Explore Africa Zambia Ltd.
NDORCHENA LODGE
Richard Wilson and Cherri Briggs
Directors’ Update
May 2013
Directors of Colorado-based Explore, Inc. USA, Cherri Briggs and Richard Wilson, began a new
Zambian-based company called EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA LTD in 2008. They started their new
Zambian base of operations in the Chiawa GMA with the purchase of Ndorochena Lodge, which was
formerly a hunting lodge called Nyanti. They use the lodge as an African base of operations for the
marketing of Zambian and other SADAC tourism products and to further the development of craft
projects in Zambia. In fulfilling their commitment to support Zambian communities as required by
government of all foreign investors, they have sponsored many community projects in the Chiawa area.
This overview highlights some of the projects Richard and Cherri have initiated in Zambia in the past
few years and summarizes some of the projects on the horizon. Their property, Ndorochena Lodge, will
continue to be utilized by the directors as a base for all their African tourism marketing operations.
SUMMARY OF PAST COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS
June 2008 to September 2009: Cherri and Richard focused on initiating the
first community development projects for the Chiawa community as cofounders of the Lower Zambezi Conservation Trust. They raised the funds
for Chiawa’s first protected farm, which is fully owned by 32 cooperative
members in the Mgurameno village. The farm proved to be extremely
successful in its first season and generated maize for the neighboring 7
villages. Crops are often destroyed by elephant and hippo before harvest; the
powerful electrical game fence provided security to both people and crops in
this highly populated wildlife area.
Protected Maize Farm
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September 2009: WOOD SCULPTING/ARTISAN
TRAINING. Richard held a week-long training course for 10
craft artisans in Livingstone, Zambia. The gift from Explore
Africa Zambia Ltd of high quality tools and electrical equipment
has helped take Livingstone’s quality of craft to a new level. The
project was overseen by master carvers who have provided craft
for Richard’s Zambezi Trading Company clients for many
years.
Richard with Carvers
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October 2008-2012: PLAY FOR LIFE SPORTS LEAGUE AND WORLD CUP. Cherri raised the funds and
Richard organized the Play for Life football league, which includes 52 participants for men and boys’ football and
girls’ netball teams throughout the many villages of Chiawa. The teams were kitted out for their sports and provided
with uniforms, balls, nets, etc. Adult teams and many school football teams and netball teams for girls are involved.
The fifth annual tournament will be held in Oct 2012.
In early 2010, Richard decided the village young men’s teams should participate in some way in the FIFA World
Cup since it was going to be held in Africa. Thus began the Chiawa “Spirit of the Cup” project, which was the
natural culmination of Richard’s hard work in Chiawa
with the sports league. He decided to hold a two-day, sixa-side tournament at the end of May for the villages of
Chiawa prior to the commencement of the official FIFA
World Cup in June. Almost 600 Chiawa community
members attended the games. Five lucky winners of the
Chiawa tournament received the gift of a lifetime and were
taken by Richard to South Africa to watch two World Cup
matches in the big stadiums. They even found themselves
on international TV! The adventure to South Africa was a
huge success, with air sponsorship organized by Explore
Africa and donated by Zambezi Airlines and Courtyard
Hotels.
Chiawa World Cup
Chiawa’s young men in South Africa at the World Cup
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November 2009-2012: WOMEN’S TAILORING TRAINING and WORKSHOP Two community women's
groups were formed to train ladies as professional tailors and provide the women with a steady stream of income that
grows local enterprise. In the Chiawa area, Explore Africa Zambia/Ndorochena provides the funds to send local
women to professional tailoring school for four months of in-residence training. In 2009 Explore Africa Zambia
purchased 9 sewing machines for the groups’ use and has helped them form cooperatives. The local women
participating are learning to make bags, robes, uniforms and other items to sell to safari lodges along the nearby
Zambezi River and products for local purchase, from school uniforms
to dresses to curtains. Local lodges buy handbags and bathrobes to sell
in their lodges.
Approximately 36 members’ families (284 people) benefit from the
new businesses owned by the women. This is the first time many of
the members have earned ‘cash’ in their lives. In 2012 the Chiawa
group, Simbarabshe, moved into its own workshop sponsored by
EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA. The Waka Simba workshop is in the
planning stage. Local headmen granted the land for the workshops,
which belong solely to the community, as in the case with all projects.
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December 2009-2012: COMMUNITY FISH FARM. Richard and Cherri initiated work on the first Chiawa
community-owned fish farm in the pontoon area in December 2009. The initial clearing of the area was done by 19
family members of Kuphuma Ishungu cooperative. EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA / Ndorochena raised the funds to
complete the project by providing a commercial digger to finish the ponds, further
clearing the fields, providing fencing, installing the pump, pipes and other equipment, as
well as fingerlings, fish food and training for local co-op leaders. The first fish harvest
was in Sept 2011. Six ponds have been completed to date and 6,000 were harvested from
the first harvest. These fish were sold to community, hotels in Lusaka and Capital
fisheries, as well as local lodges. A new pond is now being finished by the community,
which hopes to double the capacity this year. Up to 70,000 fish can be harvested annually
when the new ponds are finished. It is hoped that more fish farm projects will follow in
other villages. The project is 100% environmentally compatible as no runoff from the
ponds can reach the river, but rather is used to water crops. When the water is let out, it
can be used to irrigate a field below for the people to create gardens and grow millet,
which is good for human consumption but can also be used as organic fish food. A new,
more powerful pump is on order, and water catchment reservoirs will be built this year.
SEPT 2011: Local harvest of fish
Local media at fish harvest
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December 2009-2012: WATER, BEDS AND MEDICINE FOR THE CHIAWA CLINIC.
EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA supplied 20 beds, mattresses, supplies, instructional
books and advanced training to the local Chiawa Clinic staff, as well as much-needed
medicine. Tourists brought to Zambia by Explore bring supplies, instructional books
and training to the local staff at the clinic and hold classes for children on health
issues with the local clinic director.
In Nov. 2010 Explore Africa Zambia
sponsored clinic director Charles
Chiyama in a 6-month training
course in Lusaka to improve his
skills. Plans for the future include
providing the clinic a waiting room
for relatives, as well as training and
supplies for birth attendants in
remote areas and ongoing supply of
medicines. Water will also be
supplied to clinic staff housing.
Water Tower and Plumbing
for the clinic
$1000 of medication donated
to the clinic
APR 2011: Chiawa Girls’ Dorm before refurb and clinic
NOV 2011: Mattresses arrive for dorms and clinic
DEC 2011: Chiawa girls’ dorm refurb completion
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August 2009-2012: ORGANIC AND TECHNICAL FARMING SCHOOL / SMALL FARM PROJECTS:
EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA provided scholarships for 11 students in 4-month, in-residence training courses for
advanced farming techniques. These graduates, from Chiawa and Liuwa Plains, are being provided with materials to
start small organic produce plots.
This course is designed to give instructions and practical experience in the basic principles of vegetable gardening,
enabling students to become self-reliant through food production. In general, students spend a portion of the day in
the classroom and the rest out in their gardens. Subjects include: soil science, botany, seedling production, crop
scouting, fertilizers, use of agro-chemicals, crop management and others.
JUN 2011: Jackson begins his
produce farm after graduation
SEPT 2011: Jackson’s farm
SEPT 2011: Singer Rankin’s
group visiting produce farms
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CHICS FOR CHICKS:
A new project for local village women is creating small 'village
chicken' industries. The first chicken farm has been built in the
village of Kinjata and 100 chicks will arrive soon. Each coop of 10
women will start with 100 chicks and raise their brood from this
stock. Each is required to provide a neighboring coop with 100 chicks
later on.
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CURRENT PROJECTS
Explore Africa Zambia Ltd., in partnership with its sister company EXPLORE, Inc., is committed to benefiting the
lives of local Zambians who live in proximity to protected areas. The future of conservation lies with the people.
Communities must see direct benefit from tourism if conservation efforts are to be continued and wildlife areas
protected. The visitors EXPLORE, Inc. brings to Zambia are often keen to help local people and interested in
learning about local culture. EXPLORE, Inc. itineraries ensure that visitors are given the opportunity to learn
about community needs and help local people fulfill their dreams.
Explore Africa Zambia Ltd. hopes to continue in its efforts to assist local community by supporting the efforts of
community cooperatives when their objectives are compatible with conservation ethics.
Ongoing projects for Chiawa include the following. All will be 100% community owned and managed, as with all
EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA projects:
▪
Irrigation for small cooperative farms: Chiawa, Chisakila, & Chimsambo
▪
Organic fish farms: Kupfuma Ishungu
▪ Apiary/honey cultivation
▪ Clinic improvement program
▪ Girls Basic School Dorm Refurbishment
▪ Chics for Chicks: continue development of women-owned 'village chicken' projects in Waka Simba & other
locations
▪ Tailoring/craft cooperatives and training: Simbarashe
▪ Scholarships for older women who want to complete school
▪ Environmental education
▪ Sports programs for boys, girls and young adults
▪ Playgrounds for schools: First one in Chiawa has been completed, looking at other villages.
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TATENDA FORYOUR INTEREST.