AUBURN — A program on “Mainers Helping Those in Africa” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St.

In 2004, the cry for help in the Western Province of Zambia was heard by a small group of women in Maine and the nonprofit organization WISE was founded. Since then, the group has inproved the quality of life in Kaoma, Western Province of Zambia, Africa.

WISE Advisory Board Chairwoman Joanne Bollinger will talk about her trips to Zambia and present the story of WISE and the displacement of people in Africa.

The WISE group sends work teams to Kaoma annually to teach and promote self-sufficiency for poor, displaced and vulnerable residents.

They provide scholarships for formal education and training in agricultural, vocational and social programs. Projects have included family health, clean water, agricultural instruction and basket-making as a means to attain an income.

The group hopes to build a learning center in the future and expand their vocational programs for women.

The program is open to the public and will take place in the Androscoggin Community Room.