Income Generating Project in Muchinga Village
Posted by: Erin Kambenja on November 09, 2011 | Staff Blog
In the village of Muchinga in Mukuni Kingdom there is a group of 10 women who have taken the initiative to start a club under social welfare where they raise chickens as a group in order to support themselves as well as care for the vulnerable in their village. They were given 5 treadle sewing machines about 5 years ago, but never learned how to use them because the one teaching them passed away. They are very eager to learn how to use them and have another way of generating income for themselves and the vulnerable population in their village. Each woman has contributed money to repair and oil the machines so that they can take pride in the project and keep their machines in good condition. A few staff members from Overland plan to start teaching them the basics about sewing and we hope we can start selling things they make to people who come for expeditions or to volunteer with Overland Missions. Recently, Rod, Christine, and I set out to try and fix and oil the machines as well as find the missing pieces. Rod did an amazing job of getting about 3 machines working and the other 2 will be working soon with a little more maintenance. We don’t know if this project will start this year or next year due to the need for supplies and teachers, but we are excited about how this project will benefit the community.
About Erin Kambenja
Job Title: LIFE Community Coordinator/Social Worker
Location: Livingstone, Zambia
Spouse: Watson Kambenja
Bio:
Erin grew up in South Lake Tahoe, California. God put a passion for missions and Africa in her heart from the beginning of her relationship with him. She studied social work in college and received a BSW and an MSW in order to use it on the mission field.
She first traveled to Africa in 2005 on a short-term mission trip and after finishing her Bachelor’s degree, returned to Africa to live in Zambia for a year. She worked with another organization organizing a child sponsorship program and volunteering in the community of Livingstone. After returning to the U.S. for one year to complete her MSW, she came back to Zambia and worked with a small orphanage which eventually led her to the Overland Missions and the LIFE Project where a social worker was needed. Erin has been volunteering with the LIFE Project since 2010. She attended AMT in May 2010 and is now very happy to be part of the staff.
She is married to Watson, a Zambian nurse, and they are very excited to spend their life in Zambia serving those in need of hope.
