DIRECT IMPACT AFRICA - UPDATE JUNE 2012

SUMMARY OF PAST COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS

June 2008 to September 2009: Cherri and Richard focused on initiating the

first community development projects for the Chiawa community as co-

founders of the Lower Zambezi Conservation Trust. They raised the funds

for Chiawa’s first protected farm, which is fully owned by 32 cooperative

members in the Mgurameno village. The farm proved to be extremely

successful in its first season and generated maize for the neighboring 7

villages. Crops are often destroyed by elephant and hippo before harvest; the

powerful electrical game fence provided security to both people and crops in

this highly populated wildlife area. Protected Maize Farm

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September 2009: WOOD SCULPTING/ARTISAN

TRAINING. DIA held a week-long training course for 10 craft

artisans in Livingstone, Zambia. The gift from Explore Africa

Zambia Ltd of high quality tools and electrical equipment has

helped take Livingstone’s quality of craft to a new level. The

project was overseen by master carvers who have provided craft

for Richard Wilson’s Zambezi Trading Company clients for

many years. Richard with Carvers

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October 2008-2012: PLAY FOR LIFE SPORTS LEAGUE AND WORLD CUP. DIA raised funds and

organized the Play for Life football league, which includes 52 participants for men and boys’ football and girls’

netball teams throughout the many villages of Chiawa. The teams were kitted out for their sports and provided with

uniforms, balls, nets, etc. Adult teams and many school football teams and netball teams for girls are involved. The

fifth annual tournament will be held in Oct 2012.

Directors of Colorado-based Explore, Inc. USA, Cherri Briggs and Richard Wilson, began a new

Zambian-based company called EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA LTD in 2008, and they formed

DIRECT IMPACT AFRICA (DIA). Cherri and Richard started their new Zambian base of operations

in the Chiawa GMA with the purchase of Ndorochena Lodge, which was formerly a hunting lodge

called Nyanti. They use the lodge as an African base of operations for the marketing of Zambian and

other SADAC tourism products and to further the development of craft projects in Zambia. In fulfilling

their commitment to support Zambian communities as required by government of all foreign investors,

they have sponsored many community projects in the Chiawa area through DIA. This overview

highlights some of the projects DIA has initiated in Zambia in the past few years and summarizes some

of the projects on the horizon. Cherri and Richard will continue to utilize Ndorochena Lodge as a base

for all their African tourism marketing operations and for the community development initiatives of

DIA.

In early 2010, DIA decided the village young men’s teams should participate in some way in the FIFA World Cup

since it was going to be held in Africa. Thus began the Chiawa “Spirit of the Cup” project, which was the natural

culmination of DIA’s hard work in Chiawa with the

sports league. DIA decided to hold a two-day, six-a-side

tournament at the end of May for the villages of Chiawa

prior to the commencement of the official FIFA World

Cup in June. Almost 600 Chiawa community members

attended the games. Five lucky winners of the Chiawa

tournament received the gift of a lifetime and were taken

by Richard Wilson to South Africa to watch two World

Cup matches in the big stadiums. They even found

themselves on international TV! The adventure to South

Africa was a huge success, with air sponsorship organized

by Explore Africa and donated by Zambezi Airlines and

Courtyard Hotels.

Chiawa World Cup

Chiawa’s young men in South Africa at the World Cup

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November 2009-2012: WOMEN’S TAILORING TRAINING and WORKSHOP Two community women's

groups were formed to train ladies as professional tailors and provide

the women with a steady stream of income that grows local enterprise.

In the Chiawa area, DIA and EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA /

Ndorochena provides the funds to send local women to professional

tailoring school for four months of in-residence training. In 2009

Explore Africa Zambia purchased 9 sewing machines for the groups’ use and has helped them form cooperatives. The

local women participating are learning to make bags, robes, uniforms and other items to sell to safari lodges along

the nearby Zambezi River and products for local purchase, from school uniforms to dresses to curtains. Local lodges

buy handbags and bathrobes to sell in their lodges.

Approximately 36 members’ families (284 people) benefit from the new businesses owned by the women. This is the

first time many of the members have earned ‘cash’ in their lives. In 2012 the Chiawa group, Simbarabshe, moved

into its own workshop sponsored by Explore Africa Zambia and DIA. The Waka Simba workshop is in the planning

stage. Local headmen granted the land for the workshops, which belong solely to the community, as in the case with

all projects. ____________________________________________________________________________________

December 2009-2012: COMMUNITY FISH FARM. DIA initiated work on the first Chiawa community-owned

fish farm in the pontoon area in December 2009. The initial clearing of the area was done by 19 family members of

Kuphuma Ishungu cooperative. EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA / Ndorochena raised the funds to complete the

project by providing a commercial digger to finish the ponds, further clearing the fields,

providing fencing, installing the pump, pipes and other equipment, as well as fingerlings,

fish food and training for local co-op leaders. The first fish harvest was in Sept 2011. Six

ponds have been completed to date and 6,000 were harvested from the first harvest. These

fish were sold to community, hotels in Lusaka and Capital fisheries, as well as local

lodges. A new pond is now being finished by the community, which hopes to double the

capacity this year. Up to 70,000 fish can be harvested annually when the new ponds are

finished. It is hoped that more fish farm projects will follow in other villages. The project

is 100% environmentally compatible as no runoff from the ponds can reach the river, but

rather is used to water crops. When the water is let out, it can be used to irrigate a field

below for the people to create gardens and grow millet, which is good for human

consumption but can also be used as organic fish food. A new, more powerful pump is on

order, and water catchment reservoirs will be built this year.

SEPT 2011: Local harvest of fish

Local media at fish harvest

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December 2009-2012: WATER, BEDS AND MEDICINE FOR THE CHIAWA CLINIC.

DIA and EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA supplied 20 beds, mattresses, supplies,

instructional books and advanced training to the local Chiawa Clinic staff, as well as

much-needed medicine. Tourists brought to Zambia by Explore bring supplies,

instructional books and training to the local staff at the clinic and hold classes for

children on health issues with the

local clinic director. In Nov. 2010

EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA

sponsored clinic director Charles

Chiyama in a 6-month training

course in Lusaka to improve his

skills. Plans for the future include

providing the clinic a waiting room

for relatives, as well as training and

supplies for birth attendants in

remote areas and ongoing supply of

medicines. Water will also be

supplied to clinic staff housing. Water Tower and Plumbing $1000 of medication donated

for the clinic to the clinic

APR 2011: Chiawa Girls’ Dorm before refurb and clinic

NOV 2011: Mattresses arrive for dorms and clinic DEC 2011: Chiawa girls’ dorm refurb completion

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August 2009-2012: ORGANIC AND TECHNICAL FARMING SCHOOL / SMALL FARM PROJECTS:

DIA and EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA provided scholarships for 11 students in 4-month, in-residence training

courses for advanced farming techniques. These graduates, from Chiawa and Liuwa Plains, are being provided with

materials to start small organic produce plots.

This course is designed to give instructions and practical experience in the basic principles of vegetable gardening,

enabling students to become self-reliant through food production. In general, students spend a portion of the day in

the classroom and the rest out in their gardens. Subjects include: soil science, botany, seedling production, crop

scouting, fertilizers, use of agro-chemicals, crop management and others.

JUN 2011: Jackson begins his SEPT 2011: Jackson’s farm SEPT 2011: Singer Rankin’s

produce farm after graduation group visiting produce farms

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CHICS FOR CHICKS:

A new project for local village women is creating small 'village

chicken' industries. The first chicken farm has been built in the

village of Kinjata and 100 chicks will arrive soon. Each coop of 10

women will start with 100 chicks and raise their brood from this

stock. Each is required to provide a neighboring coop with 100 chicks

later on.

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PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

DIA and Explore Africa Zambia Ltd., in partnership with their sister company EXPLORE, Inc., are committed to

benefiting the lives of local Zambians who live in proximity to protected areas. The future of conservation lies with

the people. Communities must see direct benefit from tourism if conservation efforts are to be continued and wildlife

areas protected. The visitors EXPLORE, Inc. brings to Zambia are often keen to help local people and interested in

learning about local culture. EXPLORE, Inc. itineraries ensure that visitors are given the opportunity to learn

about community needs and help local people fulfill their dreams.

DIA and Explore Africa Zambia Ltd. hope to continue in their efforts to assist local community by supporting the

efforts of community cooperatives when their objectives are compatible with conservation ethics.

Target projects for Chiawa include the following. All will be 100% community owned and managed, as with all

DIA and EXPLORE AFRICA ZAMBIA projects:

▪ Irrigation for small cooperative farms

▪ Organic fish farms

▪ Apiary/honey cultivation

▪ Clinic and school improvement programs

▪ Chics for Chicks! A new program for development of women-owned 'village chicken' projects.

▪ Tailoring/craft cooperatives and training

▪ Scholarships for older women who want to complete school

▪ Environmental education

▪ Sports programs for boys, girls and young adults

▪ Playgrounds for schools

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Tatenda for your interest.