Current Village Conditions
These miners are referred to as artisanal small miners (ASM). They do all of the mining with picks and shovels breaking up the rock for recovery of the gold using small hammers. The ASM’s families typically live in a mud camp; straw hut without doors or window enclosures. Most have no furnishings and they sleep on a straw mat placed on the hard packed dirt floor. Most of the workers don’t even have shoes to wear. They have no clean drinking water, and no toilets, showers or sanitary systems. The villagers work long hours in these conditions and earn $2.00 - $3.00 US per day. The nearest medical facilities to some of the least distant villages is 3-4 hours away by car. However, they have no cars and no means of communications. They have received little training regarding proper mining practices and each year a number of these miners are killed due to unsafe procedures. McCoy has the technologies to greatly improve the mining process and recovery of the precious metals. We also have the technology to greatly improve the humanitarian conditions. I have met with the Ministries of Mining, Foreign Affairs, Commerce, as well as the Zambia Chamber of Mining and they all are supportive of our vision. The government officials have never seen our technologies in operation however, we believe that when they can see our finished technologies, they will get involved financially to help pay the cost of additional projects at other villages along the Zambezi River Delta. McCoy does not have the financial capability to support these projects alone therefore, I have chartered a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization were donations are tax deductible. All technologies and services by McCoy Gold Mines will be done so at McCoy’s direct cost with no profit margins. Through this entity, we are hopeful of raising the funding needed for the first project which will be in the villages of the Mambwa District and along the Zambezi River Delta. The Zambezi River is the fourth longest river in Africa, therefore; there are numerous villages along this river delta.
The Zambize River
The Zambize River is becoming polluted, particularly in areas that are inhabited. We plan to start a clean up project where we clean up sections along the river, using villagers to help with the project. At the same time, we will be teaching the villagers proper methods of disposing the trash and litter then show them how to keep the river clean. This will be an ongoing project, greatly benefitting the environment.
The Villagers
Thousands of people in the mining villages, particularly women and children, don't have shoes to wear. The temperatures can reach 100° F. and the surface of the ground may even be hotter. Walking on the hot surface of the ground is a daily challenge to many. We want to provide footwear to as many people there as we possibly can.
We will be contacting shoe manufactures, outlets, and other sources to ask for the help in providing much needed shoes of all sizes, for men, women, children, and toddlers.
