Through targeted mentorship and capacity-building support, the Shooting Stars Sports
Club strengthened its technical sports skills, successfully affiliated with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), and secured a land agreement forits sporting facilities—an important milestone for the club’s development.
A key outcome of the program has been the club’s transition toward financial sustainability through income-generating activities. As a result of self-help and livelihood training provided under the program, the club has established a small-scale livestock initiative. To date, the club owns 11 goats and 50 chickens, with clear plans to expand these assets to generate income for administrative and operational costs.
The club leadership has expressed profound appreciation for the program’s holistic approach, noting that the integration of sports development with livelihood support has placed the club on a path toward...Read More

Educated to Rise: Empowering Vulnerable Girls for aBrighter Future

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:20:28 -0800

Education is widely recognized as the key to success. However, many children still struggle to access education due to challenges such as poverty and lack of financial resources. These difficulties are often caused by complex life circumstances.
It is commonto find children who have been orphaned after losing one or both parents and are left vulnerable. Others are raised by single parents who may have little or no source of income and struggle to make ends meet due to divorce, illness, or death.
Such lifesituations pose a serious threat to the present and future of these children. Dreams can be shattered, and opportunities for a brighter future may be lost.
In responseto these challenges, Response Network, in partnership with AKIND, has over the years supported more than 2,500 girls through its Sponsorship Programme.This initiative has enabled girls from highly vulnerable backgrounds to access education and pursue their dreams.
This year, asin many years past, the programme has recorded yet another success with girls graduating from college. The programme proudly added new graduates from Livingstone College of Education, a prestigious institution that has trained teacherswho continue to shape the education sector and contribute to national development in Zambia. Four girls successfully graduated from thisinstitution with Teacher’s Diplomas.
Furthermore,the programme also celebrated graduates from a reputable Nursing School in Livingstone. This institution has played a significant role...Read More

Over 160,000 Beneficiaries as Response Network Marks 20 Years of Impact

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 23:53:34 -0800

The Government has commended Response Network for its impactful role in
transforming communities across four districts of Southern Province.
SouthernProvince Minister, Honourable Credo Nanjuwa,expressed the Government’s appreciation during Response Network’s 20th Anniversary celebrations, held on3rd October 2025 at the Zambia Air Force Banquet Hall in Livingstone.

Hon. Nanjuwasaid that over the past two decades, Response Network has demonstrated that true development is not imported but cultivated from within communities. He noted that instead of handouts, the organization has promoted hands-on participation; instead of imposing external solutions, it has facilitated community-driven initiatives; and instead of fostering dependency, it has advanced local resource utilisation and human rights awareness as key pillars of sustainable development.
He explainedthat the celebrations were meant to honor the over 160,000 individuals who have participated in and benefitedfrom Response Network’s self-help initiatives. These include:

Climate-smart agriculture practices that safeguard livelihoods against climate shocks
Women’s savings and lending groups that strengthen financial inclusion and
household resilience
Vocational and life-skills training for women and youth, creating pathways out of
poverty
Girls’ education and sponsorship programs, ensuring opportunities for future
women leaders