Vision Statement
To alleviate poverty and raise the standards of living in rural and semi-rural poor communities using basic business sense and resources. And integrate them into sustainable development involving the whole community. By the community for the community. To create a reforestation program that will eventually provide sustainable livelihoods to the community and reduce the dependency on foreign aid. This reforestation will not only reduce desertification but will provide erosion controls and contribute to the availability of water by raising the areas water table. Health and education will be improved by better schools and clinics. Girls that are being lost to early marriages and even death in child birth will have a chance to further their education and gain a profession. With global warming and climate change taking front stage in world concerns the creation of new forests will provide incomes from bio fuel crops and the selling of carbon credits.
Mission
To work towards socio-economical well-being and ecological sustainability, by empowering both men and women in communities through basic education and information access; enabling them to take-up sustainable businesses and land-use patterns which weave together micro-climate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, water management, energy and human needs into intricately connected, productive ecosystems.
- Our definition of a Community Forest is any activity that includes the forested area or deforested areas surrounding a rural community.
- All people living in the community are stakeholders. Women and children taking the forefront.
The forest and its sustainability is our main goal and to achieve this, the community must have access to clean drinkable water, education and a healthy lifestyle.
- All levels of government will be involved, from the Government of Zambia to the headmen and women of the village, with Traditional Leaders taking the lead.
- We will not participate in any political or religious endeavors unless the people's freedoms or rights are endangered.
In 2002, I decided to change directions in my life, I volunteered with VSO Canada to go to Zambia as a Community Business Development Advisor. Since then I have been traveling back and forth to Zambia, working with rural communities and Traditional Leaders, striving toward a better life for these people. It is fine to talk sustainability to these communities but when you look around and see the condition of their water wells, their schools and clinics or lack of them; then this is, where you must start. This I am going across Zambia, in Communities that have asked for help. I work in partnership with these communities helping them find funding to do these projects and supply information to help them succeed. By the community for the community.
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You can donate through Project Unity of the Rotary Clubs of Victoria, BC or emailing africancommunityproject(at)gmail.com. Larger donations can be given a charitable receipt. We even have a bio fuel production project that will need financial partners.
We are now starting a CARBON CREDIT INVESTMENT FUND for the communities that are in our program. The revenue from this will provide much needed funding for community schools, wells and health clinics. Also it will provide money to continue planting and managing their forests. If you would like more information about this or would like to buy carbon credits please contact Garry Brooks to discuss how you would fit in. Certification is available or just donations to get this up and running. Donations to ACP can be given a charitable receipt. We even have a bio fuel production project that we will need financial partners for in the near future.
Garry's News Blog
Keep up-to-date with Garry via his regular web log entries. Find out where he is and what's happening with all the African Community Projects.
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CONTACT:
GARRY BROOKS
Consultant to Communities and Traditional Leaders
#102-25 Government Street
Victoria, BC
Canada
V8V 2K4
Phone 250-386-1447
Email: africancommunityproject(at)gmail.com
