About Us
“We are building a community here in the UK to work alongside the community in Zambia to fight poverty and create change” – Co-founder and trustee, Katie Lavender
Brighter Futures Zambia is a small charity that makes a big difference to vulnerable children and young people in Zambia. We provide the education and holistic support children need to live happier, healthier and safer lives while realising their potential to achieve brighter futures.
Brighter Futures Zambia work in partnership with Buntolo OVC (Orphans and Vulnerable Children), a Zambian community-based organisation in Monze District in the Southern Province of Zambia. Together, BFZ and Buntolo run projects that provide education, support and care for children and young people. We believe that children need healthy communities to thrive and we run projects that build community capacity and sustainability.
Everyone involved with Brighter Futures Zambia – both in the UK and in Zambia – are dedicated to fighting poverty and offering some of the most vulnerable children the chance of a brighter future.
Our Values
- We work hand in hand with our Zambian partners.
- We are led by our partners and respond to their needs and priorities.
- Seeding income generation activities is part of our mission to reduce donor dependency and help our partners move towards financial sustainability.
- We are thoughtful and consider the ethics of our interventions.
- We welcome critical friends.
History
Brighter Futures Zambia was born through a collaboration between our founder Katie and a group of Zambian women who were determined to make better futures for the children in their communities. Many of the children had been orphaned due to HIV/Aids and were being cared for by grandmothers, aunts and community members. Katie worked with the women while on a VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) placement with Buntolo OVC, an organisation set up in 2001 to deliver projects that would enable community groups to feed, clothe, educate and counsel the children.
In 2011, on her return to the UK and inspired by the impact of the groups’ work, Katie founded Brighter Futures Zambia with her sister, Jennie; co-founder Anthony and hand in hand with Buntolo OVC. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, BFZ has developed and expanded; and we continue to work with Buntolo OVC to support children through every stage of their development, from pre-school to tertiary education and to enable their communities to thrive.