Karonga residents vow to sustain livelihoods project

Community members in Senior Chief Kilupula of Karonga District have vowed to sustain interventions under a livelihoods project implemented by Lusubilo Community Care.

Speaking on Thursday during a project closeout meeting, Senior Chief Kilupula said under the Integrated Support for Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Youth Project community members learned to make manure, rear livestock and save money. 

He said: “The interventions have transformed our lives as they improved food security and a saving culture.

“Although the project has phased out, we will continue to implement the interventions.”

A beneficiary Amos Mwabulambo of Mwangasa Village said he joined a village savings and loans group to grow his money.

He said: “With the money I saved, I bought cattle and goats to venture into livestock production.

“I also bought a piece of land to go onto banana farming.”

Mwabulambo, who also learned to make Mbeya fertiliser, said the skill has saved him from spending more money on chemical fertilisers.

He also said he constructed a decent house.

Lusubilo Community Care project manager Kondwani Kapombe Nyasulu said the project was a success as it provided  water points and drilled people in business skills.

“This was more of an integrated project with community and graduation model approaches. During implementation, the project provided potable water and introduced a school-feeding programme,” he said.

Karonga district director of planning and development Frank Mkandawire urged the beneficiaries to utilise the skills to further transform their livelihoods.

Lusubilo Community Care, which is under Karonga Diocese of the Catholic Church, has been implementing the three year-project with funding from Catholic Relief Services.