Give Dignity to 300 Women Prisoners in Zambia

As a community of women at Chikumbuso Project we are commited to helping other women no matter where they are living. And that could mean prison. The word "Chikumbuso" means to remember and our women are champions as they remember to do for others even if it is out of the poverty. They visit the elderly, shut ins, those sick in the clinic and each year we visit the prisons in Lusaka to give back to these women who have nothing. Nothing at all.

Through your contribution in giving dignity to women prisoners the ladies at Chikumbuso can reach out even more people. Let our ladies be your feet and hands.

Thank you so much.

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• Learn more about us

Thank you for your help.

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• Conditions for Women Prisoners

The word Chikumbuso in Nyanja means Remembrance; our mission statement is to '' remember those who died, remember where we came from [poverty] and remember to do for others. In the spirit of Chikumbuso, we are striving to remember to do just that: help others. As a group of women we realize that we are more fortunate than many other women and women in prison in particular. The Chikumbuso women did a survey identifying the situation of the poor and vulnerable groups within the prison walls. From this we were able to identify the major issues affecting female prisoners the most important being very poor health and hygiene, poor diet and HIV / AIDS. One of the biggest issues facing the women prisoners is their menstruation. At Chikumbuso our single moms have been trained to sew menstrual pads. These packets make a difference for these women. Each packet includes five washable menstrual pads, five liners and a plastic lined bag to carry them in. Each woman can keep the packet for approximately six months as they were made to be washable. Our last delivery of 150 packets was over six months ago. Would you please help us in delivering packets again by giving to this project. Each time we go we include soap and underwear with the packet. The ladies at Chikumbuso enjoy giving back to fellow Zambians as well as an afternoon of song and dance with the prisoners.

We should not let the old expression  "out of sight, out of mind" gives us excuse to forget our fellow women.

Women in African prisons face overcrowded and unsanitary conditions conducive to poor health and the spread of infectious disease . Daily these women prisoners are confronted with unique challenges–related to menstruation; pregnancy and childbirth. There are no special needs given to female prisoners and sanitary wear is not provided. Imagine yourself in the same situation. 

The Chikumbuso Project has made sanitary packets for women part of our Skills Training for At Risk Youth (STARY) program. Twenty young women and men learn to make these bags and pads as part of their year long training in tailoring. Through this program they learn not only the skill of tailoring but also the blessings of giving back to the community. Our goal is to give to women and girls in prison a sanitary packet, soap, underwear, and wash basin. Helping the Zambian prison system care for those incarcerated.

We can not do it with out your help.  Please give to this needy cause enabling those who are "out of sight" to be seen again.  

Thank you,

From all of us at Chikumbuso

Thanks to the funding given us by Global Giving we have been able to make our first trip to the women's Prison in Lusaka. Mary Mwale, Rose, and many of the other members of STARY (Skills Training for At Risk Youth) spent their Woman's Day Holiday visiting the prison and handing out pads, soap, underwear and buckets! The ladies at the prison were very very thankful for the gifts and seemed to act like a huge weight had been lifted from their shoulders. It was also a time where stories, song and dance were shared in Celebration of Women's Day.  

There are many many more women in prison in Zambia who would benefit immensely from these same gifts. We ask that you consider your own families and imagine if they had to deal with the absence of materials during their menstrual time. Twenty dollars can change so much for these women languishing in prison.  I would love to include a picture or two but as you can imagine photography is not allowed. But you can be sure another visit will be scheduled, the prisoners had a lot of fun with the STARY group!