Since 2017, Unity foundation collaborates with Inshindo Foundation in order to develop the capabilities of local youths to take ownership of their own development and contribute to that of their communities. Our partner has been implementing the Preparation for Social Action (PSA) program in north-western Zambia. The following account illustrate the effect the program has on the youth.
The transformative effect of PSA: Thomas’ testimony
Women at the vanguard of education at the school Marie-Thérèse
11/12/2018
Joseph has big plans: establishing a community school in his remote village
21/12/2018Born in 1988, Thomas Nyamakomu is happily married and is the father of 3 children. In 2010, while he was still in high-school, he joined one of the first PSA groups in Zambia. Since then, the program influenced his life in a positive way. During his time in high-school, the content of the PSA program greatly helped him with his academic performance. He drastically improved his English vocabulary, his social skills and general conduct. When his teachers and fellow students asked him about the source of his personal transformation, he would always tell them that since he joined the PSA program, his life changed. As a consequence, the high-school teachers started encouraging other students to join groups.
Thomas tending his vegetable nursery
Compost pile and Backyard Garden in Thomas’s community
Thomas (on the far Right) participating in a refresher course
Some of the concepts taught strongly influenced his understanding of friendship, family and community life. He realized that he wanted to improve himself and at the same time contribute to the advancement of his family and the community life. As a result of his commitment to activities undertaken by his PSA group, he was appointed as secretary of their neighborhood committee that focused on the promotion of good health practices in his community in Katuyola.
In 2013, Inshindo Foundation asked him to start serving as a tutor of the PSA program. He accepted immediately because he wanted to build capacity in other youths to serve their community. His group was one among the first to implement the concept of compost pile making. At the heart of his endeavors was the establishment of a community garden in order to involve his students, fellow tutors and family members to participate in the generation of learning through the implementation of compost piling. Thanks to Thomas’ efforts, a lot of PSA groups and communities in north-western Zambia currently make compost using the compost pile technique.
Above all he has managed to sustain his community garden which has helped him in supplementing his household budget. At the moment Thomas assists the PSA coordinator in north-western Zambia to foster the development of sustainable agricultural activities in his region
