Bwalya “Emma’ Kangwa is 31. She\u2019s proud of her role as a voluntary community adviser.<\/p>\n
Bwalya\u2019s the mother of two young children. She rears and sells chickens to earn a living, and received training in poultry rearing and other farming practices.<\/p>\n
She plays an important role in community life in Manjakazi village in Zambia\u2019s Eastern Province, mentoring others and sharing the knowledge that she has learned from Self Help Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a community development facilitator I get the chance to travel around the district and give people help and advice,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
There are 15 unpaid development facilitators working across the district, and more than half of them are women.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important for women to be involved. Women farmers listen, and trust what I have to say\u201d.<\/p>\n
Community development facilitators in Chipata district are provided with training in a range of farming techniques. They receive bicycles to enable them to travel, and other small incentives to support her in her role.<\/p>\n
In many projects, Self Help Africa trains local farmers to serve as community-based advisors. \u00a0This approach puts knowledge in the hands of local people in a way that is both sustainable and cost effective.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"