The Jesuit Chikuni mission is the first mission of Jesuits in Zambia founded in1905, it is located at around 250 km from the city of Lusaka.

Fr. Ismael Matambura S.J., AJAN Director together with Fr. Gregory Mulobela S.J., Director and staffs of Chikuni Home Based Care (CHBC)

Chaplain of the training college together with Fr. Ismael Matambura SJ, AJAN Director

There are 3 scripture passages that for me could describe what Jesuits are involved in to proclaim the good news to the people of Chikuni. In the dialogue between Moses and God, Exodus reports God saying “I have heard the cries of my people against their taskmasters… Therefore, I have come down to rescue them… Now go I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites out of Egypt” (African Bible. Ex. 3.7…10). Jesus himself talking about his mission and his role as a good Shephard would say: “I came so that they may life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10.10). While delivering his mission, Jesus’ disciples brought to his attention the need to send the crowd away to feed themselves. Jesus asked them to act in collaboration with the people. He says: “there is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves” (Mk: 6.37, Mt14.16). In addition to these scriptures’ quotes I could mention this human wisdom saying attributed to Chinese “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime”.

Fr. Ismael Matambura S.J., AJAN Director during a radio interview at Chikuni Community Radio

The Jesuits in Zambia have understood well this wisdom saying as well and the call from our Holy scriptures to guide and inspire their intervention and ministry to the people of this part of Zambia. Considering the signs of the times, the circumstances of space and people, Chikuni Jesuit Mission with about 15 outstations has set up a group of works to spread the good news including, 2 Primary schools, one Boys and one Girls secondary school, a Mission hospital, a Training/education College, a Community Radio station, a Cultural centre, etc.

My visit to this mission and especially to the Chikuni Home Based Care (CHBC) from May 19 to 24 was a moment of learning, admiration, consolation and encouragement. Today it serves 900 women some of them living with HIV. The women are grouped into 63 self help groups. I met the youth, adult men, and women full of life, enthusiasm and working for the good of the community and the families. Children are not forgotten. 18 informal Community primary schools have been developed to care the children. With a great sense of advocacy, these schools where teachers were volunteer community members and who were not trained for the task, now are receiving trained teachers sponsored by the government. We say always “water is life”. In those communities bore whole for clean water have been installed and this water serve for multiple purposes including gardening in the area where raining period lasts only for about 4 months. Congratulations to the leadership of Fr. Mulobela Gregory SJ, prefect of the Chikuni mission with his team! With these changes, teacher’s commitment and government involvement children will be well trained and prepared for the national test and transition to the secondary education with required skills and knowledge.

Fr. Ismael Matambura S.J., AJAN Director during a training session with the young people accompanied by their patrons and matrons involved in pig production project at Chikuni Home Based Care Center

Fr. Ismael Matambura S.J., AJAN Director during a Self Help-Group training session where women were being trained on financial management that would help them in their income generation projects.

My profound gratitude goes to the Jesuits involved in this mission and all their partners who believe in us and the Society of Jesus. By their generosity, their financial support the works of the mission continue doing good, witnessing to the gospel and thus, changing lives for the greater glory of God.

Fr. Ismael Matambura S.J., AJAN Director during his visit to a Self Help-Group center in Chikuni where women are involved in sewing different apparels.

The community is also involved in farming and gardening, women are trained and grouped in cooperative for income generative activities, young people are developing piggery rearing with the support of AJAN, etc. All these creative actions are meant to contribute to food security in the community and fight against poverty, which is a threat to human development and a virtuous life.

Fr. Ismael Matambura S.J., AJAN Director together with Fr. Gregory Mulobela SJ, CHBC Director during his visit to a school where he interacted with teachers on the transformation of the schools from the time when children would sit under a tree to study to present when they have a built classroom as shown in the above picture.

Fr. Ismael Matambura S.J., AJAN Director visits a shop that serves people in Chikuni

I hope and pray that this good work may attract people to support it and bear abundant lasting fruits!

If you have some money and you are willing to make changes in somebody’s else life, Chikuni is one of the options to consider.

Read Also: Young People Entrepreneurial Training in Pig Production in Chikuni, Zambia

By, Fr. Matambura Ismael, SJ

AJAN, Director.