WHAT WE DO
We search for opportunities to help our target groups in developing countries and in the most challenging situations. Our approach is to help those in need.
Many families are displaced with no place to stay, through our partnership with various stakeholders, we help with 1 year rent free accommodations; Rent free farm care and assistance towards utilities.
We welcome volunteers from around the world to help us enhance the skills of locals, and learn in return. Help us revamp homes and libraries as well many other exciting opportunities for you to use your time and resources. Join us!
With our team of qualified volunteers in various fields, not only do we contribute towards literature, our team is available to train our target groups as part of our developmental projects.
PROGRAM OFFERINGS
Umi Foundation has two programs that operate in Zambia and are aimed at meeting the mission of the organisation.
Women’s Empowerment program - WE
The women’s empowerment program is aimed at supporting unemployed women with little to no education, gain a new skill to improve their lives. Umi Foundation identifies the interests of the women and through much consultation, creates intensive training through skills development courses such as tailoring, arts and crafts, organic and non-organic farming, as well as supporting women that may request returning to school to gain a formal education. The skills development projects attract women needing support in generating an income to sustain their families, the projects are done in collaboration with other NGOs, or individual groups identified by Umi Foundation. The goal is ensuring the women gain knowledge and become self-reliant.
Child Marriage Intervention program - CMI
Zambia is one of the sub-Saharan countries with a high prevalence of child marriage, these marriages. Even though boys too are victims of child marriage, the number of girls is higher than boys. A couple of projects under this program are achieved through activities that align with the aim of Umi Foundation, these activities are aimed at reducing the number of child marriages in selected locations through educational, library and mentorship projects.
PROJECTS
The Read and Learn project
The program was initiated in 2016 where Umi Foundation donated books to three public schools, benefiting over 2000 learners. This initiative saw one new building developed for the school library, and others revamped. From rundown classrooms. With the overwhelming and positive response, Umi Foundation launched its own community library in 2022, through donations from partner organisations, and Umi Foundation resources. The library is located in Meanwood, at the Umi Foundation office, where children in the community are able to utilize the library, and other tools. Children from the community are engaged in learning to read, storytelling, and other personal development activities.
This project helps to divert the plans and ideas of marriages for the young girls, it encourages children to read and dream beyond their daily routine and hardships. We aim to see children out of the streets and marriages, and back into classrooms.
The Read and Learn project is expanding to schools in Lusaka Province through collaborative programs with the schools and offering a mobile library on selected days.
Mentorship project
The program is aimed at identifying girls between 12 to 16 years within the adopted schools of Umi Foundation in Lusaka Province. The project is themed differently yearly, and 10 girls per year are selected to participate in the project.
Partnerships with
organisations & communities
We have partnered with various organisations and churches in remote areas to see children in school and advocate against early child marriages. Zambia has a high rate of child marriages, yet under statutory marriage, child marriages are illegal, and considered a form of child abuse. As Zambia has ratified the United Nations Convention on the rights of a child, help us advocate for programs that will ensure children remain in school and enjoy their rights as child, as every other child in the world. By promoting sustainable programs for the youth, we can help one child at a time reach their full potential.
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