There are reportedly over 600 NGO’s working in Zambia with over 150 focusing on HIV/AIDS! Yet it is obvious to us that they are not reaching the rural communities that so desperately need their help. I wonder where the 50 brand new 4x4 that I saw outside the National Aids Council actually go? Certainly not to Mfuwe where we have started our project. What we have achieved so far with a small donation and a single laptop is huge. With more field operatives and more donated laptops the scope of what we can go on to achieve is vast.

We will not keep funds for safe keeping in high interest bank accounts, nor will we provide luxury accommodation and western style living for anyone involved in the project. With the digital age of communication there is absolutely no need to acquire expensive offices with high running costs or employ expat ‘experts’ on highly inflated salaries. There are plenty of educated willing Zambians who want to do something to help stop what is happening to their local communities. There is also no need for expensive vehicles when local transport covers most of the country even the remote areas.

According to Margarett Disilier of the Catholic Relief Services in Zimbabwe , CRS spends an estimated 10million USD from donated funds each year in operating and admin costs of their Harare office alone, before the funding of any project. We estimate that given 1% of their running costs we could recruit another10 field operatives, give them laptops and connect them to the internet for weekly reports and updates and reach tens of thousands more people.

Where would you rather see your money go?

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