January 1, 2018

Dear Friends of Mwambezi Village,

In respect of a noble cause such as lifting a people out of poverty let it be permissible to be personal. What do you think? Yea!

My name is Chrispin Ntungo, the grandson of the first headman of Mwambezi village William Ntungo Simukwanya. I actually grew up at Mwambezi village in Mbala District of the Republic of Zambia, but now live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

I have the honour of serving as Executive Director of Ntungo Noble Projects Inc. But really think of me as "ambassador" for the people of Mwambezi village to the Global community. Living in Winnipeg provides me not only the opportunity to make friends with many a people around the globe, but also the ability to mobilize support for the people of Mwambezi village. Moreover, my stay in Canada is only meaningful if, and when, I have a strong and supportive link with the people of Mwambezi village in Mbala District of the Republic of Zambia. 

My Story   

Before I tell you about the noble projects, I think it is important that you understand my story, for it is critical to appreciating the noble projects being undertaken by Ntungo Noble Projects, Inc. both in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and at Mwambezi Village in Zambia.    

Count me as fortunate or blessed of the Lord because when I started school in 1970 at age 8, I had my aunt who lived at Mbala town. My aunt was the fourth and the last born in her (and my father's) family. She served as my guardian. That is how I had access to education at Mbala Primary School. Today, I never take that opportunity and the early education I received for granted. (And in hindsight I am convinced that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had ordained it to be so.)    

I attended Isoka Secondary School from 1977 to 1981, from which I was one of the three students of the 1981 graduating class, who qualified to attend the University of Zambia. It was while attending Isoka Secondary School that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour and my Lord. In hindsight I regard my acceptance to UNZA and my baptism at Isoka into the Seventh-day Adventist Church as yet  blessings from the good Lord.

I attended the University of Zambia from 1982 to 1987 and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Sciences in 1988. I could not take graduating from UNZA for granted. To me it was yet another blessing. I am grateful to the Seventh-day Adventist Youth Forum that provided me a valuable community and inspired me to be focused on my studies until I graduated. Nobody at UNZA knew I was a boy from Mwambezi village 1000 km from Lusaka. But the Youth Forum introduced me to leadership and preaching experiences. I remember preaching a sermonet on the cross, and instead of saying crucifixion I was saying "crucification." Typical me coming from Northern Province. One of my sisters educated me later. Unfortunately, I don't even remember her. Imagine! 

Anyway, while in Lusaka, the good Lord had provided me my cousin's place to call home in Jesimondine at Munali. I am highly indebted to Captain Stephen Sikazwe and his family, who placed me under their wings while in Lusaka attending UNZA. 

My first employment was at Natural Resources Development College where I worked as Instructor in the Department of Agribusiness Management from 1987 to 1988.

After the April 13, 1988 graduation ceremony at UNZA, I was retained as Staff Development Fellow in the School of Agricultural Sciences and Department of Agricultural Economics. I was quickly awarded a CIDA scholarship for me to pursue graduate studies in Agribusiness Management at the University of Manitoba from August 1988 to February 1992. After achieving a Masters degree in Agribusiness Management I returned to UNZA where I served as Lecturer of Agribusiness Management and Farm Management for one year. It was during this time that I met my beloved wife Grace Kamanga, who makes the adage "mariages are made in heaven" a reality for me.

In January 1993 I returned to the University of Manitoba to pursue doctoral studies in Agricultural Economics and I graduated with a doctorate in Agricultural Economics in 1996. Upon graduation my plan was to return to Zambia and continue my work at UNZA. However, a cousin of mine who lived in Lusaka advised me to not be in so much hurry to return to Zambia. I wondered why? It did not take long that I heard of mysterious deaths of people I considered friends from UNZA. These folks were Tembo, Penza and Ngenda. These were fellows that I knew so well. Their deaths deeply disturbed my spirit. At the very least I lost confidence in the GRZ of that time. I started considering other options. Either stay in Canada or go to the USA or Botswana or South Africa. I already had two of my four children at the time.

My wife and I decided to just stay and try to make it in Canada. The good Lord had blessed us all along with a supportive church family and they embraced us. However, it would be 22 years later that the Lord would impress upon me the reason and the significance of my education and Winnipeg, the place he made me call "home," relative to my family and the people of Mwambezi village. 

My Personal Challenge

Since graduation from UNZA, I have worked in various capacities including as college instructor, university lecturer, corporate professional and public servant, all the while striving to help my family at Mwambezi village. However, I do not have much to show for in the adults for my help. The challenge being, as young children the people I tried to support could not manage to attend school walking 12 km to and from school every school day. It was and it is still hard. Most of them, if not all, simply opt out of school and stay home. By so doing they become input into the cycle of poverty. In adulthood they can neither read nor write. It is this thought and experience that made me appreciate the opportunity I had to live with my aunt at Mbala town and attend school there. I believe that was not by chance, but a blessing from God. 

What is Poverty Anyway?
 
You and I know that without formal education in Zambia, (and probably everywhere), you have no ability to be gainfully employed. If you are not gainfully employed, you will not afford the necessities of life - decent housing, access to healthcare, adequate food, safe water, etc. In sum you will be in constant need. In the waste case scenario a destitute. This is the plight of the people of Mwambezi village in Mbala District of the Republic of Zambia. 

If you are educated and you believe in God and you have read the scriptures, including the story of Moses, the story of Joseph, the story of Esther, there is a time when God brings you to a point of realization and asks you a question like "Do you know why I brought you this far?" In the meantime he has prepared technology and people to work with you and support you. People including your spouse, friends and workmates. Therefore, it is either you answer the question and accept the challenge or ignore the question and prove yourself so selfish and unworthy.

This is exactly where the Lord brought yours truly in November 2016. My wife visited Mwambezi village alone in September 2016. The motivation was for her to visit her beloved mother-in-law.  She could not believe the poverty she saw and the reckless lives the teenagers and youths led. Youths - who cannot read nor write drinking local brew and girls as young as thirteen who cannot read nor write having children, not within the sanctity of marriage, but out of wedlock. When she returned "home" and related her experience, both of us were moved by the Spirit of God to do something. We were inspired by Scriptures particularly Isaiah 58, James 2, Ephesians 4 and Matthew 28:19-20. But how would such people as are at Mwambezi village appreciate the truth of scripture if they are not educated? You see the need!
 
The Greatest Need

My wife is an Accountant and I am an Agribusiness Economist. My primary responsibility at my formal workplace is Organizational Excellence. When my employer has a challenge my role is always to find out the root cause. This skill became handy in finding out the root cause of poverty at Mwambezi village, which I identified as illiteracy. I realize that without bringing education right to Mwambezi village where the children are no poverty will be eradicated.

Eradicating poverty is not a work of one person. My wife and I were, therefore, inspired to start an initiative through which we would solicit the involvement and support of others. That initiative ended up being Ntungo Noble Projects Inc. It is a means for us and our friends like you to mobilize resources for empowering and lifting the people of Mwambezi village out of poverty primarily through education.

We also realized that our work would not be complete if people do not have adequate food, access to healthcare and proper housing. So we adopted to use a wholesome approach that addresses the needs of education, food, health and housing. Call it sustainable Community Development.  

The needs of education, food, health and housing may be achieved by developing a school, a grain storage facility, a medical clinic and encouraging people to build low cost houses in the village. Taking an integrated community development approach implies that the people may further be helped with achieving adequate and safe water supply and a community centre to foster community living, recreation, culture and art. 

It is evident that this is not work one individual can do alone. The help of everyone who can relate to relieving poverty for a people is much welcome. 

My Call to Responsibility
   
I quickly realized that I was a type of Joseph. Well, the whole of Mwambezi village may not necessarily join me in Canada, but I can send from Canada the means of development to them. So on August 31, 2018 I arrived at Mwambezi village. I had a community meeting called for September 4, 2018. Over 120 people attended. I shared the vision with them and everyone in attendance accepted the vision and promised to cooperate and be part of the development program.

My first role therefore, at this point, is a solemn responsibility to bring to your attention the poverty situation of the people of Mwambezi village and remain optimistic that you will be responsive to step up and participate in lifting the people of Mwambezi village out of poverty. 

My second role is to establish ties and learn how to work, consult and coordinate with other organizations and government bodies in order to accomplish the noble goal of empowering and lifting the people of Mwambezi village out of poverty.  

My third role is to be totally accountable for the use of all the resources and funds raised and applied in lifting the people of Mwambezi village out of poverty. This implies providing on going reports and updates on the progress of fundraising, the projects and programs at Mwambezi village. My accountability is not limited to the Board of Ntungo Noble Projects, Inc., but to the people of Mwambezi village and the financially supportive global community - the Friends of Mwambezi village.
 
My Friend's Responses

Therefore, on this web site you will learn more about the people of Mwambezi village and Ntungo Noble Projects and initiatives aimed at empowering and lifting the people of Mwambezi village out of poverty. A few people with whom I have shared my story find it inspirational. I ask that you reflect on what you learn and respond as you are inspired. I remain optimistic that after learning about the plight of the people of Mwambezi village you will positively respond to the call and be a blessing to them. I mean you will make a donation in support of the poverty relief program for the people of Mwambezi village in Zambia.

To contact me directly by email please click here. To make a donation please click here.

My Gratitude and Prayer

Finally, I am grateful to God for his faithfulness, his guidance and leading, and his blessings. Please pray for Ntungo Noble Projects organization and the people of Mwambezi village that grace will abound, and that the people of Mwambezi village will increase in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and that our work will glorify him both now and forever. Thank you.

Gratefully yours truly, 

Chrispin Ntungo, PhD., ASQ-CQPA  

Ambassador of the people of Mwambezi village to the Global Community.

Executive Director, Ntungo Noble Projects.

Purpose . Passion . Plan . Work

CANADA

Building a precious stone foundation for lifting the people of Mwambezi village out of poverty

Ntungo Agricultural

Co-operative Society

MWAMBEZI VILLAGE

Focus on Mwambezi Village Community Development