Accelerating community-led food security.
Urban Farming & Permaculture Learning Space
We are cultivating climate-smart solutions in Kafue by equipping youth, women, and families with practical skills in composting, sustainable farming, and small-space food production.
Thanks to a partnership between Kia Middle East & Africa, The Waste Lab and the African Education Program, the Urban Farming & Permaculture Learning Space is helping our community turn food waste into healthy soil, grow nutritious vegetables, and build new pathways for food security, income generation, and environmental stewardship.empowering youth and women with the right resources for economic mobility and community-led change.
Building Climate Resilience in Kafue
Climate-smart agriculture creates new opportunities for food security, skills development, and financial independence.
Through hands-on training, AYC youth and community members learn sustainable practices they can duplicate at home.
Did You Know?
26% of household waste in urban Zambia is formally collected, yet more than half is organic and compostable.
70% of urban residents live in informal settlements with limited access to green or arable land.
35% of children under five in Zambia experience stunted growth due to chronic undernutrition.
Our Approach
Urban Farming
Youth, including girls and boys from our Read for Rose Special Education Program, learn how to grow food in limited spaces using raised beds, vertical gardens, container gardens and keyhole gardens.
Permaculture
Participants learn earth-friendly practices such as polyculture, composting, natural pest management, and crop rotation.
Composting
Food scraps are transformed into nutrient-rich soil, reducing waste while supporting healthier crops.
Biofabrication
Youth explore how plant-based materials can be used to create textiles and natural dyes, opening possibilities for creativity and income generation.
Success Spotlight
From Seeds to Success: The Kia Garden
In 2025, AYC launched Kafue’s first Urban Farming & Permaculture Learning Space, known as The Kia Garden, in partnership with Kia Middle East & Africa, The Waste Lab and the African Education Program.
The Kia Garden was created as a hands-on learning space where youth gain practical training in sustainable farming, composting, and circular food systems. The pilot program was designed to engage 100 youth in climate-smart agriculture and small-space farming approaches.
These techniques are especially important in peri-urban communities like Kafue, where families may have limited access to land but still need practical ways to grow food and strengthen household resilience.
Rooted Together
AYC’s work in urban farming began with community gardens that helped strengthen the Nutrition Program and created hands-on learning opportunities for students.
One garden is located at the Read for Rose Special Education Program, where gardening serves as both an educational and therapeutic space for learners with disabilities. Through planting, harvesting, and caring for crops, students build confidence, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of where food comes from.
Vegetables grown through AYC’s Urban Farming & Permaculture Learning Space and community gardens continue to help support the Nutrition Program, which provides nearly 350 daily meals for children and youth in Kafue.
Through these projects, AYC is growing more than food. We are growing climate resilience, youth leadership, practical skills, and community-led solutions for a more sustainable future.