YEN Zambia

World Environment Day 2010 Report

2011-03-09T17:19:00.001-08:00

World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated every year throughout the world on 5th June in order to give a human face to environmental issues and empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development and amongst others.

For WED 2010, Youth Environment Network (YEN) - Zambia organized an environmental fun fair with its affiliate School Namununga. Namununga School is one of the first schools in Zambia which has decided to go green and it has started on a bang with its powerful truism "Go Green Namununga" reigning in both pupils and teachers' minds.

About a thousand people in attendance and you can read the full report by downloading our World Environment Day 2010 Report here.

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4Rs Environmental Sessions in Mongu

2011-03-09T17:18:00.000-08:00

Yen-Zambia partnered with CeLIM, an Italian NGO based in Mongu of Western Province to facilitate environmental education in 4 selected schools of Mongu in 2010.

These series of sessions were the first of their kind in schools of Mongu. You can read the full report by downloading the Mongu Report here.

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GREEN TIPS

2011-03-09T17:17:00.000-08:00

We can all do our part to protect the planet by using less and acting more. Going Green is not as difficult as you might think. In our guide we walk you through some easy ways to go green in your daily routine.

Download our Green Tips here.

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Green Blaze Campaign

2011-03-09T17:14:00.001-08:00

The Green Blaze Campaign is a joint partnership programme between YEN Zambia and 3.7 Blaze TV2's Musical show which is hosted and produced by renowned Zambian female artist Kachanana Simate.

The Green Blaze Campaign on Climate change will be an annual program involving Zambian Artists and community members that raises awareness on critical climate change issues.

2010's campaign was dedicated to tree planting activities. On 11th November 2010 YEN Zambia, Music Artists, TV2 Producers, and pupils from Namununga and Holy Family Community School planted 135 trees at Holy Family Community School.

You can read more about the campaign by downloading the full campaign report here.

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Earth Day Report 2010

2011-03-09T17:13:00.000-08:00

The American Embassy in partnership with the Environmental Council of Zambia, Lusaka City Council and the Scouts Association of Zambia organized a week of Environmental activities to commemorate Earth Day for 2010.

Activities included a Day of Volunteering, the Earth Day Film Festival, and the Green Technology Conference and Exhibition.

Youth Environment Network (YEN) Zambia and the Youth United Nations Association (YUNA) partnered in participating in this year's Earth Day Event.

You can read more about Earth Day 2010 and YEN Zambia's participation in by downloading the report here.

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British Council Media Presentation Report

2011-03-09T17:12:00.000-08:00

The British Council Zambia organized a media day programme on 14th April 2010 in order to launch a climate change website and media booklet on reporting climate change in Zambia.

You can read about the media day and YEN Zambia's involvement by downloading the report here.

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Environmental Calendar 2010 - 2015

2011-03-09T16:56:00.000-08:00

We now have the environmental calendar through 2015! Note that other environmental days have not been listed, but we can always update you whenever you want to find out more. You can email us at yenzambia - at - yahoo - dot - com.

2nd February - World Wetlands Day
21st March - World Forestry Day
22nd March - World Water Day
22nd April - Earth Day
5th June - World Environment
16th September - World Ozone Day
27th September - World Tourism Day
1st October - World Habitat Day
1st December - World AIDS Day
15th December - National Tree Planting Month

Calendar of Events from July to December 2009

2009-10-13T17:09:00.000-07:00

Think Green Advocacy and Tree Planting Project
Continuous process up to the end of November

Environmental Picnic
August

Environmental Workshops for schools on Climate Change (the venue will be at Munda Wanga Climate Change Centre)
From 26th September till the end of December 2009

Environmental Camp (Venue will be Monze)
Mid October

Green Summer Outing
1st week of October

Forest Visit
End of October

International Volunteers Day Celebration
5th December

International Youth Environment Camp
15th to 21st December

Global Climate Campaign
12th December

National Tree Planting Month
From 15th December

World Environment Date - 5th June 2009

2009-10-13T17:07:00.000-07:00

This year’s World Environment Day was organized in Kitwe Copperbelt Province of Zambia by Youth Environment Network (YEN- Zambia) in cooperation with the Copperbelt University School of natural Resources Student Club (CUNARES).

CUNARES is an acronym for Copperbelt University Natural Resources Environment Society, a student club supervised by the Assistant Dean in the School of natural Resources.

Activities conducted during the World Environment week. YEN- Zambia conducted a number of activities in commemorating the World Environment Day 2009. Specifically our organization with the CUNARES club members successfully carried out a tree planting activity at the CBU campus on 3rd June and about 100 seedlings were sourced from the Forestry research Branch in Kitwe.

The activity was graced by Mr. Kalima assistant Registrar- Council CBU, whilst the Zambia National Broadcasting Cooperation (ZNBC) Television Kitwe captured the tree planting activity and carried some interviews.

Pupils from Helen Kaunda High School matching during the World Environment Day along Kitwe central district area

On Tuesday the 2nd June YEN- Zambia had an interview with the Central Broadcasting Cooperation (CBC-TV) in Lusaka. During the interview we raised awareness on the need to unite in combating climate change and the importance of protecting our natural resources with respect to planting trees in meeting set targets on the planet, Billion tree campaign.

THE ACTUAL DAY CELEBRATIONS
The celebrations took place between 09:30hrs and 13:000hrs. A march past led by Zambia National Service Brass Band through Kitwe Central Business District (town centre) through to KMB, Past Central Police and back to start point City Square were we were received by the performances from the live band whilst Drama spiced up the event to be an exciting event.

YEN-Zambia Members matching during the World Environment day Celebrations

ATTRIBUTES
There were speeches by Acting Guest of Honor, Nkana Member of Parliament (MP) Mwenya Musenge, Citizen’s for better Environment (CBE) Executive Director Peter Sinkamba, representations from all the participants including the media and closing remarks were done by YEN-Zambia’s President Billy M. Lombe.

From left to Right, CBE Executive Director Peter Sinkamba, CBU PR officer, YEN-Zambia President Billy M. Lombe and Nkana MP Mwenya Musenga in a Kodak Moment after the event

PARTICIPANTS
The event was attended by more than 1500 people from various institutions, companies and organizations listed below:

Youth Environment Network (YEN- Zambia)

Citizens for a better Environment (CBE)

Zambia Forestry College

Helen Kaunda High School

Kitwe Basic School

Kitwe Boys High School

Copperbelt University Natural Resources Environment Society

Zambia National Broadcasting Cooperation (ZNBC TV)

The Post newspaper

Zambia Daily Mail

Copperbelt University School of Environmental Engineering

UN's Billion Tree Campaign Hits its Seven Billion Goal Target

2009-10-13T17:06:00.000-07:00

Global Climate Change Initiative Inspires Millions in Run-up to Crucial Copenhagen Conference

New York/Nairobi, 21 September 2009 –The global public’s desire to see action on climate change was clearly spotlighted today with the announcement that the Billion Tree Campaign has reached 7 billion trees—one for every person on the planet.

Over the past three years millions of people ranging from scouts to presidents and from schoolchildren to city dwellers and corporate heads have been rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty for the environment through tree planting.

Today’s milestone was reached with the news that the Government of China has planted 2.6 billion trees as part of this unique campaign, bringing the total to 7.3 billion trees planted in 167 countries worldwide.

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said: “Seven billion trees, seven billion commitments to action and seven billion reasons why governments should be inspired to Seal the Deal at the crucial UN climate change convention meeting in Copenhagen in less than 80 days’ time.”

“When this campaign was launched in 2006, there were those who said it could not be done. But day after day and week after week, people have got out into their gardens, parks and cities and into the countryside and the rural areas to prove the doubters wrong,” he added.

“Above all the Billion Tree Campaign shows that the simple act of planting a tree resonates and unites the child in the slums of Africa with a president in Mexico, or a corporate CEO in Paris with UN peacekeepers in Timor-Leste. It is the kind of solidarity that now needs to be expressed at the level of all governments and heads of state between now and December in order to move economies towards a low carbon, sustainable path,” said Mr Steiner.

The Billion Tree Campaign was launched jointly with the World Agroforestry Centre during the UN climate convention meeting in November 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya, under the patronage of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Wangari Maathai and His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Its initial goal was to catalyze the pledging and the planting of one billion trees as a way of giving public expression to the challenges of climate change and also forest and ecosystem degradation.

Since then the Billion Tree Campaign has more than surpassed its aims, evolving into a true ‘People’s Campaign’ – more than half (52 per cent) of all the participants are private individuals.

Furthermore, tree planting has become both an inter-faith and an inter-generational activity, with the trees symbolizing connections between children and parents and bringing together people from different religious backgrounds.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai, the founder of the Kenyan Green Belt Movement and the campaign’s co-patron, said: “Let’s plant even more trees to celebrate this wonderful achievement, the fruit of collective action from people all over the planet. By making the Billion Tree Campaign such an incredible success, people from every continent are calling their governments to truly start caring for the planet and to find unity in the fight against climate change.”

His Serene Highness Albert II, the Sovereign Prince of Monaco and the campaign's co-patron, said: “I have always had a strong belief in the symbolic strength of the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign and I am delighted that it has exceeded our greatest expectations, far beyond the welfare linked to replanting trees, to benefit future generations.”

Highlights of the Billion Tree Campaign

In the past eight months China planted 6.1 billion trees, of which 2.6 billion have been given to the Billion Tree Campaign. With the announcement of these 2.6 additional billion trees, the grand total number of trees planted for the campaign stands at 7.3 billion as of 21 September. The government planted 260 different species of trees in eleven provinces around China, from Inner Mongolia to Yunnan and from Shandong to Sichuan.

The announcement was made in New York on 21 September at a press conference attended by international dignitaries, including Campaign Patrons Wangari Maathai and Prince Albert II of Monaco, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, China’s Minister of the State Forestry Administration Jia Zhibang, and Mohamed Nasheed, the President of the Maldives. The announcement coincided with Global Climate Week, an event launched to mobilize global mass action around the UN high-level event on climate change – including the Global Tree Planting Drive on19 September where people were encouraged to plant trees on every corner of the planet.

A number of other countries around the world have planted impressive numbers of trees since the campaign was launched. Countries that have planted more than a hundred million trees range from Ethiopia (with 1.4 billion trees) and Turkey (711 million trees) to Mexico (with 537 million trees) and countries including Kenya, Cuba, and Indonesia.

In addition to bringing governments to take concrete action to reforest their lands, the Billion Tree Campaign has succeeded in catalyzing tree planting from all walks of society, bringing together creative, original and pioneering initiatives around the world.

To name a few, the Replant New Orleans Initiative sponsored a planting of fruit trees to help breathe new life into a community struggling with the aftermath of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina; the Greening Soweto Campaign is transforming dustbowls into treed lanes in Soweto by capitalizing on South Africa’s preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup; and 132 children in 56 countries have pledged to plant a total of one million trees as part of the ‘Stop talking, Start planting’ campaign, which was started by an eleven-year-old boy.

The economic gains of tree planting are powerfully illustrated by the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative. As well as being close to planting 38 million trees in the Appalachian region, the North American organization has also devised a green job tree planting proposal to stimulate the economy of Appalachia and reap the ecological benefits of a region-wide reforestation effort.

In addition, the Campaign has mobilized groups and individuals in post-conflict areas around the world, bringing the seeds of hope to communities in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, Liberia and Somalia among others.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has planted 9 million trees in and around refugee camps around the globe, helping to plant hundreds of thousands of acres of trees in Asia and Africa since the 1990s.

The United Nations Departments of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and Field Support (DFS) have also participated in the campaign, with thirteen peacekeeping missions having pledged 117,848 trees. Of this number 33,184 trees have already taken root across various countries hosting peacekeeping missions. The campaign, which encouraged the planting of indigenous trees appropriate to the local environments, has not only witnessed the participation and enthusiasm of UN staff, but also of the local communities in the different areas of operation.

The private sector has become a key player in the global campaign, accounting for almost 15 per cent of all the trees planted. Multinationals from Accor to Bayer and from Toyota to Coca-Cola East and Central Africa and Yves Rocher have been active tree planters, along with hundreds of small and medium-sized companies the world over.

The campaign’s universal appeal is clear from its success on social networking sites, with some 4,000 blogs adopting the cause early in the campaign.

Proving true its motto that ‘Every tree counts, and we count every tree’, the Billion Tree Campaign’s phenomenal success is a result of the participation of people of all walks of life and from every corner of the planet.

For more information please contact:
Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson and Head of Media, on Tel: +254 20 7623084, Mobile: +254 733 632755, or when travelling: +41 795965737, or e-mail: nick.nuttall@unep.org

Anne-France White, UNEP Media, Mobile: +254728600494 or e-mail: anne-france.white@unep.org

Mia Turner, UNEP Media, Mobile: +254710620495 or e-mail: mia.turner@unep.org

Global Youth Statement on Climate Change

2009-10-13T16:50:00.000-07:00

Listen to Our Voices
The Future Needs Strong Vision and Leadership

We, young people - 3 billion of the world population – are concerned and frustrated that our governments are not doing enough to combat climate change.

We feel that radical and holistic measures are needed urgently from us all.

We now need more actions and less talking.

Climate Change is affecting us all, and we need to find efficient ways to cope with it adapt to it and take action to stop it.

We note that climate change is leading to loss of natural resources and makes it difficult to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Sea level rise, desert encroachment and warmer weather are affecting everyone and everything on the planet, especially small island states.

Climate change has serious consequences not only for ecosystems, but also for human health, job security and social development.

Together we CAN make a difference.

We Request Our Governments to:

Agree on a more fair, just and action oriented post-Kyoto agreement adopted and implemented by all countries
Have strict laws and enforcement against those who pollute and degrade the environment, coupled with education and incentives to protect the environment
Develop and implement clearly defined carbon action plans and climate response strategies, which can be monitored and reviewed by an independent multi-national climate facility
Transition toward a green economy based on renewable energies and offer more incentives for people to buy affordable energy efficient products
Reduce the number of vehicles and traffic density on our roads, including improved and affordable public and pedestrian transport systems
Make engaging environmental education mandatory in schools and universities and promote community environmental awareness - an informed public is a powerful public
Pay attention to the conflicts that have developed throughout the world and the negative impact it has had on the environment and develop conflict resolution strategies
Make it mandatory to include carbon and ecological footprint information in products
Implement green energy and industry, including sustainable food production
Support youth efforts to make a change in the world

We Appeal to All Citizens of this Planet to:

Organize Civil Society to pressure governments to take short and medium term positive actions towards a global green economy.
Develop and promote the infrastructure and use of public transportation and eco-friendly alternatives (eco cars, carpooling, public transit, biofuels or solar energy vehicles, legal and economic incentives to promote sustainable transportation such as biking or walking.)
Use your rights, choices and awareness as consumers to pressure businesses, producers and governments to promote environmentally friendly products and eco-labeling policies (buy local seasonal products, avoid over-packaged and plastic products, purchase from eco-friendly companies)
Enforce sustainable behaviors through the three Rs to protect natural resources from human impacts and promote environmental education.
Plant more trees that absorb carbon dioxide emissions
Engage in environmental campaigns and education to other citizens
Commit to sustainable lifestyles to reduce your carbon footprint

As Young People, We Will:

Actively commit to undertaking the above actions;
Encourage our communities and as many people as possible to do the above individual actions;
Expand our networks to reach out to other youth to organizations and networks to become involved;
Take part in and/or initiate climate change rallies if capable (on 21 September, 24 October etc, locally and nationally) in run up to COP 15;
Engage in environmentally friendly activities especially planting, nurturing and protection of trees;
Exchange, connect and encourage best practices of young people on climate change;
Communicate environment and climate change through the media and social networks like Uniteforclimate.org, Facebook and Twitter, and also develop environmental websites on climate change.
Encourage schools and universities to become ecofriendly
Support and promote the efforts of the UN Secretary General to Seal the Deal in Copenhagen.

Regional Action Plan

Regional Action Plans, agreed during the conference and covering Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and West Asia include:

Mobilizing youth for the upcoming UN climate change meeting that opens on 7 December in the Danish capital;
Reaching out to other environmental groups, especially during the September 21-25
Climate Week;
Educating others about the Copenhagen meeting on campuses, in school and among
churches, sports teams and more;
Letter-writing, phone banking, visiting officials to 'Seal the Deal';
Social Networking through the Unite for Climate, Facebook, Twitter and other e-fora;
College campaigns and tree planting initiatives.

International Youth Environment Camp Zambia (IYECZ) – Dec, 2009

2009-03-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

With sufficient capacity building, the youth become ambassadors and leaders for environmental policies by among others; developing skills, networking and facilitating their active participation in effective decision making. It is in light of this that the International Youth Environment Camp Zambia (IYECZ) was initiated. The IYECZ is being organized by Youth Environment Network (YEN-Zambia) and Green Warriors Movement (GWM-Kenya) for the young people all over the world, and local communities as a non-profit making venture. YEN-Zambia is a non-profit; youth based organization which was formed on 23rd September 2007 with the purpose of educating, engaging and empowering youths, women and children in activities that will improve their living standards and the natural environment as a whole. The IYECZ is open to all those who are serious about making a positive contribution towards environmental problems and coming up with sound solutions based on long term objectives. The Programme aspires to provide participants with the opportunity to gain skills, knowledge, have interactive learning sessions and discuss on the best strategies in conserving our environment.

The International Youth Environment Camp Zambia is designed with the purpose of exposing and equipping young people to voluntary and development work. They also learn skills on leadership, decision making and effective advocacy to global contemporary issues. What makes IYECZ unique and relevant is the skillful facilitation and personal interaction between the youth, with resource persons and local communities. The facilitators are not only experts in the environmental fields, but are also equipped with skills to deal with the young people. The camp will focus on various social, economic, cultural, and environmental and development issues such as health and HIV/AIDS, sustainable development, natural resource management, governance and democracy, peace and war, alcohol and drug abuse and environmental education. The camp will employ various techniques such as talks and presentations, team building and group dynamic tasks/sports, game drives and community outreach among others.

The environmental camp set to take place on Dec 2009, will enable the youth to acquire vital knowledge on current social, environmental and culture issues; empower the youth to be ambassadors in the conservation area, create a forum for exchange of ideas and experience and trap the energies, skills and knowledge of the youth to be used not only in conservation and protection of the environment but also on other development areas. Besides this; the camp purposes to engage the youth and community members in planting 5,000 trees. This is geared to assist in Carbon Sequestration thus increase the Forest cover as in line with goal number 7 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) and the Billion Tree Campaign ; Plant for the Planet .

Participation

The International Youth Environment Camp Zambia (IYECZ) is a YEN-Zambia initiative designed to bring together young people from different parts of the world, local communities and environmental based organizations to share ideas, acquire knowledge, learn knew skills, gain confidence and ultimately have an active participation in issues that pertain to the Conservation and management of our Bio-Diversity. The IYECZ will bring together over 80 people from different parts of the World, Local Communities, and organizations committed in taking good care of our precious Flora and Fauna. The International Environment Camp will be held during the second week of December; 14th Dec to 20th Dec, 2009. The Environment Camp is targeting youth and community members from all parts of the World of Ages between 18 and 35 Years.

Participants will gain vital knowledge in contemporary issues, specifically efficient Conservation and Management Techniques. The participants will be empowered to be Campaigners and Ambassadors in the Conservation of our precious Flora and Fauna. Ultimately, the youth will be able to influence decision making positively in all issues.

With the youth from all over the World coming together, a Network will be forged that will enable handling of cross cutting environmental and developmental issues. The youth will benefit from the “hands on experience” through working with the local communities. The youth will be instilled with a sense of ownership on environmental matters and develop utmost never ending conservation synergies amongst them. In addition to this; the participants will visit the World Renowned Victoria falls. The Scenic Falls are 1.7KM wide with a volume of 90 Million Litres per second tearing down at a vertical drop. It is commonly referred as “The Smoke that Thunders”. Dr. Livingstone on his first visit wrote: “Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by Angels in their flight”. We will also visit the Maramba Cultural Village and Kafue National Park.

For more information or registration, please contact:

intcampzed@yahoo.com

intcampzed@gmail.com

+260 977 607960

+254 721 955202

We duly welcome you to Zambia the “Real Africa”.

Yours sincerely,

Cyrus Gachangja
Programmes Coordinator
GWM - Kenya

Billy M. Lombe
Founder and Executive Director
YEN - Zambia

Green Warriors Movement (Kenya) and Youth Environment Network (Zambia) plant trees in Nairobi’s Karura forest to mark Earth Day

2009-03-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

Passion for the environment and compassion for people are the forces driving community based organizations such as Green Warriors Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations such as the Youth Environment Network to their invaluable contribution towards the conservation of our precious biodiversity.

On Earth Day, heavy downpour made it was almost impossible to reach the designated tree planting site. However, this did not stop the spirits of participants from the Green Warriors Movement and of the Youth Environment Network who were determined to achieve their objective of planting 1,000 trees and consequently contribute positively to environmental conservation which is in line with Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number 7. Community members from the neighbouring Huruma community prepared the grounds for tree planting and also participated actively during the tree planting exercise. They turned up in good numbers; women, men and children as young as seven (7) years, were all dedicated to achieve the objective of the day – to plant trees.

To start off the event, the forest officer, Mr. Lewis demonstrated to the youth and to the community members how to plant trees and the best way to remove the seedlings from the plastic bags.

The trees were planted with high spirits and enthusiasm. The tree planting speed was also remarkable as all knew that the rains would fall any time. During the tree planting exercise, children were very useful; they brought the seedlings to the holes dug by the forest officers the day before. In addition to this some children were strong enough to plant ten trees each.

The participation of young children at this event was important as it instilled a sense of environmental conservation amongst them. The tree planting team managed to plant 800 out of the 1000 trees they had targeted to plant. The trees planted included; Croton megalocarpus, Podo, Nandi flame and other indigenous trees.

Tree planting with communities, if well implemented rationally spearheads a process of wealth creation, job creation and improved conservation, all specifically in the rural areas where poverty abounds and peoples needs are so great.

Contact persons

Cyrus Gachanja
Green Warriors Movement
P.O. Box 28951-00200
Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254721955202
Email: egreenwarrior@yahoo.co.uk

Billy Mwansa Lombe
Youth Environment Network –Zambia
P.O. Box 30865
Lusaka, Zambia Tel: +260-977-607-960
Email: yenzambia@yahoo.com

International volunteer Day commemoration Held on 5th December at Kalundu view community school in Kafue

2009-01-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

The International Volunteer Day for economic and social development (IVD) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution A/RES/40/212 on 17 December 1985. Since then, governments, the UN system and civil society organizations have successfully joined volunteers around the world to celebrate the day on 5 December.

The UN general assembly 2002 resolution recognized the importance of volunteerism for economic and social development by stating that “Volunteerism is an important component of any strategy aimed at poverty reduction, sustainable development, health, disaster prevention and management, social integration and overcoming social inclusion and discrimination.” It further recognizes that “Volunteering particularly at the community level will help to achieve the development goals and objectives set out in the United Nations conferences, summits, special sessions and their follow-up meetings.

IVD PROCEEDINGS IN ZAMBIA

In Zambia, a number of voluntary organizations, community based organization, UN agencies, Government ministries, and private sector institutions have come together since 2003 and an International Volunteers Day (IVD) national steering committee was formed since then.

Youth Environment Network-Zambia (YEN-ZAMBIA) has been a committed member of the IVD committee since 2007.

This year the IVD committee developed a plan to commemorate the event under the theme “Volunteerism for Development (V4D) towards quality education for Orphans and Vulnerable children in Zambia.

YEN-ZAMBIA played an important role through the media and publicity sub-committee of the IVD with the Volunteer Services Organization (VSO), ACEMS mission and The National Association for Prevention of Starvation (NAPS).

Our contribution received some praise from the chairman of the IVD steering committee as a success after a wonderful turnout and coverage of the event by more than six (6) media houses ranging from print to electronic media.

Further on we even had an opportunity to sit on the interview at radio Christian voice. Through the interview we spoke strongly on the establishment of the national volunteer resource center and the setting up of the national volunteer policy that should act as a guide on how to manage the volunteers in every sector of our society.

Lastly, we also addressed the role of the volunteers and the need for solidarity in tackling out some of the environmental issues, especially on climate change and global warming.

The IVD’s theme for 2008 of Volunteering for Development (V4D) towards quality education for Orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia served as the backdrop for us the national steering committee of the IVD to add some quality on the education of the orphans and vulnerable children of Kalundu view community school in Kafue district.

Kafue lays about 45 kilometers south of Lusaka and its hit by high unemployment rate after a huge number of workers were laid off after some key companies closed during the privatization wave of 1990’s and this led to the high rate of prostitution, HIV/AIDS, Poverty, Orphans and vulnerable children respectively. Kalundu view community has been one of the most hit communities of Kafue town evidenced by illicit brewing of beer by most families as an economical activity and with a number of children dropped out of school due to non-payment of school fees.

This was no wonder why we decided to commemorate this year’s IVD event at this school.

The programme started around 10:00hrs in the morning with the match past spiced up by the Army Brass Band playing the drums from the junction of the main road down to the school.

After the arrival at the school premises we were greeted by a huge number of community members who came to observe the event.

The activities at the school were characterized by some traditional dance and drama performances which depicted the importance of volunteers in service delivery and national development.

Exhibition markets were also part of the activities, with a number of organizations on present, such as Zambia National Blood Transfusion (ZNBT), Volunteer Services Organization (VSO), Youth Environment Network-Zambia (YEN-Z), ACEMS Mission, United Nations Volunteers (UNV), The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services and some Local women group of Kalundu Community.

Also on present, the guest of Honor, Honorable Deputy Minister of Community Development and Social Services Friday Malwa, MP, and the UN resident Coordinator Macleod Nyirongo. Both of them hailed the volunteers for the willingness and capacity to freely help others and improve their societies. Later on they made a handover of about 45 school desks for pupils and tables and chairs for teachers on behalf of the IVD national steering committee.

The school head teacher, expressed gratitude for the wonderful gesture accorded to them by the IVD Steering Committee, whilst the Pupils and women sang songs of praise as a sign of appreciating this precious gift.

TO DONATE OR SUPPORT YEN-ZAMBIA PARTICIPATE IN UPCOMING EVENTS FOR 2009 PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING DETAILS:
YEN-ZAMBIA
P.O BOX 30865LUSAKA ZAMBIA
TEL: +260 977 607960
EMAIL: yenzambia@yahoo.com