Project Zambia 'spreads its wings'

Donations of sewing machines helps families support themselves to buy food, clothes and medicines

The Salvation Army’s Project Zambia is ‘spreading its wings’ to support more new businesses in Africa by branching out to Kenya.

Project Zambia works by sending donated manual sewing machines to men and women who start their own micro-business making and repairing garments in order to earn enough money to buy food, clothing, medicines and even education for their family.

Now the scheme, which is being run by The Salvation Army’s Heathrow Airport Chaplains Majors Melvyn and Betty Ackroyd, has started sending cases of sewing machines and materials to Nairobi so the ethos of self-help entrepreneurship can take flight there also.

The move to spread the work out to Kenya was made by The Salvation Army’s Kenya East Territorial Commanders Commissioners John and Dorita Wainwright who took the first shipment of sewing machines when they were leaders in Zambia.

With this in mind the project will now be known simply as Project Africa.

So far 161 cases of goods have been sent to Zambia and now Kenya since the project was launched in February 2010. This has been made possible through the generous help of British Airways and the support of the Rotary Club of Langley and Iver as well as many other people who have donated both time and goods to support the project’s aims.

Major Melvyn said: ‘We felt compelled to start ‘Project Zambia’ after being touched by the extreme poverty witnessed during our attendance at the International Conference of Airport Chaplains in September 2009 which was held in Zambia.

‘Since then we have decided to spread the work out to cover Kenya and are now renewing our appeal for people to help the cause.

‘What we need are people travelling to Lusaka, Zambia, or Nairobi, Kenya, with British Airways who are able to act as chaperones for sewing machines that are being sent.

‘British Airways generously provide additional free baggage allowance (four cases per passenger) every time I can identify passengers. The project does not affect the passengers own baggage allowance and the passengers themselves are met both at Heathrow and on arrival in Lusaka or Nairobi Lusaka so there are no difficulties for the passengers as a result of having additional cases.’

Arriving goods are managed by The Salvation Army in Zambia and Kenya, so there is a secure audit trail throughout the project.

Anyone who can help Major Ackroyd should contact him on 07726 580069 or email Melvyn.ackroyd@salvationarmy.org.uk