"Every child is potentially the light of the world -- and at the same time its darkness; wherefore must the question of education be accounted as of primary importance."
-Abdu'l-Baha


Our mission

The Fountains of Light Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) created to facilitate the fusion of positive African traditional values (culture) with contemporary global thinking. Hence this will give practical expression to the vision and the belief of promoting social and economic development for the benefit of the people of Zambia.

Among these values are:

Each individual is endowed with the capacity to respond in some measure to this challenge, for all can participate in the joint enterprise of applying more systematically these wonderful principles to raising the quality of human life.

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The Foundation consists of the following institutions and programmes:

  1. Arts and Culture Academy
  2. Agriculture and Rural Development
  3. Community School
  4. Health Education Programme
  5. Women's Skills /Literacy Program

The above and other institutions and programmes yet to be established shall operate under the Foundation's constitution.

A. Tapiwa Arts & Culture Academy

The Tapiwa Arts and Culture Academy (TACA) is a Centre of creativity to inspire, encourage and empower Zambians (and the world) to embrace and experience African arts and culture. We believe that the expression our culture through the Arts gives birth to joy, fosters and refreshes the spirit, and breathes life into the community. African culture is the pure expression of reverence and love for the Creator of all things, and all of creation. For them to have the opportunity to share this with the world- just one of the unique gifts they have to offer would reach well beyond the borders of Zambia. Our mission is to bridge and unite the different peoples with the arts and cultures of Africa. We hope to provide people both local and from afar with a unique opportunity to witness, experience, and be transformed by the true heart and soul of Africa.

B. Agriculture & Rural Development

Agriculture is the most important industry upon which mankind depends. Africa despite its large land space, is unable to provide enough food to feed its people. This has cause some young people to think that agriculture can never solve the problem of poverty in Zambia. But the school will bring up the children and train them in new agriculture technology which should help in the agriculture output and restore confidence in the industry. This will make children grow up appreciating agriculture. African's economic problems should begin with the farmer. There are many farmers in Africa than any other field.

C. Dudzai Community School

There are over 600 000 children at this time who are not able to attend school in Zambia. The Foundation is providing free basic education to some of them. The main focus is on the most vulnerable in society, the orphaned girls. The development of women is an important goal, as there is still inequality in this society. Orphans are ever increasing in number in Zambia.

The community school provides basic education in Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies, Music, Physical Education and Vernacular Language. It provides a four level primary education (grades 1-7). Each level equals about two grades for formal education.

The School has a Parent-Community Committee (PCC) which works with the organisation to provide training in the running of the project, financial sustainability, income generation, transparency and accountability. The children are our future. Educated children are an asset to society. By offering education to them we are doing the society and the children a big favour. We believe that in order for Africa to achieve prosperity and success, education should be our primary concern. In the words of Abdul Bahá, "…Lack of education weakens and degrade a people." Over 80 percent of families in Zambia live below the poverty datum line. This project is intended to help alleviate poverty. Lack of education plays a major part in perpetuating poverty. The situation can be best explained like this, Like a monstrous circle, without education it is difficult to get a job, so poverty leads to lack of education, which leads to more poverty. Poverty, hunger and malnutrition exist on such a huge scale, like the problem of orphans they defy political, economic, and social efforts to eliminate them. Indeed, the situation is not improving but worsening.

D. Primary Health Care Education

Infectious diseases are common in Zambia and are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five years. Sadly, these diseases are preventable. Women, who are the caregivers in families, require the knowledge necessary to raise healthy families and to care for the sick. Educating communities, especially women, in primary health care is an effective means of promoting health. Children who have a balanced and varied diet perform better in school, parents who understand how infections spread can take precautions to ensure the health of the family and a community that understand the importance of immunizations can prevent outbreaks.

Because preventive health programs are highly effective in reducing the disease burden of a population, the Fountains of Light Foundation will undertake a comprehensive, science based education program aimed at increasing the knowledge of the general population on healthy practices. The impetus for this program will come from the community, with planning, participation and evaluation all being driven by community members.

E. Women' Skills Training/Adult Literacy program

This program will help the community in the following ways:

  1. Capacity building: Leadership skills. Entrepreneur-ship training in how to run a small business. It will also train people in how run a community Project.
  2. The Literacy Program: The Literacy program addresses the issue of illiteracy which is very high in Zambia. It is estimated that about 60 percent of the adult population in the country can not read nor write and a huge percentage of these are women.
  3. Skills training for women: It is estimated that over 70 percent of the food production in Africa is by the work of women. Since most Zambian women are illiterate, they have no skills training. This project is intended to empower women by providing skills training.

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Our Vision for the Future

We hope to help eradicate the high levels of poverty in Zambia through the provision and sustainability of Literacy program and empowering of women.

How can you help spread the message, so we are all creating a new future together?

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What are some of the practical ways you could help?

Here is how:

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Here is how you can contact us if you would like to lend your help to this worthy cause:

Fountains of Light Foundation
P.O. Box 380120, Chilenje Post Office,
Lusaka, Zambia.

Email: fountainsoflight@hotmail.com

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