From volleyball to chicken-rearing
The youngsters were joined in a game of volleyball by visiting Plan Germany board member Axel Berger and his family.
Mr. Berger, his wife and daughter with the Nadezwe Youth Advocacy Group and their Plan-bought sewing machines.
September 27, 2007
From volleyball to chicken-rearing – Zambian youths show entrepreneurial side
By Mawape Mulumbi, Communications Manager, Plan Zambia
Not so long ago they were regarded as layabouts who contributed nothing to the community; but now, thanks to their love of volleyball, they are respected entrepreneurs.
The youngsters from Mabwetuba—a Plan-supported community in Mazabuka, Zambia—call themselves the Nadezwe Youth Advocacy Group and were originally five friends who loitered around their village.
To think—it all started with plastic bags!
Their fortunes began to change for the better when they decided to start playing volleyball, which was no simple task as they lacked balls as well as a court.
The youth quickly improvised by transforming plastic grocery bags into a ball and clearing space for a court behind the community's only clinic. Soon they were playing every day.
Before long, the group grew to 17 members, including six girls. Their ages ranged from 12 to 22 and most had lost at least one parent. About half were out of school, and three had been heading households before the group was even formed. Some were HIV positive.
As the numbers grew, the group started charging membership fees of K5,000 (USD 1.30) and appointed a chairman, secretary and treasurer. Soon they were able to buy their first volleyball and it was not long before their efforts were noticed elsewhere in the community.
From volleyball to cabbages, sewing and chicken rearing
"One day, Plan's community development facilitator Fines Mweene stopped by our court to chat with us and saw our enthusiasm for the game, for staying out of mischief and our desire to engage in income generating activities," said chairman Trust Mwemba. "He decided to donate two balls to the group.
"With so much time on our hands, we started a garden and Plan supported us with seeds for tomatoes, cabbages, rape and okra. Those of us heading households and looking after our siblings were also given maize and bean seeds for the farming season.
"In November 2006, Plan trained six of us in tailoring and gave us sewing machines to get us started. We are able to support ourselves and our families. We mostly make school uniforms, charging K15,000 (USD 3.80) and K20,000 (USD 5.10) for girls and boys respectively.
"We contribute some of our earnings to the group fund, and use this money to pay for members' medical fees where they cannot pay for themselves. We have so far had to come to the rescue of five members of our community who were unable to pay medical fees.
"As months went by, our group became more and more entrepreneurial. We contributed money to purchase free range chickens but started with only enough for a small number of members. As the chickens have multiplied, we have been passing them on to other group members—eventually everyone will be rearing chickens."
Plan also helped the youths to get involved in children's rights and HIV and AIDS issues. Plan funded training sessions and now the youngsters perform at big gatherings.
Want to learn more?
Interested in learning more about youth groups and Plan's involvement? See what our Youth Engagement and Action team is up to, and how you can join them to make a difference.
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Not so long ago they were regarded as layabouts who contributed nothing to the community; but now, thanks to their love of volleyball, they are respected entrepreneurs.
The youngsters from Mabwetuba—a Plan-supported community in Mazabuka, Zambia—call themselves the Nadezwe Youth Advocacy Group and were originally five friends who loitered around their village.
To think—it all started with plastic bags!
Their fortunes began to change for the better when they decided to start playing volleyball, which was no simple task as they lacked balls as well as a court.
The youth quickly improvised by transforming plastic grocery bags into a ball and clearing space for a court behind the community's only clinic. Soon they were playing every day.
Before long, the group grew to 17 members, including six girls. Their ages ranged from 12 to 22 and most had lost at least one parent. About half were out of school, and three had been heading households before the group was even formed. Some were HIV positive.
As the numbers grew, the group started charging membership fees of K5,000 (USD 1.30) and appointed a chairman, secretary and treasurer. Soon they were able to buy their first volleyball and it was not long before their efforts were noticed elsewhere in the community.
From volleyball to cabbages, sewing and chicken rearing
"One day, Plan's community development facilitator Fines Mweene stopped by our court to chat with us and saw our enthusiasm for the game, for staying out of mischief and our desire to engage in income generating activities," said chairman Trust Mwemba. "He decided to donate two balls to the group.
"With so much time on our hands, we started a garden and Plan supported us with seeds for tomatoes, cabbages, rape and okra. Those of us heading households and looking after our siblings were also given maize and bean seeds for the farming season.
"In November 2006, Plan trained six of us in tailoring and gave us sewing machines to get us started. We are able to support ourselves and our families. We mostly make school uniforms, charging K15,000 (USD 3.80) and K20,000 (USD 5.10) for girls and boys respectively.
"We contribute some of our earnings to the group fund, and use this money to pay for members' medical fees where they cannot pay for themselves. We have so far had to come to the rescue of five members of our community who were unable to pay medical fees.
"As months went by, our group became more and more entrepreneurial. We contributed money to purchase free range chickens but started with only enough for a small number of members. As the chickens have multiplied, we have been passing them on to other group members—eventually everyone will be rearing chickens."
Plan also helped the youths to get involved in children's rights and HIV and AIDS issues. Plan funded training sessions and now the youngsters perform at big gatherings.
Want to learn more?
Interested in learning more about youth groups and Plan's involvement? See what our Youth Engagement and Action team is up to, and how you can join them to make a difference.
Back to top
