ZAMBIA MISSION JPIC ACTIVITIES

In our Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) activities in the Zambia Mission, I coordinate and network with the following groups in the Archdiocese of Lusaka and I hope to collaborate with the Holy Spirit Sisters in Livingstone and other stakeholders in our parishes as soon as possible; Holy Family Parish Catholic Commission of Justice and Peace; Saint Matthias Deanery since I was appointed as a Deanery coordinator of Justice and Peace activities in all the parishes in the deanery; Jesuit Centre For Theological Reflection (JCTR), Lusaka Archdiocese Catholic Commission of Justice and Peace (CCJP), Women and Law In Southern Africa (WLSA) and also with a Christian Denomination Charity Group known as “House of Moses”.

In the year 2018, we manage to coordinate the following JPIC activities:

Firstly, we managed to hold a 5 days “Entrepreneurship and Creative Capacity Building Workshop” for the parishioners at the Holy Family Parish, Linda for both Youth and Adults. This workshop focused on learning various methods and skills on how to create wealth as an individual, family and a community in order to mitigate the effects of poverty since most of the households in Linda are poverty stricken. Ref# Photos

Secondly we organized a crime prevention programme for the residents of Linda Compound. Since Linda compound is poverty stricken, many residents resort to many an orthodox ways of surviving such as brewing illicit beer; bars are open from morning and till morning the following day as a result, crimes such as women battering, burglary, murder, infanticide and prostitution are rampant. For this reason, we invited the community stakeholders such as the area Member of Parliament (MP), the area Councilor, Medical Personnel, the Police, owners of bars, journalists among others. The deliberations during the meeting were televised in the Zambia National Broadcasting Cooperation (ZNBC) Television. A follow up meeting to the resolutions which were agreed upon during the first one on how to curb crime was organized and has taken place.

Thirdly, we continue holding training workshops for Linda Compound residents (Catholics and Non Catholics) on making charcoal from the remains of charcoal and maize cobs as an alternative source of energy. This method prevents people going into forests to cut down trees for charcoal.

Fourthly, are still continuing with our annual practice planting trees within and outside our parish compound and also distribute trees to parishioners to plant at the homes.

Fifthly, we have partnered with the “House of Moses” in the monthly distribution of medicines and food to Linda Compound residents who are chronically sick, malnourished and those who need food supplements especially those with HIV/AIDs.

Lastly, the CCJP commission at the Holy Family Parish twice in a week holds clinics for residents who are affected by vices such as Gender Based Violence (GBV), Child abuse and Property Grabbing from widows after demise of a spouse. These cases are thereafter resolved amicably and some are reported to the police for further action.

Fr Lawrence Likulano

CCJP Coordinator