๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ข๐ซ๐, ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐, ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐, ๐
๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐-๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐'๐ฌ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ-๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ.
Four active NRGCs are now driving livelihood initiatives that directly benefit more than 80 households, the established savings groups have cultivated a culture of regular saving, internal lending, and small-scale investment. Members are using these funds to launch and grow ventures in trading, poultry, and horticulture, moving away from environmentally harmful livelihood options toward sustainable, income-generating alternatives. The results speak for themselves: greater financial discipline, consistent loan repayment, and reinvestment into growing businesses. Women and youth in particular are emerging as leaders in this shift, gaining economic independence and confidence as they transition from subsistence living to structured, sustainable enterprise. As Adrian Nsama, a Mufulira NRGC member, shares: "Through the community savings group, I started a small tree planting and selling that now feeds my family and generates extra income. I feel empowered to plan for our future." Meanwhile, in Kalumbila, NRGC members have pioneered collective farming and orchard projects that showcase the strength of community-driven economic action. Beyond livelihoods, this work is strengthening social cohesion and civic voice โ empowering communities affected by extractive industries to advocate for fair treatment in relocation and compensation processes, and to recover and thrive in ways that are both environmentally and socially responsible.
On 4th September 2025, Future-Preneurs Zambia (FPSZ) launched the Village Chicken Empowerment Initiative under the theme โHope of Youth at Door Step,โ aimed at improving livelihoods among youths and women through sustainable poultry production. The initiative was designed to promote income generation, enhance household food security, and empower beneficiaries with practical, low-cost agricultural skills.
Through this project, 20 youths were supported with startup poultry packages consisting of 10 village chicks each, starter feed, and vaccination support. The project adopted a โpass-onโ model where beneficiaries, after six months, return one mature chicken to support new participants.
The project recorded strong success, with all beneficiaries actively engaged in poultry farming, improving income opportunities, food security, and skills development while strengthening community cooperation.
The initiative has had economic, social, and household-level impact, improving self-reliance, boosting confidence among youths, and enhancing nutrition for families.
FPSZ appreciates Heinz and family for their support and Zikulu Nkuku for supplying quality chicks.
Despite challenges such as limited resources and disease risks, the initiative remains a sustainable and scalable model for youth empowerment.