Free Haven Community Initiative

Our mission is to break the cycle of poverty by providing obtainable education, nutrition, health services, and empowerment programs to under-resourced families in the town of Livingstone, Zambia.

Zambia faces significant socio-economic challenges. According to the World Bank, the percentage of people living in poverty here recently reached 60%, and to make matters worse, 70% of Zambian students never complete grade 12, leading to a perpetuation of this poverty across generations. The country experiences high levels of malnutrition, with only around 10% of children receiving an adequate diet according to USAID. Rates of adolescent pregnancy, child marriage, and HIV/AIDS are some of the highest in all of Africa, particularly affecting young girls and women. Gender-based violence and limited knowledge of sexual and reproductive health further exacerbate these issues, creating a cycle of disadvantage and vulnerability.

In 2018, Samantha Knaub Huesman, a volunteer working in Zambia, founded Free Haven Community Initiative to address this dire situation. As of 2024, FHCI has the following core initiatives:

• Improving Education Access and Quality: FHCI aims to enhance educational opportunities for under-resourced students by providing sponsorships, school supplies, uniforms, and extra educational support. 
• Enhancing Health and Nutrition: The organization is committed to improving the health and nutritional status of communities, particularly children, through our various nutrition and health programs. 
• Promoting Gender Equality and Empowerment: FHCI places a strong emphasis on gender equality, aiming to reduce gender-based disparities and empower women and girls through education, life skills programs, and economic opportunities. 
• Ensuring Long-term Sustainability: FHCI is focused on creating sustainable programs that continue to benefit the community even beyond the lifespan of initial funding. This means the community is deeply involved in all program design, ensuring that activities are not only relevant but also self-reinforcing.