A School for the Future
Kapepa is a multifunctional institution in traditional African style. The centre consists of a large hall and 2 small houses. The hall is made out of mud bricks and has a grass roof but no windows or doors. The wind has free entrance, the termites too. The roof was recently repaired provisionally to prevent collapse. The roofing poles were almost completely eaten by the termites. The community of Chalilo village is very keen to replace the building with a durable construction. One that may last for 50 years instead of the current 10 years.
Zambia lies in the heart of Africa, in between Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Angola and Zimbabwe. It is a poor country with a lot of unemployment, very low incomes and massive debts. Nevertheless it is not all bad news as Zambia has a wealth of natural resources. There are reasonable soils, a lot of water, many wild animals and the climate is favourable for agriculture and tourism.
The inhabitants of this area are traditionally hunter-gatherers and fishermen. Fishing and hunting are still an important activity for some, but the majority shifted to agriculture. There are very few paid jobs and there is little support from the government. The community is poor and dependent on its own initiative for survival. Luckily most people are able to provide their own basic food requirements thanks to the abundance of natural resources. The most difficult time is the end of the rainy season when the food stocks run out or become infected with pests whilst the new crops are not yet ready for harvesting.
The current agricultural methods unfortunately are not sustainable: ‘slash and burn’ techniques are wide spread. In other words: ‘Cut down a piece of untouched forest, burn the left-overs and then plant your crops for 3- 4 years. Move to a new piece of forest once the time the soil is depleted’.
The local community already contributed much to the renovation of the dilapidated church building. The roof was provisionally replaced in 2002 and in 2003 volunteers made 16.000 bricks and collected 4 tons of sand and stones. The Community Resource Board forwarded a funding proposal to the local Council – who first encouraged them to do so – but later let them know the money was finished. However the volunteers did not give up and constructed another 8000 bricks in 2004.
Kapepa Community Centre is the first and only such centre in the district owned by the community. The construction of a new hall comprising of a classroom, library, meeting room and office would be an enormous boost for the morale and assertiveness of the Resource Board and the local community.
The centre shall also fulfil an important role for women and girls, who are much behind in education. Girls often marry early because of the ‘marriage payment’ for the family. Once married most girls shun school. They are expected to work in the field, produce food and take care of the children. Many girls only participate in education for 3-4 years. Elderly women often had no education at all but some are still keen to learn later on. With the skills acquired they will also be able to more successfully apply for funds and training possibilities.
Children from one parent families and orphans are offered free education at the centre. Government schools are not affordable for these families. The centre even has a toddler class, unknown in the nearby government school. The teachers attached to the centre are all volunteers. They meet five days a week to teach their younger and older friends without any payment. A real example of self help development work.
An ambitious future plan is the initiation of a vocational school where the youth can participate in carpentry training, bricklaying or sewing.
The people of Chalilo work hard towards their own development. With your support they can achieve even more!
Cornelie van der Feen de Lille Community Relations Co-ordinator Kasanka Trust Zambia
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Kapepa
Community Centre 
Chalilo
lies in the Central Province of Zambia, nearby Kasanka National
Park. The national park is managed by the Kasanka Trust, a Zambian
charity. The Trust also supports the local community with the
renovation of schools, the construction of a clinic and a broad
ranging community conservation program. 
The
Kasanka Trust supports the local community to improve the situation.
The development of the Chitambo Community Resource Board was the
first step. This organisation is now responsible for the sustainable
development and sustainable exploitation of all natural resources.
The Kapepa Community Centre is the administrative headquarters of
the Board. The Chief kindly donated an old former church building to
the members. The centre has been used intensively ever since for
training sessions, various meetings and literacy classes for adults
and children.
Demonstration
and pilot fields for sustainable agriculture will be an important
part of the future centre. Elsewhere in Zambia, organic or
semi-organic agricultural methods proved to achieve promising
results. Male and female farmers will be encouraged to participate
in training and then immediately apply their knowledge in the field.
Thanks to the demonstration farm the farmers will be able to
personally witness if the new methods deliver better results.