Community Impact through Employment
Slowly, slowly as Sakamana has grown, we have been blessed to provide employment to several people in our community. Besides the nutrition program, which was started to partner with families, providing employment is a wonderful way to impact our community.
Firstly, Sakamana employs three different women in each community to distribute Sakamana Monday to Friday. Distributing Sakamana to the students does not take very long in the mornings. But these three women are a blessing to me because they are dependable and faithful. We recently opened savings accounts for each of them and hope that it helps in establishing long-term financial security for them.
Secondly, Sakamana buys the peanuts from five different women in our community. They purchase the nuts from the market that have already been shelled. Once they reach home, the groundnuts are roasted, salted, and bagged into slender little plastic bags for each student. Each of the five women who supply peanuts to Sakamana are very enthusiastic about this way to earn extra income for their families.
Thirdly, Sakamana has recently employed a young lady who helps with the behind-the-scenes operation of Sakamana. Eggs need to be boiled daily. Once the peanuts are received, they have to be counted and bagged according to location. Empty egg trays are loaded for transport to town so that eggs can be purchased from a wholesaler on Monday and Thursday. There is plenty of little details in the daily operation of Sakamana. It is such a blessing to me that Sakamana has employed a young lady to help with these tasks. We are also excited for this young lady as she saves money to attend nursing school in a few years!
Lastly, we employ two men who help with buying the eggs from a wholesaler in town on Monday and Friday, and two men who hold a Bible study at a local Secondary school once per week and also distribute Sakamana there.
Thank you to each and every partner of Sakamana. What a difference you are making in our small community in Zambia. You are truly a blessing as we come alongside our neighbours and “sakamana” - to care for them.
