"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
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:
- The oneness of humankind, which implies the achievement of a dynamic coherence between the spiritual and practical requirements of human life.
- The equality of men and women, (a specific expression of the oneness of humanity), with special emphasis on the full and equal participation of women in all the affairs of society.
- Socio-economic development of communities beginning with individual endeavour through the application of spiritual principles, and rectitude of conduct with the practice of the art of consultation to become self-sufficient and self-reliant.
- Progress in the development field based on natural stirrings at the grass roots, receiving its driving force from those sources rather than from an imposition of plans and programmes from the top.
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.
- Arts and Culture Academy
- Agriculture and Rural Development
- Community School
- Health Education Programme
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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?
- Act as an advocate by spreading the plight of the African children.
- Join our Corporate Development Board to act as a voice within the business community.
- Help us advertise by word of mouth, and then support our events in your community or area.
Here is how:
- Library. We are in dire need of a Library. Anyone can send us books. We accept all kinds of books for children as well as for the adults who are taking adult classes.
- Agriculture. To achieve sustainability we can grow crops for sale on existing land (41 acres), but we lack farm implements. The money raised in this manner will help pay honorariums to our three volunteer teachers and help us buy necessary school supplies such as chalk, exercise books and pencils for the children.
- Women's Skills Training Centre. We need to construct a building where women can undertake their training. It has not yet been designed, so the cost has yet to be determined.
- We also accept second hand clothes and any other material the orphans and the Centre can use. If you want or are in a position to help with any of the above mentioned projects, please get in touch with us. Please take note that the above mentioned items are the major ones, we need any other items, furniture and equipment an organisation ordinarily needs. We are not getting any funding from any source at the moment. All the work is done through individual sacrifice and few well wishers in the community who are themselves struggling to make ends meet.
- Provide financial commitment to help us reach sustainability.
Fountains of Light Foundation
P.O. Box 380120, Chilenje Post Office,
Lusaka, Zambia.Email: fountainsoflight@hotmail.com
