Naomi Chanda

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Naomi Chanda is a Zambian farmer and agriculture trainer based in Chinsali, northern Zambia. She works with the Campaign for Female Education (Camfed) to teach climate-smart agricultural techniques and supports girls' education and empowerment through her community initiatives​​​.

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Early life and education

Chanda was born in northern Zambia and raised in the Chinsali district by her mother after her father passed away when she was an infant​. [1] Her mother faced challenges in providing for Naomi's education, including the costs of school fees, uniforms, and other essentials​. [1] Chanda attended primary and secondary school, although her education was at risk due to financial difficulties​​. [1] [2]

In secondary school, her situation became increasingly precarious until Camfed stepped in to provide financial support for her education​. [1] This assistance covered school fees, uniforms, and materials, allowing her to complete her schooling​. [1]

Career

After completing secondary school in 2016, Chanda joined the Camfed Association, a network of women educated with support from the organization​. [1] She initially trained as a learner guide, delivering life skills and self-development sessions to students in her community​. [1] These sessions, part of the "My Better World" curriculum, aimed to improve students' confidence, problem-solving abilities, and awareness of their rights and responsibilities​. [1]

Chanda expanded her focus to address broader community needs by becoming an Agriculture Guide at Camfed’s climate-smart demonstration farm in Chinsali, established on land provided by a local chief​​. [1] The farm serves as a center for training young women in sustainable farming techniques​. [1] Chanda and her colleagues promote practices such as planting drought-resistant crops, using manure instead of chemical fertilizers, and integrating agroecological techniques​​. [1] [2]

Chanda has trained over 150 women and girls in adapting agricultural practices to climate change​​. [2] [3] She also conducts community outreach programs, teaching farming techniques to local smallholder farmers and schoolchildren​​. [1] [2] These efforts aim to build resilience against environmental challenges such as prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall​​. [2] [3]

Her leadership roles within the Camfed Association include serving as the district chairperson in 2019 and later as the national chairperson for Zambia in 2022​. [1] These positions involved advocating for educational re-entry policies for girls and supporting community initiatives​. [1] In 2024, Chanda was featured on the BBC’s 100 Women list​. [3]

Personal life

Chanda supports vulnerable girls by covering their school fees and providing uniforms and other essentials​. [1] She operates a small home furnishing business, using the profits to assist disadvantaged children in her community​. [1] Chanda converted her family home into a shelter for girls, providing a safe space for those at risk of early marriage and supporting their educational pursuits​. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Naomi, CAMFED Association member, Zambia". Camfed. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Matiashe, Farai Shawn; Ufumeli, Tafadzwa (2023-06-08). "An all-female farm in remote Zambia nurtures future climate leaders". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  3. 1 2 3 "Zambia's Naomi Chanda Featured in the Latest BBC 100 Women". Zambian Digest. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
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