-- Earlier this year, The Full Belly Project launched the non-profit organization's Christmas in Zambia mission as part of its ongoing efforts to combat hunger in villages around the world. After taking the initial steps to move forward with this program, the organization's South African partner company filed for bankruptcy, leaving The Full Belly Project in the lurch. Despite this setback, Executive Director Amanda Coulter has announced the mission will proceed as planned; however, the agency is requesting assistance from the public to help cover remaining expenses.
Said Coulter, "Our goal with the Christmas in Zambia mission is to empower the town of Chipata and the surrounding villages to keep their own bellies full. Those in this small village in Zambia make their livings largely as peanut farmers. After visiting a similarly struggling community in Mali 15 years ago, our Founder Jock Brandis learned an affordable method of shelling peanuts more quickly would go a long way toward helping villagers sustain themselves. With help from Wes Perry and the University of Georgia's Dr. Tim Williams, he developed such a method, and our organization came together."
According to information found on the organization's website, current manual techniques require five people and 50 hours of labor to produce 100 pounds of shelled peanuts. Brandis' Universal Nut Sheller is capable of generating the same amount in as little as an hour. The device separates peanuts, as well as coffee beans an a number of other types of nuts, via a rotating handle and concrete inner cone.
At present, The Full Belly Project has invested $10,000 dollars of its own funds in the Christmas in Zambia undertaking. Still, the non-profit remains $30,000 short of its estimated costs. A breakdown of these expenses indicates $13,000 will go to purchasing metal parts, rebar, cement and tools for building the Universal Nut Shellers as well as labor. The remaining $17,000 is needed to fund airfare and housing, transportation, fuel and food for volunteers who will spend four months in Zambia fostering the organization's efforts.
Concluded Coulter, "We hope to have the UNS's built before Chipata's harvest season in April, and we intend to fulfill our promise to the villagers at all costs. We're currently taking the risk of funding the mission out of our own pockets, but as a non-profit organization, resources were thin from the beginning. We encourage anyone who is willing an able to donate to visit our website for more information and greatly appreciate any assistance we receive to enable us to help this village as we have others in the past."
About The Full Belly Project:
The Full Belly Project is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to helping rural communities around the world feed themselves through sustainable everyday technology.
Contact Info:
Name: Amanda Coulter
Email: Send Email
Organization: The Full Belly Project
Phone: (910) 452-0975
Website: http://www.thefullbellyproject.org/zambia/
Release ID: 155829
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