PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENT

Projects and Development Department (PDD) was established in 2006 in order to actualize the holistic mission of the church as well as help the Synod’s programs and projects effectively address social issues and community challenges. PDD brainstorms with programs and department staff to better their impact on the community as well as assists them with identifying funding sources and writing project proposals. As programs, projects, and departments develop, PDD continues to monitor and evaluate them to ensure efficiency and productivity.

Since its inception, PDD has significantly impacted and improved the holistic mission of the CCAP departments. For example, PDD obtained funding to plant congregations in two locations in northern Zambia (Mpika and Mansa). Through the efforts of PDD, the CCAP Synod of Zambia also established the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) Department and organized Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups. These programs improve both the health and economic situations of Zambians at the grassroots level by providing public health training and a mechanism for financial saving. Significant infrastructure development has also taken place at CCAP’s Chasefu Theological College, located in rural eastern Zambia. The department helped organize the construction of the principal’s house, 3 boreholes (also known as deep wells), the solar panel system for the student hostel, and continuing construction of the classroom block. PDD also played a major role in developing the vision of the model farm at Chasefu Theological College as a multi-faceted institution that provides food as well as training to the college’s students. The model farm trains the students in agricultural techniques so they can support their families as well as spread effective methodologies among congregation members, train local subsistence farmers, and generate an income stream to sustain the college and the farm. The department has also worked with the Health Department in order to empower staff, develop a department vision, and identify potential funding sources.

One of the successes of the Projects and Development Department is the implementation of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) in CCAP congregations. This incredibly successful microfinance methodology makes it possible for people at the grassroots level to save money and receive loans to start small business projects. For example, the VSLA program at Kachele Community School (located in rural eastern Zambia) started in November 2015 with the help of CCAP Zambia Evangelist Sylvester Nyirongo, who implemented 5 VSLA groups of 30 members each. 150 people in total, including volunteer schoolteachers at the local community school, participated in VSLA groups. Each member saved ZMW 10 weekly (about $1) and, by July 2015, amounts saved by the groups ranged from ZMW 3000 ($300) to ZMW 8000 ($800). Groups were composed of local residents from a variety of churches including CCAP, Reformed Church of Zambia, Baptist Church, and Pentecostal Church. Members reported improved community relationships and strengthened ecumenism, as a result. Mrs. Chione Phiri, the vice-chair person of one of the groups, reported that members of her group started small business ventures from the loans they obtained from VSLA, which included selling tomatoes or selling fish for income generation. Because of VSLA, all members reported that they were able to cover costs such as paying school fees, buy soap, lotion, and other commodities, have money to grind maize at the mill, or cover healthcare costs for their children. CCAP Zambia Kachele elder Mr. Lameck Chulu predicted that, through VSLA groups, his community will be able to move to a new economic level. By November 2016, one of the groups had even saved ZMW 28,000 in loan capital ($2,800).

Status: The PDD Coordinator works on a volunteer basis; operating funds are not currently available for the PDD Department.