By Margret Praise Kalua

Nkhata Bay, March 21, Mana: Communities in the area of Senior Chief Timbiri and Traditional Authority (T/A) Kabunduli in Nkhata Bay District have commended International Labour Organization (ILO) for empowering people with disabilities.

The organization is implementing a project dubbed Sparking Disability Inclusive Rural Transformation Project (SPARK) which targets all International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) programmes which promote disability inclusion.

Speaking on Tuesday during a monitoring visit by ILO officials, a member of Chisala Beekeeping Association in the area of Senior Chief Timbiri, Brown Kaunda, who has a walking disability, said he was at first struggling to provide basic needs for his family of seven.

He said he saw a ray of hope when, in 2022 through SPARK project, he was trained on beekeeping and was given four bee hives from which he makes money to feed his family.

“I have also been saving part of proceeds realized from selling honey and, using those savings, I bought a goat, ducks and a bicycle,” he added.

Another beneficiary under Programme for Rural Irrigation (PRIDE), Akafaamveka Mbewe from Chiwawa village, TA Kabunduli said through SPARK he has been trained in producing assistive technologies using AgriLab model.

Assistant Social Welfare Officer for Nkhata Bay District Council, Octovia Phiri, commended ILO for the project, saying it needs to be replicated across the district to transform the lives of people with disabilities so that no one is left begging for survival.

 ILO National Project Officer for SPARK project, Vincent Kavala, said the project seeks to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities within the rural economy.

"We are happy for making a significant progress in the district, as over 300 persons with disabilities are currently included in IFAD funded programmes, and we are striving to include even more before the project phases out end September this year," he said.