Why is Economic Empowerment important?
The Zambian economy is weak and in rural areas unemployment is very high. If the next generation are to cope with the strain of parents, siblings, partners and peers living with HIV and AIDS, they must be economically self-sufficient. Without skills training and the chance to launch entrepreneurial activities, the vicious circle of poverty, disease and lack of education will continue to spiral downwards.

What does SAPEP do?
Every AIDS Action Club is encouraged to set-up their own income generation activity in order to finance their own activities and to better support the most vulnerable members of their communities.

AACs receive seed money from SAPEP if they win an inter-club competition. With this money, they can purchase livestock. For example, Chisala AAC bought some chickens with the seed money they had received from SAPEP. As these chickens bred and produced eggs, the club began to make a profit through selling chicks and eggs. This money was reinvested in more livestock and was used to support vulnerable members of the community. Now, Chisala AAC collectively own chickens, pigs and disease-resistant goats. With the profits from their venture, they’ve been able to finance a new pre-school for children in the community.

AACs in the Mayaba zone are engaged in “pass-on gift” projects whereby AACs offer chickens to their fellow community members. The AACs are paid back in chicks and the process continues.

What are the results?
Income-generation activities bring an enormous number of benefits. First and foremost, these activities increase the wealth of the AAC members and the community at large, allowing them to provide for their families and empowering them not to survive on government hand-outs. Secondly, surplus profits are used to support the most vulnerable members of society. Finally, if a club is self-sufficient, SAPEP can concentrate its efforts on areas where the community-based AIDS action movement is weaker.

What are the plans for the future?
A revolving fund is planned in order to provide microfinance services to those clubs which have proven they can achieve a lot with a small seed money grant. Microfinance loans will be used to upscale activities.

An important part of lifting people out of poverty is to offer people the chance to gain vocational skills. SAPEP plans to facilitate orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) to attend local vocational skills colleges. SAPEP would offer this support on the basis that, when trained, these community members returned to their communities in order to train their peers.

None of our plans can be fulfilled without your support, so please donate online.