Learning, is all about Sharing

Chindwin Home Based Care Savings Loans Assoication visits Kasokota

CHBCSLA last month went on a learning mission to another Communit Based Care organization called Kaokota Mulipurpose Co-operative in Serenje, Mkusi District.

The specific objectives of the exchange visit included:

1.To share project information on sustainable agriculture particularly on various soil improvement methods, tree planting and fish farming.
2.Exchange project knowledge on chicken rearing, small enterprise development and institutional care of orphans and vulnerable children.
3.Enable SLA members acquire relevant business and farming skills so as to impart and share the same knowledge with other group members in the project area.
4.Provide more opportunities for SLA members to learn and share project information so as to help in shaping the way forward for the organization.

Kasokota Women Project.
Project information was presented and shared between Kasokota women and SLA members on business activities conducted and on tree planting. Three fields were visited which were planted with eucalyptus, paw-paw, lemons, oranges and other fruit trees.

Lessons Learnt
SLA members were able to appreciate the fact that in order to effectively facilitate and implement community programmes that included tree planting, broad community support should be solicited through training to enable members appreciate the importance of an activity to be carried out.

The importance of the exchange visit could not be overemphasized. Members from the projects visited and SLA agreed to be visiting each others’ projects so as continue learning and sharing relevant project information for the purpose of contributing to the upliftment of livelihoods in their communities.

Kasokota women indicated that they would soon make arrangements to invite SLA members to help in facilitating the Savings and Loans (SLA) model at Kasokota.

GLM indicated that in the event that SLA needed further training in sustainable farming, the organization would be willing to help out.


Challenges faced:
Very few challenges were experienced. However, communication presented as a major barrier during the network visit. For instance, Bupensebele project confirmed that they would receive SLA members on the 17th of August, 2010. Since, Allison was going to be away for a workshop in Lusaka, she confirmed that she would assign someone else to take SLA members through their project on her behalf. This did not happen. As a consequence of this action, the bupensebele members were not met and fish farming activity was not covered.