Season's Greetings!

All the best for the holidays and beyond!

Putting the "Work" in Workshop

Note: This is the last in a backlog of posts that were delayed by internet access constraints experienced for a few weeks. Since this posting, two additional workshops have occurred.

On 30 November, a series of three-day workshops kicked off involving representatives from two of the 22 “wards” that make up the Petauke District. The representatives (one elected person from each “zone” within the ward, and at least 40% female representatives) were from the Lusangazi and Nyakawise “Area Development Committees”. Each ward has an area development committee. The representatives arrived early, took a short lunch, and returned on their own later in the evening to continue working on hand drawn maps for their wards.  The commitment and enthusiasm of the participants continued throughout the three days.

Workshop participants

The products were generated by the representatives themselves. While quite basic, this is one of the first efforts to introduce spatial considerations in this way, and to cooperatively identify project priorities ”from the ground up” by those most directly affected. Good stuff! Hats off to long-time VSO volunteer and Decentralization Advisor David Dawson as the lead facilitator, District Planning Officer Dulani Phiri who has overseen the effort, others involved in facilitation and translation, and to the participating Area Development Committee members. Here’s hoping the following workshops go this well.     

Workshop participants produced a schematic map of their area

Organized Chaos for a Cause

Petauke has a Community Centre located on the far side of the town’s main “market” area. The centre currently does not appear to enjoy a very high profile. My ever-industrious housemate and coworker, Ity, conceived of an event to involve Petauke’s children and raise the centre’s profile. She proposed a sports and games day for children, and being a sports enthusiast, I signed on as the “official” photographer and “other duties as assigned”.

Sports Day participants waiting to begin

While conducted under the auspices of the Petauke District Council, which administers the centre, the work was done largely by volunteers, and essentially all the materials (mainly food, refreshments and prizes) were donated by local businesses and other supporters. Teams to compete in events ranging from “three-legged” races, tug-of-war, and dodge ball, to organized sports such as volleyball, were recruited through local schools.

The games begin

On the Saturday morning of the big day, the vehicle and driver arranged to transport supplies to the site didn’t show up (a kind supporter dispatched a vehicle and driver on short notice to save the day), thunderstorms threatened, and when we finally arrived at the site, much of the set-up remained to be completed. Several groups arrived late, and the carefully arranged calendar of events had to be adjusted on the fly.

Volleyball court at Community Centre used for the first time

But, as the day unfolded, the real pay-off was in the spirited competition and great enthusiasm shown by the participating children. By the afternoon conclusion, about 100 kids had taken part, and left with smiles on their faces (along with having partaken of snacks and refreshments).   

Dedicated footballers braved torrential rains to cap off the sports events

Although not directly related to anyone’s original placement, I believe it embodies what the VSO experience is about in several important ways. It was a cooperative volunteer effort, focused on providing opportunities for disadvantaged children, sparked greater awareness of a local resource, and may have planted the seed for local residents to build on this foundation. In any case, it was a memorable experience for those involved.

Celebrating at the party held to top off Sports Day 

Wet and Wild

After showers early in November and a relatively dry few weeks, the rains seem to definitely have arrived to stay. Billowy clouds form on most afternoons, with frequent electrical storms and the heaviest rains to date. Even the previously dusty front yard is displaying small green shoots, and the surrounding ground is being tilled and planted throughout the countryside.

Petauke with a thunderstorm threatening

Especially when the power goes out during storms after dark, the lightning flashes put on a veritable light show over the entire horizon. (Wish I could catch that with a camera.)

A Taste of the Netherlands

The same weekend we returned from the journey to Chipata and Mfuwe, two other Dutch colleagues from our VSO induction group visited separately from Lusaka, where their placements are located. It was nice to reunite with these friends, even if briefly and in the midst of one of the most intense swarms of insects I’ve witnessed. The large flying ants emerge annually with the onset of the rainy season, and are considered a delicacy (inswa) by the local population. The septic system had also reached capacity that week, rendering our toilet unusable, Marjolijn didn’t feel well, and Roland left with a touchy stomach, but I think everyone was able to have a retrospective chuckle over the weekend visit to Petauke. It also gave the Lusaka based volunteers a chance to experience a few of the challenges as well as positive aspects of a less urban assignment, as Roland captured some nice photos on Sunday.

Marjolijn, Roland & Ity (VSO Dutch volunteers)

Journey to Chipata (and Other Adventures)

NOTE!

In the last few weeks, I encountered computer and internet access glitches beyond the norm that constrained making new postings. My apologies for the delay in being able to share the information written during this period. I will post this past material as opportunities permit, starting with this post.

On 23 November, the District Planning Officer, Works Director, Decentralization Advisor and I made our way to the Eastern Province capital, Chipata, to meet with representatives of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. Because Petauke is a “district council”, as opposed to a “city council” or “municipal council”, planning authority is largely retained by the Eastern Province Planning Authority, which is staffed by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. (My regrets to those of you who aren’t into planning jargon, but some references to work and the professional side of things needs to be made from time to time.)  In addition, a Geographic Information System (GIS) is being developed for the Eastern Province, and we wanted to explore the potential for cooperative efforts in data gathering and management, mapping and other aspects of planning. After numerous postponements, it was nice to finally engage in a face-to-face exchange of information and ideas. Obtaining consistent and reliable data and basic mapping are a significant challenge.

 

Meeting at Ministry of Local Government & Housing in Chipata

The next day, we attended a meeting of the Eastern Province Planning Authority. The session was also attended by a group from the Lusaka Province Planning Authority, which later participated in a demonstration tour addressing planning issues of mutual interest.

Meeting of the Eastern Province Planning Authority

We proceeded on to the Mambwe District where the rest of the group was staying, and ended up in Mfuwe, the gateway to South Luangwa National Park. This afforded the opportunity to spend the better part of a day and evening in the park, one of Africa’s gems as a wildlife viewing destination. While not the peak time, one could easily spend a week exploring the vast park. This was certainly one of the highlights of my experience in Zambia thus far.

South Luangwa National Park


While paved roads exist in the vicinity of the park, portions of the drive there were over “washboard” conditions that were jarring, to say the least. On the way back, one of the tires failed. The vehicle had a spare, but unfortunately, the jack had been placed in another vehicle. With patience and goodwill from passersby, we were finally able to get back on the road before too late in the day. After reaching the main highway, and cruising back to Petauke, the spare tire blew out around 30 kilometers west of Chipata, and still a good hour and a half from home. Our driver, Mr. Banda, deserves a great deal of credit for remaining calm and keeping the vehicle under control while easing it off to the highway shoulder. This necessitated another vehicle delivering a tire. Late that evening, we finally safely arrived back in Petauke.    

First flat tire (of two)