We are having a tremendously rich experience at Chipembi School on this our third trip to Zambia. The quality of the welcome is quite extraordinary.
The singing and dancing of the pupils and teachers has been fascinating and enriching.
We have met the head of the school from 1998, Mr Denny Lumbama, who as Permanent Secretary is now the highest ranking civil servant in Central Provice. Denny spent a year with us at SLPC while studying for his Master's Degree at Moray House. He has been generous with his time and has allowed us to interface with the key officials in his administration in Kabwe on Friday. Later he took us to see a recently completed completed dam, a new hospital project as well.
We led worship which was on the theme of inspirational women. Fiona Kendall had been working on this theme with the girls. We used bible readings, poetry, prayers and song to give the message. Anne Rutherford led both the choir and praise band and the result was quite overwhelming. The quality of music and singing is outstanding and moving beyond words. Paticipative worship is very much the norm here and it is amazing to see and indeed hear.
This afternoon it is the turn of SLPC to do their bit in the curltural exchange. We have all been roped in and are expected to perform in some form. The Chipembi girls performed for us yesterday and as ever it was exceptional. Drama, song and dance were the order of the day and we all danced with them at the end. Not dancing as we know it but African dancing or at least we gave it our best shot. Preparation time for this afternoon calls so but to work for all of us.
We are due home on Thursday and looking forward to seeing family and friends then.
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Richard in Zambia
Hi everyone,
Having a great time here, the dormitory refurbishment team have completed as far as possible and the girls are absolutely delighted with the results. They only had one working toilet, two showers and three hand basins with two taps working between thirty six girls. Apparently the showers had not worked since 1998 and they were using buckets to wash themselves. The team has replaced the old hand basins with new, replumbed the toilets and showers so they now have two working toilets, two working showers and three handbasins in full use. We also repainted the dormitorys with refreshing colours, new mattresses and mosquito nets and as I said before the girls are delighted. Have video footage which will be compiled into a disk (s) for our library at SLPC.
Best regards and thanks for your support.
Richard.
Having a great time here, the dormitory refurbishment team have completed as far as possible and the girls are absolutely delighted with the results. They only had one working toilet, two showers and three hand basins with two taps working between thirty six girls. Apparently the showers had not worked since 1998 and they were using buckets to wash themselves. The team has replaced the old hand basins with new, replumbed the toilets and showers so they now have two working toilets, two working showers and three handbasins in full use. We also repainted the dormitorys with refreshing colours, new mattresses and mosquito nets and as I said before the girls are delighted. Have video footage which will be compiled into a disk (s) for our library at SLPC.
Best regards and thanks for your support.
Richard.
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Dormitory refurbishment
The hard work goes on a pace by the team who is responsible for the painting of the computer room and the refurb of one of the girls' dormitorys.
The painting of the computer room was straightforward as the room was in good order already. The ceiling and walls were repainted during the first 3 days. During this time Kenny Scott also surveyed the dorm and worked out all that was needing done. This amounted to a lengthy list including painting the 3 small dorms, hallways and toilets/shower room; and the major works of replacing the 3 wash hand basins, the 2 toilet cisterns, and tiling the 2 shower cubicles; some replacement piping is also needed.
Kenny, Arthur, and Mr Mwamba travelled into Lusaka to buy the materials which was a fantastic experience. It took fully 2 hours in 2 large shops to buy the materials. All was loaded back onto the schol bus and we headed back to Chipembi.
To help with the dorm painting we have 3 young Zambian men (casual labour), and we have a local plumber who is also helping. The electrician has replaced several of the light bulbs with flu. tubes and the handyman has replaced a broken piece of the ceiling.
Kenny & Richard are working hard with the tiling. Remember here in Zambia the adhesive and grout come as powder and you need to make up the mix and work it just so. This proved tricky at first but these experienced men have it mastered now.
The wash hand basins and brackets are unusual in that there are no holes for the taps, and the brackets are a different size for the basins. Many challenges to overcome. Work is progressing steadily. More time would be helpful however we are working to a tight deadline. The painting is almost finished, the cisterns are almost on the wall, one showe is tiled, and the wash hand basins are due on the wall this afternoon.
Russell is working hard and painting well. Murray has also worked so well painting every day.
What a team!
Arthur
The painting of the computer room was straightforward as the room was in good order already. The ceiling and walls were repainted during the first 3 days. During this time Kenny Scott also surveyed the dorm and worked out all that was needing done. This amounted to a lengthy list including painting the 3 small dorms, hallways and toilets/shower room; and the major works of replacing the 3 wash hand basins, the 2 toilet cisterns, and tiling the 2 shower cubicles; some replacement piping is also needed.
Kenny, Arthur, and Mr Mwamba travelled into Lusaka to buy the materials which was a fantastic experience. It took fully 2 hours in 2 large shops to buy the materials. All was loaded back onto the schol bus and we headed back to Chipembi.
To help with the dorm painting we have 3 young Zambian men (casual labour), and we have a local plumber who is also helping. The electrician has replaced several of the light bulbs with flu. tubes and the handyman has replaced a broken piece of the ceiling.
Kenny & Richard are working hard with the tiling. Remember here in Zambia the adhesive and grout come as powder and you need to make up the mix and work it just so. This proved tricky at first but these experienced men have it mastered now.
The wash hand basins and brackets are unusual in that there are no holes for the taps, and the brackets are a different size for the basins. Many challenges to overcome. Work is progressing steadily. More time would be helpful however we are working to a tight deadline. The painting is almost finished, the cisterns are almost on the wall, one showe is tiled, and the wash hand basins are due on the wall this afternoon.
Russell is working hard and painting well. Murray has also worked so well painting every day.
What a team!
Arthur
Computers and Singing at Chipembi - a heady mix!
Computers first...
After a long journey hear, and much perseverance, the new desktop computers arrived safely at Chipembi packed in their crate last night. They were transported from the airport on the back of a truck, covered in a tarpaulin, and in the pouring rain! But they arrived safe and sound!
The new desktops are now installed and are being connected, tested and configured as we speak. It's really good news and very exciting to see them in place!!
Singing first too...
I had the experience of a lifetime on Tuesday afternoon. I, along with Fiona, was in the extremely lucky position to have the opportunity to teach the Choir and Praise Team some new songs. The girls singing is wonderful and their ability to pick up new music at the drop of a hat and enhance it "spine tingling". I leave you to imagine just 40 girls filling the church with their voices.
I can safely say the smile on my face has not disappeared yet...
I'm really looking to hearing them again on Sunday.
After a long journey hear, and much perseverance, the new desktop computers arrived safely at Chipembi packed in their crate last night. They were transported from the airport on the back of a truck, covered in a tarpaulin, and in the pouring rain! But they arrived safe and sound!
The new desktops are now installed and are being connected, tested and configured as we speak. It's really good news and very exciting to see them in place!!
Singing first too...
I had the experience of a lifetime on Tuesday afternoon. I, along with Fiona, was in the extremely lucky position to have the opportunity to teach the Choir and Praise Team some new songs. The girls singing is wonderful and their ability to pick up new music at the drop of a hat and enhance it "spine tingling". I leave you to imagine just 40 girls filling the church with their voices.
I can safely say the smile on my face has not disappeared yet...
I'm really looking to hearing them again on Sunday.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Joyce Armstrong in Zambia
This morning we ventured up to the village school to see how the less privileged children in Chipembi are educated. Considering that from the age of 7 they are expected to be bi-lingual they are doing really wel!
Warmly welcomed by the depute head we were able to leave football strips , chalks, pencils and some crayons with a few books - sadly aware of how little that was. Hopefully the money we left as well will buy a few more books.
Avoiding torrential downpours has become a fine art but avoiding the resultant floods of mud is more difficult! A pair of elegant white shoes finished up in the bin after our walk this morning
Warmly welcomed by the depute head we were able to leave football strips , chalks, pencils and some crayons with a few books - sadly aware of how little that was. Hopefully the money we left as well will buy a few more books.
Avoiding torrential downpours has become a fine art but avoiding the resultant floods of mud is more difficult! A pair of elegant white shoes finished up in the bin after our walk this morning
'Minor' achievement in the computing world
Following on from the massive progress made by Kenny 'Bob the Builder' Scott and his crew (Richard, Murray, Russell etc.) in refreshing (OK, Joyce tells me I should have said 'major transformation of') the computer lab paintwork, the computer team has this morning managed to install half a dozen or so of the old PCs in the new lab, most of which are now cabled up and working... and even able to access the internet. We will be charging a small fee for members of the team to check their emails (this is Zambian enterprise in action), please contact me... Must go and fix an ethernet card...
Monday, 16 March 2009
Sunday, 15 March 2009
hiya
Hi all back home, its Liam. i am just going to give you a little snippet of the amazing time that we are having here in Zambia. So far we have managed to teach all of the girls between the group of people in the teaching group, we provided 2 classes, on "time keeping" and "culture exchange" i really enjoyed doing the culture exchange workshops as i as able to let the girls hear some scottish music as well as some scottish pop music. Now that we have finnished teaching, we are planning on going to meet the local BB company and hand over a few gifts such as BB jumpers. We have all had a very good time teaching the girls scottish dancing and also they really enjoyed learning the american dances such as the Hucklebuck ;). I will try and attach a picture of Kerry and I with some of the local children and the teachers kids. Thanks for reading. catch up wae ya soon. Liam Out !!!! :)
David Fell
Well here I am in Chipembi school in Zambia. What A welcome from the staff and pupils at the school. All a bit overwhelming. Now I know how a celebrity feels.
I have been working in the computer lab and also started training some of the staff to use Word, Excel and Powerpoint. It is surprising some of the things people come up with that you don't know about or they hope/ think they can do on these packages with limited knowledge, but that is part of the challenge we have come here to experience. eg can excel calculate 12 to the power 2 plus 5x -9 answers on a postcard please.
Must however get back to work and have a great time.
I have been working in the computer lab and also started training some of the staff to use Word, Excel and Powerpoint. It is surprising some of the things people come up with that you don't know about or they hope/ think they can do on these packages with limited knowledge, but that is part of the challenge we have come here to experience. eg can excel calculate 12 to the power 2 plus 5x -9 answers on a postcard please.
Must however get back to work and have a great time.
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Arrived Safely
The South Leith group arrived safely in Zambia after a trouble free but exhausting journey from Edinburgh. Last minute passport problems were dealt with admirably by all concerned but with a special mention to Joyce Armstrong.
The flights to London and Lusaka were both on schedule although the Lusaka flight left London a little late. We passed the time at Terminal 5 browsing in the many shops and snacking on one or two of the offerings there.
The overnight flight to Lusaka started with a good dinner and ended with a less than inspiring breakfast. There were numerous movies available, from 'Slum Dog Millionaire' to 'Australia', albums to listen to and TV programmes to watch. The group passed its time with these diversions or trying to get some sleep.
We arrived in Lusaka a little early to be met by Dorothy and Albert from the school. They had made arrangements for our passports to be processed so our entry into Zambia was as smoothe as it could be, although it wasn't speedy!
We were then met outside the airport by a group of teachers who helped us with loading the luggage onto the truck and were accompanied on the 'infamous' bus by one or two on our journey to Fringilla.
The flights to London and Lusaka were both on schedule although the Lusaka flight left London a little late. We passed the time at Terminal 5 browsing in the many shops and snacking on one or two of the offerings there.
The overnight flight to Lusaka started with a good dinner and ended with a less than inspiring breakfast. There were numerous movies available, from 'Slum Dog Millionaire' to 'Australia', albums to listen to and TV programmes to watch. The group passed its time with these diversions or trying to get some sleep.
We arrived in Lusaka a little early to be met by Dorothy and Albert from the school. They had made arrangements for our passports to be processed so our entry into Zambia was as smoothe as it could be, although it wasn't speedy!
We were then met outside the airport by a group of teachers who helped us with loading the luggage onto the truck and were accompanied on the 'infamous' bus by one or two on our journey to Fringilla.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Safe arrival of Russell
Hi,
I am delighted to inform you that Russell had a trouble free trip and he is in good spirit.
He has had a quick check on the rehabilitation works in the computer lab and he is yet to check the dormitory earmarked for rehabilitation.
Warm regards,
Albert
Monday, 2 March 2009
Communities benefit from biosand filters
Communities benefit from biosand filters
By GETHSEMANE MWIZABI
ACCESS to clean water and good sanitation has long been a cry of every community, urban or rural.
In an effort to enable more people access safe drinking water, simple water technology inventions have been invented to enable low-income communities, those who cannot afford chorine, access clean water in the most basic possible way.
One such invention is the bio-sand filter, which purifies dirty water so that it becomes safe to drink. The bio-sand filter is very useful both in rural and urban areas which lack safe piped water.
The filter, made out of concrete, consists of a layer of gravel with prepared sand contained within a filter body or box.
A shallow layer of water sits on top of the sand, where a bio-film is created that further filters the water of harmful microorganisms.
From the "Times of Zambia", you can read the full article here
By GETHSEMANE MWIZABI
ACCESS to clean water and good sanitation has long been a cry of every community, urban or rural.
In an effort to enable more people access safe drinking water, simple water technology inventions have been invented to enable low-income communities, those who cannot afford chorine, access clean water in the most basic possible way.
One such invention is the bio-sand filter, which purifies dirty water so that it becomes safe to drink. The bio-sand filter is very useful both in rural and urban areas which lack safe piped water.
The filter, made out of concrete, consists of a layer of gravel with prepared sand contained within a filter body or box.
A shallow layer of water sits on top of the sand, where a bio-film is created that further filters the water of harmful microorganisms.
From the "Times of Zambia", you can read the full article here
The Aims and Strategy of the Partnership
The partnership has looked at issues that affect the school.
For example, the climate determines what can be done on the land, and the produce and animals which can successfully be kept. The shortage of water imposes a serious constraint on the use towhich the land could be put; and this led to a project to develop a borehole which is now operational.
The issue of sex education has led to consideration of how teachers can talk to pupils about the problem, and about how men and women can talk to each other about this issue. The school has engaged in the UN ‘Keep the Promise’ campaign. Of the letters sent in from schools to the UN on this issue, one, from a pupil in Chipembi, was chosen as the prize letter and was used in the UN publicity with the result that the UN has now paid for her entire education including university.
A current project is in collaboration with Rotary International to install a much needed water borehole within the school grounds.
For example, the climate determines what can be done on the land, and the produce and animals which can successfully be kept. The shortage of water imposes a serious constraint on the use towhich the land could be put; and this led to a project to develop a borehole which is now operational.
The issue of sex education has led to consideration of how teachers can talk to pupils about the problem, and about how men and women can talk to each other about this issue. The school has engaged in the UN ‘Keep the Promise’ campaign. Of the letters sent in from schools to the UN on this issue, one, from a pupil in Chipembi, was chosen as the prize letter and was used in the UN publicity with the result that the UN has now paid for her entire education including university.
A current project is in collaboration with Rotary International to install a much needed water borehole within the school grounds.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
