Western Region

District population: 179,749
Communities where Plan works: 10
Sponsored children: Around 5,600

Mansa district, situated in Luapula Province, is inhabited by the Ushi people who migrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo in search of fertile land.  It is one of the poorest areas of Zambia with few health facilities, schools, and trained teachers.

The Ushi are small-scale farmers who grow cassava, which is the staple food, groundnuts, maize and sweet potatoes. They also earn a living from fishing. 

Plan Zambia started working in the area in 2005 and community members are very eager to achieve the development plans they made following participatory rural appraisals conducted in each community.

Programme highlights

Plan has been working with children and their parents, traditional and political leaders, as well as government agencies to improve the lives of children.

Improving children’s health

With the help of Plan, 3 communities in Mansa are building rural clinics which will bring healthcare services closer to the people.  Plan has also trained traditional birth attendants and community health workers in basic healthcare at village level.

Promoting child rights

Plan is engaged in on-going sensitisation meetings in villages and schools on child rights.  Children have a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives and they are encouraged to take part in discussions with adults during meetings and at home on issues that concern them.  Adults have come to value the opinions of children much more than they did before.

Increasing access to education

To avoid making children walk long distances to school, communities set up community schools that are normally run by untrained teachers.  Working with the Ministry of Education, Plan has facilitated teacher training and provided furniture and learning materials. 

Plan also introduced early childhood care and development programmes for children aged up to 6 years.

Food production

Few families produce enough food to eat and sell to sustain their livelihood. Plan has partnered with the government to train community agricultural volunteers who now guide households in crop production.  Things are starting to improve especially with the provision of quality seeds which are contributing to better harvests.

“We are experiencing real development in our area and are very proud and happy.  We are glad to have Plan help us achieve our dreams,” said Kapelembe, aged 14.

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