11/11/2023
Community engagement is a powerful tool for promoting ownership of programs to be implemented in the community as well as getting feedback from community members on the best approach to mitigate community challenges.
On 11th November 2023, Save Our Inherited Land-(SOiL) a Faith Based NGO successfully held its first Community Engagement Meeting with key community Gate Keepers of Chilenje Ward under Kabwata Constituency.
In attendance were representatives from Muyoma Basic School, Chilenje B Basic School, Chilenje level 1 Hospital, Ward Development Committee (WDC) office, Chilenje Police and several members of the community.
The main objective of the meeting was to officially introduce the organization to the community and share the services to be provided under the 5 Core programs of the NGO effective January 2024. The programmes to be implemented are as follows;
1. Skills empowerment program
2. Adolescent Reproductive health program
3. HIV/AIDS support program
4. Gender based violence support program
5. Alcohol and drug rehabilitation program
During the meeting, SOIL Executive Director Pastor Miyoba Dindi thanked members of the community for attending the meeting. He went on to share the vision, mission and objectives of the organization and emphasized the importance of partnering with community stakeholders in order to foster development within the community. In addition, he echoed the NGO’s commitment to support and supplement governments efforts in addressing socio-economic challenges in Chilenje. He also stated that partnership with community stakeholders would lead to the transformation of Chilenje as many lives would be empowered and transformed through the programmes of the NGO.
The Executive Director also urged members of the community to embrace and see SOIL as their own NGO created to help alleviate challenges faced by the community.
The NGO staff Pastor Graham Mbewe and Ms. Grace Nachila made presentations on the core programmes highlighting the objectives, target groups, benefits and areas of support.
In response to the presentation the stakeholders present expressed their delight at the works envisioned to be implemented by the NGO. They also pledged to support the works of the NGO.
Speaking on behalf of the Ward Development Committee, Mr. Chipuma Maulu reminded members of the community of the numerous opportunities created by the government through the disbursement of Constituency Development Fund (CDF). He implored members of the community as well as SOIL to take advantage of the opportunities and access funding through the CDF. He thanked SOIL for coming on board to supplement government efforts and retaliated that the NGO would be supported.