Zambia

Established in 1996, the Colin B. Glassco Foundation began by giving rudimentary help to Tonga children in the Gwembe Valley infected with trachoma; one of the largest preventable causes of blindness in Africa.

The Gwembe Valley covers an area extending 50km by 75km and is inhabited by approximately 60,000 Tonga people. The Tonga were displaced from the fertile banks of the Zambezi River by the development of the Kariba Dam and have gone largely ignored by government; today many live without the basic needs of water and electricity.

Since 2001, the Foundation has developed a successful drilling program with the help of the local Government. Approximately 200 fresh water wells will have be drilled by the end of 2005 impacting the lives of over 20,000 people in the Gwembe District. In addition to providing clean water, the Foundation has expanded it's program to provide medicine, training  and WLED lighting systems to improve education.

In May 2005, Founder, Colin Glassco traveled to oversee the installation of WLED lighting systems in the first village in Zambia. Systems were installed with the expert installation assistance of ADRA Zambia.

With LUTW's help the Glassco Foundation's goal is to establish the infrastructure over the next 8 years to provide 10,000 lighting systems to the people to promote education, health and local industry.