Government hails Response Network for support

THE district administration in Livingstone has hailed Response Network, a Nongovernmental organisation operating in Livingstone, Kazungula and Zimba for supplementing government's efforts in areas of education, poverty reduction and humanitarian assistance.

District Commissioner, Eunice Nawa has observed that since its inception in 2005, Response Network has constructed over 50 community schools which has led to over 11,000 rural children accessing primary education.

Ms Nawa said that she was proud to administer over a city which has organisations and people that realise and practice the ideology of “Ubuntu" believing in a universal bond of sharing and connecting all humanity. Speaking during the handover of Christmas food hampers to more than 600 families yesterday, Ms Nawa said, the district administration hails such humanitarian contributions in the community where women, persons with disabilities and the girl child are the most marginalized and vulnerable.

"To the best of my knowledge, Response Network as a Non-profit organisation has been in existence since 2005. It is a rights-based self-help facilitation organisation which has contributed a great deal in poverty alleviation through selfhelp activities in Kazungula, Zimba and Kalomo districts of Southern Province," she said.

"In the area of education, Response Network has greatly complemented Government efforts through construction of over 50 community schools in rural communities in Zimba, Kazungula and Kalomo. This has led to over 11,000 rural children accessing primary education," Ms Nawa said.

She disclosed that in Livingstone, the organisation with Academic Work of

Sweden was supporting over 600 vulnerable girls in 43 schools with School fees and other prerequisites.

She added that at the same time, over 140 girls had accessed skills training and over 40 have accessed tertiary education which some of whom were now working as nurses and teachers.

And Response Network, Country Director Mutukwa Matengenya said that the organization had been supporting the sponsorship program since 2010 and it focused on vulnerable girls that were unable to be supported by families. Mr Matengenya said that giving food hampers to the sponsored girls and their families has been a tradition done by the organization.