1. Introduction
Families Are Nations (FAN) is a Zambian based NGO Registered under the Laws of Zambia. FAN operates in various parts of Zambia under the ideal that focuses on the Family as the most important unit and critical to the development of a safe, peaceful and progressive society. The FAN Vision is to “raise the family unit to institutions of Integrity, Love and effective community well-being.”
Believes that strong families is highly cardinal for the achievement of national and global development goals. To achieve its objectives, FAN has since inception undertaken several projects aimed at supporting strong family structures through various interventions such as Sanitation and access to skills development and entrepreneurship, character and health education, improved sanitation, counselling, family development, mentorship, benevolence care and support for OVCs as well as advocacy against vices affecting families.
Happiness Initiative is an American NGO based in Las Vegas, Nevada that works for the success and well-being of local and international communities by providing services such as upgrading sanitation services, character education, personal development, financial planning, legal services, and much more. In Africa, the Initiative has, since 2017 undertaken a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in collaboration with FAN to improve rural sanitation, support community based social projects and good health in selected rural communities through the provision of various facilities. Currently, the project is targeting SIXTY-EIGHT (68)needy villages within Central Province of Zambia spreading out to three Chiefdoms namely Chief Mukonchi, Chief Nkole and Chief Chamuka. Through the provided resources, the project targets to provide improved sanitation and safe water wells, education and safe housing facilities for vulnerable girls, women and children affected by GBV and child marriages, as well as other relevant global initiatives designed to work for the sake of others.
2. Partnership VIP Visit to Zambia
As part of the MOU and collaborative process, the Happiness Project and FAN agreed to conduct exchange visits, presentations and support services between the two organizations from time to time to facilitate the strengthening and effective consultative operations and development of ongoing projects. Ms Naomi Harrasaki, Founding Director and Partner conducted the first of such visits in the last quarter of 2016 when she offered partnership guidance and opportunity to FAN. This visit laid the strong foundation for the signing of the MOU between the two organizations.
As a follow up action, Happiness Project assigned Hanna Harrasaki and Mike Noone undertake an official visit to FAN Project sites in Zambia from 19th December 2018 to 2nd January 2019. The two youthful and vibrant representatives conducted intensive partnership activities amidst eager expectations by beneficiaries and partner officials in all the areas of their undertaking.
A carefully calculated program of activities was drawn by the FAN secretariat to facilitate smooth and memorable visitations by the two Happiness Project Officials to Zambian Projects.
3. Planned Activities
The two officials arrived in the country on 19th December when they were received by FAN Representatives in the tourist Capital, Livingstone. In view of the limited time available for the two student officials who were assigned to undertake various partnerships activities in Zambia, a tight activity schedule was designed to guide their operations as per Appendix vi hereto attached.
a. Tourist Visit
Upon arrival on 19th December, the duo had an opportunity to view unique tourist attractions in Livingstone such as the famous Victoria Falls, popular wildlife and a few Cultural sites during the limited time.
b. Resource Mobilization – Family Event (Munda Wanga Botanical Gardens)
One of the major challenges facing the smooth progression of FAN activities is the lack of financial and material resources to support interventions. In this regard, FAN regularly conducts resource mobilization activities to engage stakeholders in raising resources and creating awareness on critical issues related to family well-being.
On Friday 21st December 2018 the two officials arrived in the Capital city, Lusaka in readiness to boost and participate in their initial official assignment being a Resource Mobilization Activity held at Munda Wanga Botanical Gardens, a popular local tourist location popular for its serene gardens and game animals. The Family event which was conducted on Saturday, 22nd December 2018 was designed to raise finances and other necessary resources for FAN projects, was attended by families’, business institutions and local organizations in support of the cause.
In all, the event was able to raise approximately $2,800 through gate takings, services, donations and partnership support pledges among them five educational scholarships donated by the National Savings Bank targeting vulnerable girls back into school. During the event, Hanna and Mike had an opportunity to give a speech on behalf of Happiness Project and FAN thanking participants for their valuable support and assured them of continued partnership in view of the common passion shared in support of family well-being.
c. Central Province Community Service Visit
From – 23rd to 26th December 2018, Hanna and Mike joined a determined team 15 FAN officials and volunteers travelling to Central Province, Chief Mukonchi for climax and intensive end of year community sensitization, benevolence and awareness activity to mark the end of the year 2018. During this event, Hanna and Mike, on Behalf of Happiness Project officially donated two (02) Water Wells to two villages in Chibwe and Kakwelesa wards of Mukonchi Chiefdom.
During the event, because of awareness activities and advocacy by FAN, other donations were pledged to FAN towards support for the maternity ward at Chibwe Health Centre, which services over four million habitants and has for many years lacked various basic facilities such as beds, linen and medical equipment and infrastructure.
The event was highly attended by villagers drawn from the catchment area who eagerly appealed for more support to alleviate their poverty and needs for safe water, safe spaces and education for their children. In Response to their appeals, Hanna and Mike announced the donation of two new bore holes in Mondake and Kakwelesa as a gesture to strengthen the new partnership between Happiness Initiative and FAN officially committed Happiness Project and FAN Partnership in urgently addressing their needs through:-
- Provision of safe drinking water with a pledge to establish more water wells in the remaining 68 villages of the area;
- Establishment of safe spaces and educational infrastructure for abused girls;
- To source support towards relevant skills development and investment opportunities under the partnership with FAN;
In response, the local Civic leader, Kakwelesa Ward Councilor Mr Chiboni was delighted to support and officially allocated pieces of land as follows:-
- 12 Hectares of virgin land for the purposes of social enterprise and investment to Happiness Project in collaboration with FAN to be developed within a period one year from date of offer;
- An Acre of virgin land each to Hanna and Mike for their personal use in recognition of the positive partnership of the two organizations in Zambia;
- Recommendation to any other potential cooperating partners to confidently support all activities in the area;
- The donated wells now await the assessment, selection and approval for sinking within the identified beneficiary areas. It was announced that as soon as the relevant tests and approvals were finalized by the council authorities, the wells would be sunk for use.
Letters to this effect are hereto attached as “Appendix V” for ease of reference.
d. Mtendere Thabitha Community Activity
On Friday, 28th December 2018 FAN was officially hosting a quarterly feeding program for OVCs in highly populated Mtendere Compound in partnership with Thabitha, a caregiving organization. At this event, FAN volunteers were interacting with vulnerable groups such as neglected older persons, orphans, disabled and blind/deaf. The within Lusaka. Over 300 needy persons were fed on this occasion. Hana and Mike were part of the team serving food to the needy. They were given an opportunity to make remarks on the event.
e. Visit to vulnerable triplets in Chawama
In 2016 Naomi witnessed and was touched by the care and support FAN has been giving to triplet babies born to a victim of child marriage. The three babies were visited by Hanna and Mike accompanied by Judith, and amazingly grown so well. It was gratifying to see the successes of FAN in community work.
f. Courtesy Call on His Excellency, First Zambian President- Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Globally, Zambia has stood out as one of the most peaceful countries in Africa. This has been attributed to the work of a man who believes in unity, freedom, and strong family structures. It is for this reason that visitors from all over the world take time to visit this Son of Africa who compares only to Nelson Mandela in terms of legacy and popularity. FAN’s Founder and President, Judith Mwila, led the FAN team consisting of 15 local members of youths and senior officials as well as Hanna and Mike.
The team was inspired by Dr. Kaunda’s dedication to his own family and to his relentless work towards ethical leadership through Zambia’s transition to, and maintenance of, independence. In 2014, His Excellency Dr. Kaunda was awarded the Eagle of the Zambian Family in honor of his strength in uniting peoples and most of all accepting to advocate for FAN ideals to the top Zambian leadership.
Having studied this past year at the University of Ghana, they are extremely excited to meet such a major contributor to the independence of the African continent.
4. Consultative Meetings and Activities
Hanna and Mike later had an opportunity to operate from the FAN Secretariat conducting interviews for interns who were seeking placements in local NGO. They had two shortlisted candidates from whom they picked one suitable. However, the lady turned down the attachment for non-availability of attractive stipends.
Further Mike and Hanna had a discussion with the FAN Web Administrator and Specialist on the status of the site. Having discussed at length, a decision was made to make adjustments and ensure the site is operative. The charge was still being considered for further negotiation.
5. Mapepe Mentorship with Girls and Boys
During the last two days of their visit, Hanna and Mike took time to conduct mentorship sessions with male and female youths, urging them to pay more attention to education in spite of their vulnerability. They further completed their assessment to help establish current and future predicaments of the children. At the close of day, 42 girls and 36 boys needing education scholarships and tertiary education support.
6. Donation to FAN 2019: BABY
As an effective family strengthening strategy, FAN has been presenting gifts to the first two babies born at selected health institutions and presented gifts to the babies. In the long term, FAN hopes to grow the project to accommodate the children when they grow. At Chibwe Health Centre in Central Province, a baby boy was born in time for the team to present gifts. The baby was then named “Joshua” by Micheal and Hanna. The second birthday package was presented to a Baby Girl in Chawama Clinic, Lusaka. The babies will be under a monitoring and support program by FAN.
7. Recommendations
On 1 January 2019, the vibrant and supportive duo left Zambia to return home. It is no doubt the great success of the activities are associated with their hard work and commitment to serve others.
The following recommendations were jointly made as way forward for the partnership:-
i. The two organization need to intensify resource mobilization to reach their target number of wells in the three chiefdoms;
ii. The land offered to FAN and Happiness Initiative should be developed without delay given the one year grace period;
iii. Immediately Fan and Happiness will get down to sourcing funds to establish business investments and educational facilities in the area;
iv. The two partners welcomed the support of other civic and corporate institutions to ensure goodwill for the villagers;
v. FAN President proposed that Ms. Naomi Harasaki should visit Zambia during or after May 2019 to support other events and visit the Happiness Supported sites in Central Province.
vi. FAN President should equally be invited to Las Vegas to make presentations of the needs of FAN and make a case for American donors to support Zambian activities and OVVs in school and other needs.
vii. FAN needs much support from the USA through Happiness Initiative to ensure projects are smoothly ongoing and growing.
All FAN officials were determined to ensure the partnership bears fruits and to apply the resources and experiences gained wisely. The villagers in the areas expressed gratitude and requested for more such visits as they rekindled their hope and successfully eliminate poverty and other vices affecting families.
