February 3, 2026
News
In Zambia, Caritas Czech Republic supports local residents in becoming self-reliant and in personal development. Therefore, we assist people who unite in so-called savings groups within their communities. They farm together and learn new skills, which gradually helps them save money and improve their livelihoods. One of the groups that received our financial support is called Sala. Its members come from the village of Manungu in the Monze area of southern Zambia. They engage in goat rearing.
Formation of the savings group
The group comprises six men and nineteen women, and their leader is named Edith. During the group’s formation, they discussed the challenges they had faced in their individual farming. They then set their common goals and approved the bylaws, which were drafted to clearly define the group’s leadership and rules of operation.
From a practical standpoint, the group also needed to acquire a registration book and a cash box. In the book, they began recording group members and tracking their individual savings. The cash box was used to safely store the accumulated funds.
This was followed by a series of training sessions on saving principles and the operation of the social and educational fund. After the intensive courses, the group could apply for certification and open its own bank account. Caritas Czech Republic views this as a crucial step, enabling group members to access financial services and establish links with agricultural suppliers.
Goat rearing
The group also had to decide what to focus on in their farming. Given the adverse drought, they agreed to focus on goat rearing. Caritas Czech Republic provided them with financial aid. Thanks to this, the group was able to purchase its first eighteen goats.
Photo: The group engages in goat rearing
They also used part of the funds to run an additional series of training sessions, during which they learned about goat rearing, feeding, and selling. However, some members still lack the necessary experience. Hence, the group hopes to arrange further training through the veterinary department. They also obtained medicine and dipping schedules for their livestock.
Thank you, and we are really grateful for the assistance rendered in bettering the lives of the community,
says the group leader, Edith.
The group’s future goals
The group managed to expand its herd and now has thirty-two goats that they plan to sell on various markets.
Through the savings group, its members aim to achieve much-needed stability, improve their health, expand their education, and integrate more effectively into society. Moreover, the group’s strong representation of women is no coincidence. Through their activities, the members aim to improve living conditions for women and young people, thereby positively influencing the community’s development.
Caritas Czech Republic in Zambia
In addition to supporting groups, Caritas Czech Republic also supports individual farmers in Zambia. For example, we supported Minga, a single mother of three. Like other farmers in the country, Minga has been dealing with the impacts of climate change, which threatened her harvest in the past. Thanks to training from Caritas Czech Republic, she modernised her growing methods and can better face even the drought mentioned above.
Caritas also helped Hamiyanda, who became a sorghum seed grower. Thanks to that, he was able to purchase his dream motorbike, and today he continues to develop his livelihood.
Thank you for helping local farmers together with us, for example, through supporting the Lasting Change fundraising campaign.
