Rain Drops Community Foundation

~ Rain Drops Community Foundation is a grass roots organisation based in a small village in Zambia, that is working towards a greener, healthier world - from the ground up ~

After many years in the capital, Namwaka and her family decided to return to her father's village where the effects of deforestation and biodiversity loss were blatant. 

In the 3 years since establishing, we have planted hundreds of trees on our once barren home site, and around the local area. 

With further resources we will reach far and wide with distribution and educational planting days.

We have already held community engagement days and sessions in the local schools to spread awareness about: climate change, the importance of trees and how to plant them, compost making, permaculture and ideas about recycling other materials, i.e using discarded plastic for building. 

We have set ourselves ambitious yet achievable - with sufficient funding! - planting targets: 100,000 fruit and acacia trees and 100,000 mongongo trees per year. 

Deforestation is a major problem in Zambia, as in many countries around the world. Trees are being chopped down at an alarming rate, much faster than they can grow: around 250,000 to 300,000 hectares of forest each year are chopped for charcoal and timber exportation.

Rain Drops Community takes a holistic approach to problems, targeting the cause as well as the symptoms. As such, we are working on an alternative to charcoal in order to halt further deforestation...

Western Province produces and processes a lot of rice. The husk of the grain is a fibrous substance that is currently a waste product. Rain Drops Foundation has found a way of utilising this- carbonising, compacting and pounding it, to make a charcoal substitute. If this can be taken up on a large scale, felling could be slowed and rice production would become a more circular economy. 

Another issue caused by decreased tree cover that directly effects people's quality of life concerns the soil, one of our most precious resources. When exposed to the elements, soil is eroded and top soil is lost - it takes thousands of years to accumulate top soil, and only one 'dust' storm to blow it away. 

This affects the soil's ability to hold nutrients and thus produce food, which leads to farmers spraying the land with harmful fertilizers. These not only further degrade the soil over time, but also kill much of the soil's natural microbial population and leeches into nearby rivers and lakes, leading to disruptive algal blooms. 

This is where the acacia tree comes in. It is known that this very hardy, native tree is a nitrogen fixer and is well adapted to the environment in Western Province. 

Discussions with local farmers and land owners reveal that they would be more than happy to plant acacia trees in an agroforestry system, if only they were easily available. Already the Foundation has planted over a thousand of these trees ready for distribution.

Trees provide habitat for beneficial pollinators, help the integrity of the soil structure and encourage symbiotic mycorrhizal networks. 

Longer term plans

Rain Drops Community plans to open a small restaurant in the future to finance and support the project. It will offer dishes made from organic and local products, strengthening the connection with and cultivating respect for Mother Earth, whilst providing delicious and nutritious food for the people and a place to come together. It will act as a cultural centre and workshop space to share knowledge and raise awareness. 

The money raised will go towards: 

* Buying seeds, soil and grow bags to plant trees - for donation to local farmers, school and community areas 

* Food to feed the hungry tree planting volunteers

* Transportation around the province to spread awareness and trees 

* A laptop to manage an online presence

* Kick starting the carbonised rice husk briquette business 

Thank you so much in advance. Your donation really will make a difference to this beautiful place and people.