Tikondane, or Tiko, is a non-profit, non-political, interdenominational, community-based organisation centred in Eastern Province in Zambia. Their mission is to fight poverty in the Katete area of eastern Zambia through better education, health and entrepreneurship. They help people to help themselves whilst maintaining their traditional culture and values.

Zambia is one of the poorest countries on earth, despite never having been at war like most of its neighbouring countries. Much of daily life in Eastern Province is still heavily influenced by traditional beliefs and practices. In the villages there is still the spirit of the gift society, where things are not sold but given and where everything is shared. It is because of the reliability of the extended family that people can survive a national unemployment figure of 80% and don’t feel needy. On the contrary, they seem to truly know about happiness.

“Tikondane in the local language, Chichewa, means ‘Lets love one another’