Naomi Chanda

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​​​.

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]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Naomi, CAMFED Association member, Zambia". Camfed. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c "Zambia's Naomi Chanda Featured in the Latest BBC 100 Women". Zambian Digest. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2024-12-08.