This is the age of entrepreneurship the world over. Future Search Associations which are established by Future Search graduates have proven to be powerful tools of change at the grass root community. To the former participants, Associations act as sources of information, management, promotion and protection of business, training etc. Presently there are 56 active registered Associations across the country. Kabwe Future Search Association has proven to be one of the most active associations. Through the Associations, individual members can build themselves up through the strength of others and it becomes easier to network with others and institutions. As a matter of policy all Future Search participants are members of registered Associations at their stations.

The objectives of the Associations are as follows:

• To act as a nucleus of business
• To market products/services for members
• To facilitate training for members
• To mobilize resources for members
• To sensitize the community in entrepreneurship, and ,
• To sensitize members and community against HIV/AIDS

The spirit among members is that of promoting self-confidence and job creation through self reliance with a deep sense of resolve. This is cardinal for alternative employment creation and raising of revenues for the treasury.

Linking Associations to Financial Institutions

One of the important roles of Future Search is to link Association members to some financial institutions through Tripartite Consultative Meetings held annually in selected provinces. At the recent meeting held in Kasama from 28th to 29th March, 2007 nine out of eleven Associations based in Northern Province were introduced to five financial institutions, namely, Finance Bank, ZANACO, Cavmont, ZNBS and Standard Chartered.

Requirements for Registering an Association

• There must be an approved constitution as agreed on at the general meetings
• There must be a copy of the minutes or the last or previous general meeting giving all details of the committee members and signatories to the account.
• There must be cash or Bank Certified Cheque of ZMK250, 000 as Registration Fee.
• There must be certified photocopies of the individual registration cards for each executive member.
• There must be a list of ten {10} executive members indicating positions of each.
• You must pay registration fee at the National Registration Card Office (BOMA) of the district in which you live.

Collect the registration forms from the National Registration Office (BOMA) of that district.

However, the recent hike in the Associations registration fees from K250, 000 to K1,000,000 is likely to deter the formation and registration of new Associations.

FUTURE SEARCH ASSOCIATIONS

To Be Advised.