Empowering Youth and Families at the Urban Farming & Permaculture Learning Space
By Annabel Mumba
Annabel Mumba is AYC’s Donor Relations Coordinator. She is a Scholarship Fund recipient, and a recent graduate of Mulungushi University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Journalism), and also one of our Success Stories.
Co-written by Pamela O’Brien, African Education Program’s Development Director, who is mentoring Annabel.
We know that when children and youth are hungry they have difficulty concentrating and learning. Food security has always been an important part of our mission at the Amos Youth Centre (AYC) - that is why we serve over 350 hot, nutritious meals a day.
For years, in partnership with the African Education Program, our longest standing partner, we have envisioned a space where the students and families we serve in Kafue could gain the knowledge and tools to become more food secure.
Thanks to our partnership with the African Education Program, Kia Middle East & Africa, and The Waste Lab, this dream became a reality and we were able to launch The Kia Garden, Kafue’s first Urban Farming & Permaculture Learning Space in April.
Over 100 young people, including 18 students with disabilities from our Read for Rose Special Education Program, completed the inaugural training this year in the urban agriculture, composting and bio-fabrication curriculum.
Youth proudly show their certificates after completing the training at The Kia Garden.
The graduation ceremony, held on September 27, 2025, brought together government leaders, community representatives, and partners to celebrate these efforts. All who attended believe in the transformative power of urban agriculture. Senior officials from the Kafue District Commissioner’s Office, the Kafue District Council, the Ministry of Education, and key government departments, including agriculture, community development, and social welfare, attended to demonstrate their commitment to youth empowerment and community skills development. The event was further supported by the Amos Youth Centre Parents’ Committee, board members from both the African Education Program and the Amos Youth Centre, local media, alumni, and families of the graduates.
These graduates learned how to apply sustainable urban farming practices in their own backyards and homes. Today, over 30 home gardens have been established in Kafue as a result of this training. In addition, our graduates learned how to turn plant-based substances such as banana fibers into textiles and beetroot and turmeric into natural dyes to be used in the production of tote bags - creating additional income generating opportunities for our graduates.
Together, graduates harvested over 300 kgs of vegetables and produced over 4,000 kgs of compost. Most importantly, the vegetables that were harvested from the urban farm went towards the daily meals that we serve at our Learning & Leadership Center.
Let’s hear from three of our recent graduates, Sweady, Mary and Peter:
“I want to become a farm manager now that I’ve graduated. In the past, I assisted my neighbors with caring for their gardens, but it was based on the little knowledge I had. After receiving this training, I’m ready to offer more expert knowledge.”
Sweady enjoys his time giving back while working in The Kia Garden.
Sweady, an alumnus of AYC’s Learning & Leadership Center and a long-standing member of the AYC community since 2008, graduated from the inaugural training. After completing the program, he not only established a home garden but he also decided to give back at The Kia Garden, where he helps manage crops, weed, and ensures the garden continues to thrive.
At the Urban Farming & Permaculture Learning Space, we are building climate resilience in local communities and creating new opportunities for food and financial security while fostering skills development. Youth like Sweady are discovering pathways to a career in agriculture after gaining the skills for success.
“Ever since I started the garden, our expenses on buying vegetables have reduced. I can easily get fresh, organic vegetables from my backyard.”
Mary tends to her home garden each day.
Mary, a high school graduate and AYC alumna, is now taking the next step in her educational journey through our College Prep Program. Through this Program students spend a year volunteering at the Learning & Leadership Center before earning their college scholarship. Mary volunteers in the kitchen preparing daily meals and has also established a home garden after completing the training.
Inspired by lessons on vertical gardens, sack gardens, and keyhole gardens, Mary used what she already had at home, sacks, rocks, and available backyard space, to start her garden. She is now growing climate-friendly crops, including tomatoes, onions, kale, and hibiscus, locally known as Lumanda.
Mary teaches her neighbors what she learned at the training and has shown her community how to make compost from household waste instead of relying on artificial fertilizers, which are expensive and harmful to the land and soil.
“The training I received has helped me improve the garden I have at home. I now have more knowledge, especially on composting and how to use food waste to make rich compost. I also learned new ways to grow my vegetables, such as planting in sacks and buckets, and even growing different vegetables together using the mixed-cropping method.”
Peter enjoys tending to his garden and growing food.
Peter, a student from our Read for Rose Special Education Program, has been involved in managing the AYC Community Garden with his friends since its inception in 2023. Over the years, he has developed valuable skills in plant care, including weeding, nurturing seedlings, and maintaining the garden’s overall well-being. His dedication and consistency have helped him grow into a natural leader, guiding his peers through the gardening process.
This experience has sparked Peter’s interest in agriculture. He aspires to work as a farmer or farm manager, and the foundational training he has received through the program has paved the way for this career path. Looking ahead, Peter plans to enroll in a farming certificate program at a skills training centre to further build his knowledge and prepare for his future in agriculture.
These success stories show the real, lasting impact of our Urban Farming & Permaculture Learning Space. Graduates like Sweady, Mary and Peter are not only transforming their own homes and families but are also sharing their knowledge with their communities, creating a ripple effect of sustainable practices, food security, and new opportunities.
The Urban Farming & Permaculture Learning Space is more than a garden, it is a catalyst for transformation. With over 800 Amos Youth Centre members and their families now connected to sustainable agriculture training, this initiative is building a new generation of climate-conscious leaders in Kafue. Through hands-on learning, home garden creation, composting, and bio-fabrication, young people and families are gaining the tools to strengthen their livelihoods, improve food security, and create healthier, self-sustaining households.
