Kasanka Trust 
   Community Projects

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THE LOCAL PEOPLE

Kasanka is located in the Kafinda area, under the traditional leadership of Chief Chitambo IV.  It was this Chief’s great grandfather who received David Livingstone on his deathbed, and a memorial stands today near the park marking the spot where the explorer died. About 60,000 people live in the area and survive by subsistence farming.  The predominant crops are millet, cassava and groundnuts, many of which are cultivated using traditional slash and burn farming techniques known locally as ‘chitemene’. Whilst some people keep goats, pigs and chickens, fish, either locally caught or traded is the main source of animal protein.  

 Chief Chitambo
(Photo: Kieran Dodds)

 

ALTERNATIVES TO ILLEGAL HUNTING

The Kasanka Trust Community Project is dedicated to reducing poaching in the area by providing sustainable alternatives. The project is promoting more sustainable forms of agroforestry over the ‘chitemene’ system of farming and teaching alternatives to increase the amount of protein available. Villagers are also encouraged to seek income through activities such as craft making, vegetable gardening and chicken, rabbit and goat rearing. 

Woman pounding casava

CONSERVATION AWARENESS

The Kasanka Trust is working with local conservation groups and women’s clubs to enhance conservation awareness.  Schoolchildren are participating by revamping their ‘Chongologo’ conservation clubs.  These clubs educate the students about natural resources and they enjoy various opportunities to share their knowledge with other community members. Educational drama tours are also conducted to carry the message to all areas. 

Village with chicken houses and self made brinks

 

 

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Most importantly the local community is being encouraged to develop income generating projects through sustainable use of their natural resources including wildlife, fish, timber and other forest products in the ‘Game Management Area’ outside the national park. The area now has eight resource committees reporting to a central Community Resources Board for the Chiefdom.   
Kasanka Trust has is supporting the Community Resource Board by giving it 5% of its tourism revenue from Kasanka. This helps the community see a direct benefit from every visitor to the park and provides funding for small community projects.

Foundations for a new school

EDUCATION SUPPORT

Kasanka Trust actively seeks support from the local community to secure the long term future of Kasanka National Park. By using education as a basic tool, Kasanka Trust is trying to increase the community’s awareness of conservation and promote economic development.

Click here for information on the
 Chitambo Education Project

Misheshi school

KASANKA CONSERVATION CENTRE

On 20 July 2007, the Kasanka Conservation Centre was officially opened by David Moffat, representative of the Beit Trust. The ceremony was attended by a number of Kasanka affiliates as well as local clubs and schools.

A visit to the Conservation Centre tied in with local excursions is becoming popular with resident and international visitors, bringing in donations for the Centre, Kasanka Pre-School and the Sponsorship Program. As a result, the Centre has prompted interest in Kasanka Community Development. The Centre is becoming an attractive, functional feature of Kasanka National Park.

Kasanka Conservation Centre with sponsored students

KAPEPA COMMUNITY CENTRE

Kasanka Trust has put great effort in the realizing the Kapepa Community Centre. The Dutch Kasanka Trust raisedthe necessary funds through exciting activities such as a sponsored run in the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium in 2005 and an African benefit party in 2008). We celebrated the official opening in the first week of December 2008.

Read more about Kapepa Community Centre.

Teacher and active community member of Kapepa Community Centre

KAFINDA HEALTH PROJECT

The most ambitious community development project of the Kasanka Trust was the founding of a new Rural Health Centre at Chalilo, just north of Kasanka. The work was carried out by members of the local community for just some small allowances. Materials were supplied through a grant from the German Embassy and the States of Guernsey development fund who also paid for all the equipment in the clinic.

By the end of 2002 the Chalilo clinic building was completely finished and equipped. There was a handing over ceremony in July 2002 at which the German Ambassador attended. With help of a grant from the FIDES a Dutch charity which also funded the rehabilitation of Mpelembe school, Kasanka Trust was able to construct houses for staff. With the help of other donors the clinic has been assisted with the salary of a Traditional Birth Attendant, medical supplies, including pain killers, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, paediatric antibiotics, eye ointment and anti malarials, and fue

 Mother and child at Chalilo clinic

In 2008 Penicuik for Africa, a UK based charity, purchased an ambulance which was donated through the Kasanka Trust to the Ministry of Health for Chitambo Hospital. The ambulance was bought in the name of Kasanka Trust and then driven to Kasanka. The donors, Dr Currie’s family members and other people with long term associations with Chitambo, visited in August 2008 to attend the planned centenary celebrations. Sadly the celebrations could not take place as they coincided with the mourning period for the late President Mwanawasa. In January 2009 the ambulance was handed over by Kasanka Trust in presence of all the Chitambo staff and Hon. chief Muchinka.

Handing over Chitambo ambulance