CoLaborers International

ZAMBIA: Zambian led. We support locals as they identify and solve problems with local interventions to bring lasting impact to under-resourced communities.
- Offer scholarships to children of the street who want to go to school.
- Support local efforts of organizations in education.
- Give relevant professional development trainings on various topics to women in low-income areas.
- Offer trainings in culturally appropriate, evidence based interventions for alcohol and drugs.
- Distribute food relief to as many families as possible.

INDIA: Indian-led. We work with locally led organizations and churches working in the area.
- Seek child sponsors for school age children that have school access.
- Seek scholarships for university for those graduating from child sponsorship program.
- Provide education resources in math, science and literacy in the slum areas where no school access is available.

US:
- Provide resources for substance users requiring no literacy, using arts, in English and Spanish.
- Run clinical studies of developed curriculum.
- Provide trainings for organizations.

ZAMBIA:
- Locate sponsors for children wanting to go to school through website and church grant applications.
- Develop a special education curriculum for older street children.
- Secure grants to buy supplies for professional development trainings (such as sewing machines) and schedule trainings. Local project manager to monitor output. Sell products locally and on Etsy.
- For alcohol and drug interventions, we ran several clinical studies of a curriculum developed for use with non-literate, homeless Zambian youth and adults. These results were shared with the Ministry of Health and a country-wide training in our curriculum was funded by Rotary International Foundation. Trainings are still available at organizational sites upon request.
- Seek donations for food relief. Work with the local network of churches and nonprofits to identify needy families. Hire trucks for transport of mealie meal to be distributed by staff.

INDIA:
- Locate sponsors for children wanting to go to school through website and church grant applications.
- Send professional educators to serve in slums with Indian educators and together develop an appropriate curriculum in math, science, and literacy to areas without school access.

US:
- Developed, copyrighted and field tested "Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy" curriculum.
- Received endorsements from Maryland's Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists to train professionals in this curriculum for Continuing Education.

STAFF - We have local / indigenous leadership in Zambia and India working with locally led organizations reaching target populations of women and children. All staff have education, training, and expertise in the areas necessary.

FUNDING & VOLUNTEERS - We have been awarded repeat grants over the years. We have faithful monthly donors to sponsor children. We have a large network of professionals who can serve in their areas of expertise freely.

ENDORSEMENTS & CLINICAL BACKING - Our drug and alcohol trainings have been endorsed by Zambia's Ministry of Health and Maryland (US) Board of Professional Counselors & Therapists. The drug and alcohol curriculum we have developed is available in English language/ US culture and Zambian culture versions. Kenyan culture and Spanish language / Latin American culture versions are being field-tested prior to availability. We have done several clinical studies thus far, including this US study published here - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07347324.2019.1681331

ZAMBIA:
- Children sponsored for school since 2013.
- Professional Development trainings for women in small business skills, carpentry & sewing 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. Grants secured.
- "Flexible Lessons to Provide Foundational Skills in Literacy, Math & Science" curriculum and small library developed.
- 37 organizations trained "Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy" curriculum for drug and alcohol. Grants secured.
- 4 Zambian studies conducted and presented at scientific conferences. Most recent study results found clients significantly decreased in substance use. This is in the process of being written with US and Zambian researchers.
- Over 500 families provided food relief 2019- current.

INDIA:
- Children sponsored for school since 2009.
- Graduates received scholarships for university since 2017.
- Mobile education camps began in slum areas without access to education in 2018.
- " India Mobile Schools: Basics in Math, Literacy & Science" curriculum developed.
- Anti-retro viral medication provided to local organizations.

US:
- interns received in US and abroad since 2009 (various fields of study).
- US study of "Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy" curriculum published in peer-reviewed scientific journal.
- Spanish language version of curriculum developed.
- Dozens of organizations trained across Maryland.


WHAT'S NEXT?
- applying for CoLaborers Zambia to be a locally recognized NGO in Zambia, led with local staff
- Field testing Latin Amerian culture version of Spanish language "Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy" curriculum in San Jose.
- field testing Kenyan version of "Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy" curriculum in Nairobi.
- Sent long term staff to Costa Rica for language learning school and to work alongside local groups helping at-risk children. Hoping to start something there.
- Writing up the manuscript for the most recent Zambian clinical study to submit to journals.
- Expanding food relief programs in Zambia
- Expanding international internship programs (pending COVID19)
- Continuing mobile schools in India (pending COVID19)