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 presentations were interwoven with powerful cultural performances that spoke to everyday struggles, gender equality, and the collective responsibility to challenge violence and inequality.
LIFT-Zambiais a five-year programme working across six provinces, but in Choma, its impact already felt personal. The laughter, applause, and conversations that filled the venue reflected more than a project launch — they signaled renewed hope and a shared belief that, together, communities can build a stronger, fairer Zambia.