Zambia, located on the edge of the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa, has the world’s highest rate of HIV/AIDS. This compounded by lack of employment, leaves the majority of the people in the Kaoma area extremely poor. This ministry is part of the work of Presentation Sisters from Ireland, India, England, New Zealand, Zambia and the United States. The primary purpose of the ministry in Kaoma and surrounding areas is to assist the people in becoming self-sustaining.
Ministry in Action
The Kaoma Sustainability Project was originally developed and continues to build on the expressed need of the people in the area namely, hunger. Working with the most vulnerable people in the area, these projects help to alleviate the root cause of poverty by teaching people to help themselves through various forms of education.
Nano Farm
Nano Farm is a hector of land that includes fish ponds, cows, chickens, ducks and goats. There is also banana, papaya, orange, mango and avocado trees, as well as tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, cassava and sorghum. The farm has become a model for teaching groups the most economical and earth-friendly methods of farming and of rearing fish and chickens.
Fishing Project
Fish is one of the primary foods of Zambia so land was purchased when it was learned the property had two abandoned fish ponds. Two natural springs on Nano Farm supply a fish hatchery and eleven large earth dug ponds. Each of these large ponds can hold up to 5,000 fish. Recently, four cement tanks were constructed to contain the breeding fish and newly hatched fry (baby fish). Using plastic sheets to create a greenhouse effect, the tanks are protected from the cold in winter and scavenger birds. Two of these ponds are divided into smaller sections for the fry. They remain there until they are big enough to put into regular ponds. The cement tanks are heated to supply warm water for the fry as well as for the breeding fish. This prolongs the breeding season.
A local college and the Provincial Fishery Department bring students to the farm to teach them how to construct fish ponds and care for the fish. Students from other countries often visit the farm. Proceeds from the farm and fish ponds help to pay expenses. Profits are used to continue assisting the poor to become self-sustaining.
