November 24, 2025
News
Edeby heads Cassia Agro Enterprise Limited in the southern Zambian town of Monze. She founded the company in 2013 and today employs ten people. Thanks to training and support from Caritas, her business now focuses on organic agriculture.
Family as a pillar of support
Edeby is a widow. She is raising four children, caring for a granddaughter, and supporting another relative. “My children are also my business partners,” she adds.
Originally from Choma in Zambia’s Southern Province and belonging to the Tonga ethnic group, Edeby previously worked as an assistant at the Ministry of Agriculture—an experience that sparked her love of farming. “Part of my job was liaising with local growers, which ignited my passion for agriculture,” she explains.
Training and an emphasis on organic production
Edeby’s biggest hurdle is the lack of a permanent base. She has been renting her commercial space for seven years; without owning her own place, planning investments is difficult, while wealthier competitors in Monze build their own stores. Even so, she employs about ten people, including her sons.
Caritas has provided Edeby with a series of trainings—from business skills and marketing to taking part in rural trade fairs where the company can reach new farmers. Thanks to Caritas, her firm now prioritises organic agriculture—a sector in which Edeby sees a promising future if approached correctly.
Caritas Czech Republic in Zambia: Fostering entrepreneurship and self-reliance
In Zambia we have long supported the growth of small businesses that foster self-reliance and strengthen local communities. We offer professional training, material assistance, and help budding entrepreneurs connect with markets and business partners. With this support, people like Edeby can pursue their dreams and make the world around them a better place.
We also assist refugees in Zambia through financial support from the UNHCR, and university studies are made possible through DAFI scholarship programmes. Our work is further enabled by the generosity of donors who contribute to aid those in need.
