Home > How it began
The Founder Trustee of the Liyoyelo Community Trust is Michael Scholz, who has worked in Zambia and in other countries in southern Africa for many years. His wife Annie is Zambian and from Limulunga, and over the years, they witnessed the devastation HIV/AIDS is causing first-hand. All of Annie's siblings died of AIDS, and all but one left children behind. What had happened to his family was clearly happening to families all over Zambia.
In August 2003, Michael visited Limulunga and discussed the idea of setting up a project for those most affected by HIV/AIDS. The project vision – to bring together and offer a home and a family to those who had lost theirs as a result of HIV/AIDS – was a result of many meetings and discussions with members of the community (including traditional leaders, representatives from local churches, representatives of the Barotse Royal Establishment and other major role players). On the 18th of August 2003, 16 representatives of the community held an inaugural meeting which concluded that the Liyoyelo project should be launched.
Michael Scholz then returned to Germany and founded an association, Limulunga e.V, our major partner, for the sole purpose of raising funds to support this project. By August 2004, our first building was complete, a second building followed. By August 2005, the ablution block was complete and the first kitchen house was erected. We officially opened our doors on the 2nd of May 2006, and six girls and four elderly ladies became the first residents of the Liyoyelo Project. On the 15th of June 2006, the Liyoyelo Community Trust was officially registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee (i.e. non-profitmaking) in Zambia.
On the 18th of August 2007, we held the official opening ceremony of our third house, the Embassy House (funded by the German Embassy in Lusaka) and welcomed nine further girls to the Liyoyelo Project.
Liyoyelo Community Trust/Liyoyelo Project, Plot 2, Waterplant Road, Limulunga, Zambia
Tel: 00260 979 439 700 Email: liyoyelo@gmail.com