Hands Around the World will provide a bag of mealie meal to over 500 children in Zambia who are affected by the crisis that has gripped the country in 2024 - a national disaster, drought. Farmers planted the crops, which normally thrive in the rainy season, but as a result of climate change & the 'El Nino' effect, the rains were not predictable this year and there have been mass crop failures across Zambia, likely affecting over 6 million people.
This year has brought unprecedented challenges to Zambia, as a severe drought has wreaked havoc on the country's agriculture. The impact has been particularly harsh on over a million families, predominantly in rural areas where farming is crucial for sustenance. Given that nearly 80% of Zambia's population lives in poverty, the drought has exacerbated their already challenging circumstances, making it difficult for them to have enough food for their families.
A contribution of 13 pounds will enable the purchase of a 25kg bag of mealie meal, a staple ingredient used to prepare nshima, Zambia's national dish. With this amount of flour, the initiative aims to provide one meal a day for a family of six for an entire month. This direct and targeted assistance seeks to alleviate the immediate food scarcity issues these vulnerable families face, offering a lifeline during a challenging period. Our target is to provide 500 children with 1 or 2 bags of maize.
Funding will help 500 children and their families have food during an incredibly challenging year, ensuring they do not suffer malnourishment and further poverty or illness. It is anticipated that over 6 million families will be adversley affected by this drought in Zambia. Keeping healthy and well is vital as Zambia is just recovering from the worst outbreak of Cholera since the 70s.
