Clean water, thriving gardens: Zambian Abundance!

Hi again,

As the original two-year project timeframe comes to an end, I've been looking into possible directions for the future. To summarize to these possibilities:

1) Launch a water and irrigation start-up that builds upon the 'outgrower' agriculture model to provide village water services in combination with irrigation investments for community revenue generation.

This idea has gone through many revisions over the past year. Here are a few:

Dell Social Innovation Challenge

William James Foundation Sustainable Business Competition

I've become convinced that business models possess the most potential for generating lasting change in Africa's rural sector. Water and irrigation obviously go hand-in-hand, and providing both together has the potential to bring a community past the tipping point toward prosperity.

2) Develop partnerships with research organizations, such as the Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, to bring research tools to the specific challenges facing rural Africa.

Research is also an important element in addressing development challenges. Unfortunately, most research focuses on the West's problems, because most research occurs in the West. Of all of Zambia's medical graduates since the 1960's, about half left the country for better opportunities. But as Africa develops its own research institutions, it will need to address its own research problems. A few examples of my own research in this context:

Global Water Forum Emerging Scholars Award

Rural Water Financing Article

At the moment, these two ideas are both possibilities. I'm praying for direction as I finish my PhD in February and move on to the next step. 

Sari and I both appreciate your help very much in making this project possible. We continue to invest in Simango and hope to be back there soon to take the project to the next step.

We are still in need of financial contributions to provide the gardeners with treadle pumps for their hard work! Do consider making a donation this holiday season. All recurring donations are matched!

Stay posted on progress at outoftheground.org. The website should be upgraded soon thanks to Global Giving's partnership with the Kennesaw State Art Institute graduate design course, which has offered us a free website re-design. Thanks Nisha and Dr. Lin Hightower! See our newly designed logo below.

God bless

Adam, Sari, Nuria and Mae

Links:

• outoftheground.org

Dear Friends,

The past few months' focus on finishing my PhD thesis (due in a few months) has meant a period of reflection on the past few years in Zambia.

I'll try to summarize some of these lessons, and provide an idea of where things are going next year:

Top Ten Lessons Learned from the Project (So Fa)r:

10) Preparation is important, but adaptability is crucial.

9) Engaging the community to get behind a vision is a long process - and the process is more IMPORTANT than almost anything else.

8) A trustworthy and dependable team of locals is the project backbone.

7) Challenges and setbacks are a part of the process, and are not a reason to give up.

6) There is a fine and difficult balance between charity and empowerment, and each approach may be necessary in different situations. It's not always black and white.

5) Once a foreigner in a village, always a foreigner in a village. Don't try to change that - recognize your role and DON'T create any element of the project that depends entirely on the foreigner in the village (you).

4) If you abide by the above rule, you'll quickly realize how non-essential you really are - a very humbling but important realization.

3) Don't assume that what you think is important, is important to the people you are trying to help. Listen.

2) Everything that can break will break. And, actually, even things that aren't supposed to break will break.

1) Keep going. Surround yourself with people who won't give up.

I think that's it. I'm fortunate to have people in the project who haven't and won't give up. Pastor Kebby is a gem who has really demonstrated a maturity beyond his years. I know he is doing everything in his power to keep the momentum, despite the many challenges we have faced.

We are currently fundraising for developing a program in cooperation with other local organizations - the SAM Project and Overland Missions - who have much the same vision as we do for community empowerment through water and agricultural investments.

Please do continue to support the ongoing work, and tell others our story.

I've recently posted a new project video - please take 7 minutes and watch it!

Blessings

Adam and Sari

Links:

• New Video
• Project Blog
• The SAM Project