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Community Empowerment Through Tourism: Pitch in For Progress
At the heart of Project Luangwa is the belief in empowering communities through the benefits of tourism.
We are based in South Luangwa which is dazzling in its beauty and serenity, and is the most densely wildlife populated area in Zambia. While the sound of monkeys chittering in the treetops, or the echoing roar of a lion signalling dusk, are both magical and captivating, the relationship between all of the Luangwa’s inhabitants is not without challenges.
On establishing Project Luangwa in 2010, some of the valley’s tour operators realised the need to empower communities and show the incredible benefits that wildlife and an unspoiled habitat brings to the region. By using a portion of the proceeds from each visitor, Project Luangwa seeks to reaffirm the importance of tourism in action.
Our Mission Statement is Community empowerment through the benefits of tourism, by improving education and gender equality in the Luangwa Valley.
Starting on September 1st we've challenged ourselves (and you!) to collectively move 12,363km - the distance from Glasgow, Scotland to Mfuwe, Zambia - by Christmas.
The funds raised will be directly used for the construction of a grass football pitch. This is part of a larger mission that is described below, by Ian Macallan, Project Luangwa's CEO.
"Opportunities in rural Zambia are often few and far between, particularly when it comes to the chance for kids and the community to enjoy sport. Football is the most watched sport in Zambia, but players suffer serious injuries and even broken legs playing on uneven and pot holed pitches.
Recognising the transformative power of sports, particularly in the lives of young people therefore, we are working to introduce a dedicated venue for Learning and Sport in the heart of South Luangwa. As part of this facility we want to create an 11-a-side grass football pitch, providing a safe and fun playing area for all 5,000 residents of Mambwe district to enjoy.
We have already begun developing education facilities on the site, but we still need funding for the pitch. Sport is a key element in promoting good health, providing strong role models and offering a positive outlet that reduces teenage pregnancies and early marriages.
We're extremely grateful for everyone who is taking part in this challenge and for all of your help in uplifting impoverished rural communities in Zambia."
To learn more about the necessity for a football pitch in the local area, please see the below short video:
We'd be so grateful for any donations, either kilometres toward our goal or monetary funds to help construct the pitch, hopefully both. Whether it's cycling, running, walking or rowing, any movement can count towards our total, which you can pitch in and keep track of through our Challenge Hound or Facebook page.
For more information on the project or how you can get involved please use the link below.
To register for the challenge, follow this link: https://linktr.ee/pitchinforprogress
If you would like to donate towards making sure that South Luangwa’s community has a safe place to play, please follow this link:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/bqvx5j-pitch-in-for-progress
To learn more about our projects and what we do, please visit our website: https://www.projectluangwa.org/where-we-work/
