Stories from the Mission Field

Since 2017, Zambia is a partner country of EBM INTERNATIONAL. The country in southern Africa is about twice the size of Germany. It has no access to the sea, but most people are familiar with the thundering Victoria Falls on the border with Zimbabwe. The situation of the people in the country is difficult: the state is heavily in debt, and HIV and AIDS have made many children orphans. The number of droughts is increasing, which leads to insufficient harvests. However, various initiatives by the Zambian Baptist Union are helping.

Training in agriculture to combat the effects of poverty

With each new church founded in rural areas, the pastors and leaders of the Baptist Convention of Zambia learn about the living conditions and needs of the local people. They often encounter extreme poverty and malnutrition. This is particularly life-threatening for women. In order to ensure self-sufficiency and generate a secure income, women and men are taught how to set up their own agricultural businesses. This has led to the cultivation of maize and soybeans, small-scale breeding of goats, pigs and ducks, and vegetable gardens. The change is quickly visible: incomes are increasing, children are missing school less often. The nutritional status of families is improving noticeably.

Marvis: From housewife to poultry farmer

In the village of Lusoke in Chongwe Province, there is a lot of need: A low level of education, hardly any capital to start their own business. Women in particular lack the opportunity to lead a self-determined life. In 2022, Marvis Mvula heard about her church's training programs at the annual women's conference. The 55-year-old had spent her entire life looking after her family as a housewife. Money was often tight. Her three children had to drop out of school early because they could not afford books or school materials.

How can you start your own poultry farm?

In a three-week training program, Marvis learned how to set up a poultry farm. She learned what kind of fodder chickens need, how to provide proper conditions for them and how to treat diseases. Marvis also received advice on marketing and accounting.

The proud poultry farmer sold the first 100 broilers at a profit after six weeks. She continued with 250 animals. By the end of 2023, she was already keeping 300 chickens, and today she has 600. Marvis's success has given her new self-confidence. She is proud to be making a major contribution to her family's livelihood. Her children are now back in school. There is always enough food in the house.

Improved living conditions

Marvis still has big plans: in addition to the broiler chicken farm, the power woman wants to open a farm with laying hens. She also wants to start growing vegetables to make good use of the chicken manure as fertilizer.

Other families in her area also took part in the training. Their income and nutrition situation has also improved significantly. Prostitution, youth crime and the consumption of alcohol and drugs have decreased.

Marvis is excited: “I now have a secure income and can provide well for my family. I hope that many more women will experience this. That way, our community can become healthy!”

Together, we can help these women in Zambia become independent and self-confident. We also train women in other countries so that they can shape their own lives and provide for their families. You can find these and other projects in the area Capacity Building.

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