Project proposals
Fitapula is a very dedicated, motivated group of women. HANDZ president and university students have visited them and helped them slowly start to achieve their project goals. In June and July of 2005, Fitapula designed a proposal for their needed assistance. The proposal is as follows:
Fitapula Women's Club
C/O Mrs. Reginah Phiri
Chingola, Zambia
27th July, 2005
REQUEST FOR EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Fitapula was formed in 2003 by a small group of 15 women who came together under a tree and agreed at a meeting that a club be formed. At present the number has increased to 45 members." (And many children) "The main purpose of forming this club was to reduce poverty level among our members and promote the living standards of the members and the whole community of our area (Kayowelo) in general. This could be achieved by involving ourselves in community activities as follows:
1. Helping orphans, widows, the aged and disabled people in our area.
2. Mobilizing youths for behavior change.
3. Reducing illiteracy among our members.
4. Teaching about HIV/AIDS and incorporate the sick people so that they can be accepted into society.
Ever since the club was established, we have done the following to keep ourselves busy:
1. We have made over 1500 mud bricks for shelter construction.
2. We grew 1/2 hectares of maize (corn) last rain season but unfortunately the harvest was not good due to poor rainfall.
3. We have cleared the site where we intend to build our shelter.
4. We have helped a few widows, orphans, etc by donating mealie-meal (corn flour), relish, salt, etc. from our homes and then distribute them to the most vulnerable people in our area (Kayowelo). At the moment we are learning how to knit, bake, and how to prepare a few recipes. We have also started land preparation (cultivation) in readiness for this season planting.
Our future plans are as follows: 
1. To start tailoring using foot or hand sewing machines.
2. Start keeping chickens.
3. Start raising pigs.
4. Buy a hammer-mill (grinding machine).
5. Build a permanent strong building where we will be carrying out our club activities.
6. Open a nursery school for our children.
7. Drill a bore hole (well) at our site for water consumption.
8. Grow field crops on a large scale for selling.
We have planned and made sure that we move a step forward. But, we are unable to fulfill our plans due to lack of funds. We therefore kindly ask for your help in providing us with either funds or materials.
Attached to the letter is the budget for one income generating project we chose to start with.
Beauty Gwanga- Chairlady
Reginah Phiri-Secretary
