Bicycle transport in Zambia
Practical Action
ROCS Lumber Group
Reform Open Community School, ROCS – a Zambia wide organisation who network
community schools. They have 25 schools in Lundazi District with 4,000 mostly primary
pupils. The schools are usually in remote rural areas away from Government schools and are
managed by the community with voluntary teachers. Each school is autonomous for funding
– usually they have none. ROCS is assisting each school to develop an income generating
activity to provide funds for the teachers, materials and school repairs.
One school has started a lumber business whereby the community members cut beams from
local trees. The beams are sold to other villagers for house construction, community building
projects (such as churches and schools) and to make furniture. The Lumber Group was given
a trailer in order to transport their prepared beams 35km to Lundazi town for onward sales.
The provision of the trailer allowed the group to sell beams to a wider market.
Beneficiaries:
Direct: 15 men employed part time on the lumber project
Casual labour from young men paid to carry the beams to town using the trailer
150 children gaining school materials and support for their teachers. Most of these children
would not attend school if the ROCS community school did not function
Dambo AIDS Self-Help Group
The majority of members of this group have been affected by AIDS. Either they are HIV+ve,
have a partner or family member who is HIV+ve, have lost a family member or are orphans as
a result of AIDS related illness. (Although it must be pointed out that AIDS is still a taboo
illness and the majority of people would never admit to being HIV+ve or of a family member
dying of an AIDS related illness.)
The Group is located at a village near a year round supply of water. They have started a
vegetable garden which is irrigated from the dambo. The crops include tomatoes, onion,
rape, cabbage, carrots, green peppers and okra. The crops are shared among members and
the surplus sold to raise funds for medical supplies and household necessities. The bicycle
trailer is used to transport the crops to Lundazi town (about 6km) or to deliver to other
customers in nearby villages; without the trailer the market would be very restricted so the
business would be less viable.
Beneficiaries:
Direct:
Indirect:
30 households are members of the AIDS support group – particularly
important if one person is sick that other people in the household can still get
support from the Group in terms of food aid, cash, help with household tasks
or field work
Average family size 5 members, therefore, potentially 150 indirect
beneficiaries gaining income, better food and nutrition levels. Also emotional
and physical support
Welder
One trailer was given to the welder who made all the commissions. He is in business with his
two sons, one of whom hopes to go to college in the near future. The trailer is used as an
advertisement of the work he can carry out – a new product in the area - and for transporting
materials and finished items round the town. There is also the potential to establish a mobile
workshop to carry out welding on site such as at homes. (All houses and other buildings have
burglar grills which are welded to the metal door and window frames.)
Beneficiaries:
Direct:
One family increased business activity enabling son to attend college (I hope!)
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