Support our work to improve sustainable agriculture, climate change mitigation and gender equality in rural Zambia now by purchasing colorful chitenge-fabrics, handmade baskets, unique wooden spoons and beautiful postcards by artist Terhi Hytönen featuring small-scale farmers from the project areas.
Zambia, a country situated in southern Africa, is already severely affected by climate change. Prolonged dry seasons and a lack of rain pose a serious threat to food security, disproportionately affecting rural small-scale farmers. In 2021, the food crisis caused by climate change in Zambia was rated as one of the most forgotten humanitarian crises in the world. According to the International NGO CARE, over a million people suffered from food insecurity last year. Through this campaign, you can support our work in Zambia focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as gender equality.
All funds raised by purchasing our unique products contribute to GLM’s development project which aims at strengthening small-scale farmers skills in sustainable natural resource management and at the same time promoting gender equality. One of the projects main aims is to improve soil quality by applying organic farming methods, protecting forests, and by planting trees. So far, 71 00 trees have been planted. To guarantee the projects long-lasting success, farmers participating in the project receive training in climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as organic farming.
(c) Terhi Hytönen
In addition to sustainable natural resource management, another central aim of our work is to promote gender equality. To achieve this, we strive to support the active participation and leadership of women during all project stages; increase awareness of gender-based violence (GBV); and offer counseling for victims of GBV. Regarding participation, we aim at decreasing the load of domestic work women bear by drilling boreholes and distributing solar powered stoves in the project area. Freeing women from tasks such as fetching firewood and water from far distances. These measures enable them to engage in other work as well as project activities and become active leaders of change. Regarding counseling, our easily accessible Drop-in-centres established in the project villages in Monze and Mazabuka have so fsr attended to 272 people.
Core to all our activities at Green Living Movement is a participatory approach. By organizing trainings for farmers on topics such as project monitoring and evaluation, leadership and conflict solving we enable community members to actively participate in both the planning and implementation of the project, paying special attention to promoting the participation of women.
Pascalina, farmer:
(c) Clive Chibule
I think the project is doing a lot. We are planting some of these trees, like the lemons. Lemon yes it’s a tree, it produces oxygen, it breaks the wind. This is also a fruit which is in high demand because of COVID-19. So it’s also a source of money. Maybe in that year the rains are not good, you can sell the fruit from the lemon tree and you find money. You buy maybe food for your family. Also some of the trees like the palm tree and the avocado, they grow such that they act a lot on rain pattern. If there is no trees, there can be no rain. Wind will be just blowing and blowing. At least as years go on, we will have some trees to brake the wind so that the rain pattern is at least normalized.
About Green Living Movement and this campaign
Green Living Movement Finland is a grassroots organization that has been implementing development projects together with Green Living Movement Zambia for 15 years now. GLM Finland is based on volunteer work and aims at supporting Zambian small-scale farmers, providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to improve the quality of their harvests, transition to more sustainable farming practices, and adapt to climate change.
(c) Terhi Hytönen
Core to all our activities at Green Living Movement is a participatory approach. By organizing trainings for farmers on topics such as project monitoring and evaluation, leadership and conflict solving we enable community members to actively participate in both the planning and implementation of the project, paying special attention to promoting the participation of women.
Our project is supported by the Finish Ministry of Foreign Affairs which covers 85% of project costs. The remaining 15% have to be covered by self-funding. As we are a small organization, we depend almost exclusively on donations to reach our self-funding target. This campaign is an important part of our fundraising strategy and necessary to guarantee the implementation of our project.
How to donate
Visit the campaign website: https://mesenaatti.me/en/2563/climate-action-and-equality-for-rural-zambia/. Choose the product of your choice, click “fundâ€, fill out the contact form and follow the payment instructions. Products can be either sent by mail or picked up in Helsinki once the campaign has ended. The campaign ends on 30th of September.
Information about GLM Finland
email: glmfinland@gmail.com
Facebook: Green Living Movement Suomi
Instagram: glmsuomi
Feel free to get in touch with us either via social media or email. We are constantly looking for new volunteers so if you are interested in participating in our project and advancing sustainable agriculture, climate change mitigation and gender-equality, don’t hesitate to contact us!
