In Zambia the life is very difficult when you are/become handicapped, because of a lack of recourses, a bad system and the attitude of society.
If you for example have an accident, after the treatment at the hospital in Serenje, which don’t have recourses for surgeries and so on you might have to go to a hospital in Lusaka. The Social Welfare Office can provide you the transport there. The staff from the orthopedic department will check what/if you need a wheelchair, crutches or similar which we will provide for you. If it is needed they also provide support for food, clothes, medication…
The Social Welfare Office will check what skills you have and they can then assist you with capital because they want you to become independent, not relying on them. You can also get support for your bussines from the Catholic Church and from a very new association. But there is not so much because of that it is so new.
If you from the hospital has the need to be put in a Care Home the Social Welfare Office can write a Introduction Report about you to Lusaka and apply for a place, because there is no Care Homes in Serenje.
But it is quit difficult to get a place since there is not enough rooms. If a room will be provided the Social Welfare Office can assist with the fees.
If you are born with a disability your life will depend on if your family is poor or wealthy.
For a poor family the parents will be advised to apply for ex Blind schools for children with mental retardation, Rehabilitations Centers and so on in bigger cities like Lusaka or Ndola for bigger opportunities. The Social Welfare Office we can provide money for the fees and support for basic needs.
Wealthy families can provide this by themselves and with money they have the opportunity for better and different kinds of care.
If it is needed for the child, Boma School in the town now have special educated staff that works with disabled children.
It is unfortunately very common that the parents is ashamed of their child and hides it at home from society, refusing to accept. Especially when it comes to mental retardation, like Downs syndrome.
Serenje has also few associations that can help you, for ex Zambia’s Agency for persons living with disabilities assists blind people with agriculture and support for basic needs.
The environment in Zambia is also very difficult for disabled people, because of bad roads, lack of recourses for transport and bad entrances to buildings. The stairs are a big problem, it can even be difficult by the hospital! You can quit often see handicapped people fighting to get up a hill or something with a wheelchair that doesn’t look to good. But usually the people around come to give them help. This problem is something that the Social Welfare Office is fighting against, because it is your right to move around.
The Social Welfare Office has for example one man they are supporting who is in a wheelchair and who lives quit far from the office alone. He comes all the way by himself to get his support from them because he doesn’t have any relatives that can assist him. It is very dangerous for him to go, the roads with cars are very risky.
In Serenje there are two independent groups were they meet and help each other to improve their lives – as a livestock they keep pigs and goats and they get their capital from hammarmeel which they produce and sell. They choose a leader and a secretary which they work hand in hand with.
Socially it is quit hard because in the culture people that are disable are not able. The handicapped people and society see them as helpless and they always want sympathy from people. You can often see them begging on the streets; feel dependent on others and so on.
The Social Welfare Office is trying to make them see that even with the handicap there is so much you can do. If you are blind, you are not blind for everything – you can still help your children with the homework, and learn how to cook, clean, move around outside and everything without your vision.
One of the most difficult things for you as handicapped is the lack of resources – the money are often not sent in time or at all to the Social Welfare Office. This makes it very hard for them to give the support that they want.
The objectives are also planned for the handicapped, but without them. So they are not well enough adjusted to them. This makes it hard for the handicapped to achieve the goals.
Hospitals in Zambia is also not working properly, usually they just giving out painkillers, the patients are dying while waiting for caring and they are quit messy. This I know from own experience, local people and a nurse who has been working volunteerly who is from Check Republic. This is cosed by both a lack of knowledge and resources. But for example one child I have meet who had a waterhead from birth, went to Lusaka for surgery which seamed to be very succesfull. They but in a pipe so that the water in the head will go out with the urin.
In the bush it is harder; there is no special kind of caring or education at school. No opportunities at all. There are not many chances to manage. In my work I meet on girl in a Pre-school who couldn’t speak, she hade only pronounced few words during her life time. Why, I don’t know… She was very shy but kind and playful just like the other kids. The teacher really wanted to help her but didn’t know how to adjust the lessons to her or how to insure himself of that she had been following his lessons. So he asked me for help. I said I will think about how to help and that I will come back.
So I searched for information on the internet, I asked organizations and so on for help or if they new who I should ask. Nobody would answear me. So I asked my boss I had in Sweden when I was working as a Personal Assistant for handicapped people. She said the best way is to make Pictograms by myself for her. So I did, I bought a book, made a structure and started making few examples for her. He went to her village and had a meeting with her, her mother and the teacher. It went well, and I hope that they will get help from the book.
The article is based on an intervju I did with Tabitha Chilongo who is working as a District Social Welfare Officer in the district Serenje, the central province, and own experiences and impressions.
tisdag 25 november 2008
Second mounth report by Magda at DAPP Child Aid Serenje
(I am again late with me report! Very sorry!! By now I should have written 3 reports instead of 2! But I’ll still write about everything, no worries!)
Since last time I have been in a village called Kashishi twice, about 3 hours with bicycle from Boma. The first time I went with Lucie, Jafet(ino) and Mebin. Then we slept there 2 nights. We arrived around 19.00 in the evening and the next day Lucie had another work shop with corn leaves and I was assisting her. She was teaching how to wave baskets, and me how to wave mats (which is a lot easier). The work shop went well and I really enjoyed it! She is this Friday having the exhibition, will be interesting! She has really worked for it and I will be helping her.
Afterwards I organized some activities with the Youth Club. First I made some Value Exercises and the one exercise and discussion about Self confidence. The reason for me doing this was that I wanted them to start thinking more by themselves, understand that there is not always any right and wrong, that they have the right to their own opinion and instead of just accepting things think of if they really think it is okay. It went okay, but it was difficult. They are not used to this kind of things so it was hard to make them try and probably they didn’t really understand what I wanted. During the Value Exercises they didn’t really thought of their opinion before they made their decision, they were not really able to explain why they thought like they did and mostly they just made the same decision like most of their friends. It was mostly 2-3 guys who explained, but they started thinking of why when I asked them, not before they made the decision. Evan though I made the questions quit easy, they were about parents. I want to try this again, but I am not yet sure of how I can improve and adjust the exercises to them.
Next morning Jafet and Mebin had a meeting, I organized a Picture Club with the children were they again were animals and this time it went better! They had fun! Lucie was assisting me with painting their faces and keeping the other children away from the pictures!!!
After this we started the journey back to Boma! The next time I went to Kashishi was quit reasently and then I went by myself and about one weak later then I planned because my teacher Gordon from Norway came to visit which I found out only the day before! Because of this, when I arrived they hadn’t received the information of that I was coming, instead they had been prepared last time. It was a pity!
On my way there Lucie escorted me halfway to Nganswa school were we talked to the teachers and discussed more about when we can organize lessons there. I also got some help with my stupid bicycle!! I hate my “Red Star”, which I named it in the beginning, and I will burn it before I leave!!
I kept going in the strong sun and while there I started to prepare a painting lesson with the children. I gave a letter from Lucie concerning the Exhibition, the next day I had the painting lesson and gave the pictures on posters to them from last time. They really enjoyed it and was of course very curious in the pictures. I was also planning to organize a picture club with the Youths there but I didn’t manage because of that they didn’t know I was coming. I finished later then I thought was a bit stressed when leaving. About halfway to Nganswa happens what I feared! My tire on my Red Star breaks again!! NOOOOOOO!!! I was soo angry but refused to go back to Kashishi. I kept going by fot without a plan, but I thought I will solve it somehow. So… I was walking…and walking… and again walking…until I pretty late reached Nganswa school in the dark! I was then prepared to spend the night with Tobie outside and in the morning I could get some help with the bicycle. But then I say some light in a house next to the school. I went there and asked if they had any place were I could sleep. Mr. Kosa, my angel and a teacher at the school welcomed me and took me to another house were the girls sleeps. There they gave me a warm cup of chocolate, I was in heaven!! The girls were very nice and in the morning when I came out to the school they were already fixing my bicycle! Talk about service! So I thanked everybody for the 100 time before I again started of to Boma! On the way I meet my project leader on motorcycle who Lucie had sent in her worry. He kept going to work in Area 5, and when I finally reached Boma I was very tired!!
When Gordon came to visit I was very happy to see him! With him he had Viveca (the coordinator over all DI:s). We had first a meeting at the office and the we went to Kebumba to visit a school. The performed a dance and theater for us and the people there presented what kind of work they do in their community through DAPP. Then me and Lucie invited Gordon and Viveca for dinner, but first only Gordon came so we had a meeting with him. We had a nice talk and discussed a lot about what we have done and will do. Then Lucie (my wife) made the traditional Zambian food, Nshima with beans, Chinese cabbage, tomatoes and Soya pieces (she is practically also a vegetarian now because of me!). They left already the next day.
I have now started working more with the Youth Club in Kankoso (15 min from Boma), I have organized a Picture Club with them and I will continue, games and I bought them 4 more different kinds of seeds (Chinese cabbage, watermelon, cucumber and carrots) + garlic for their fundraising garden (earlier they only got for onions and tomatoes) that we were planting together. The Picture Club went quit well, they didn’t do it the way I wanted, to plan together how they wanted to make their picture, it was more spontaneous. But many pictures came out very nice! The pictures will be but up in the school were most of them study when they have put up a door so that they wont be taken. Next time I will be harder on the planning but try to make it easier for them. Last time I was there I also were talking to the leader about what is not working in the Club. Because I have seen it is not very organized and the youths are not very committed. We decided together that next time I come he will bring their secretary of the club and I will bring the Area leader (who apparently has not been visiting much) so that we can sit down and discuss what needs to be done to improve, after that we will organize a meeting with all the youths and their parents.
One week ago there was an Agriculture Show here in Boma which DAPP Child Aid participated in. My task was to present the 10 lines so I made a nice poster and I braught some pictures. It was fun, very interesting and different! We got second price!
Lucie and me are now starting to plan a Sex/HIV- Campaigne. This program will take up almost a hole day and we will go around to different schools.
I am also now slowly starting to think about next Hip Hop Party for the youths, this time I will succeed!!! Last time I was more focused on HIV, and next time I will focus on Drugs and Alcohol. I think I the party will take place in about 1,5 or 2 months.
Soon I will also go alone to Area 2 again, there in a pre-school I meet a girl that could not speak, so I want to work with her, on a school that we saw had very bad lessons and with their Youth Club that I worked with once before with Lucie. After that I arranged a meeting with the Club leader and my project leader Kenny. They will now get money for Chicken aloens after finished building a chicken house. This Youth Club seams more serious.
Yesterday I arrived with Lucie back from Lusaka were we now got our Work Permit, last mounths we were able to fix the Visa here at the Immigration in Boma. Paul helped us but he really had to work for it, first they just said that they didn’t have it. It took us about one hour. It is really good that we have him helping, for others it is a lot more difficult! In Lusaka I also went to The Ministry of Health to get permit to work in the Hospital here in Serenje. I will first spend three days there for research that I will make in my Vacation week. After that I will probably keep working on my free time. They said that they will send me the permit so now I am just hoping they actually will.
I am still loving Africa and I always will! Thanks, Magda
Since last time I have been in a village called Kashishi twice, about 3 hours with bicycle from Boma. The first time I went with Lucie, Jafet(ino) and Mebin. Then we slept there 2 nights. We arrived around 19.00 in the evening and the next day Lucie had another work shop with corn leaves and I was assisting her. She was teaching how to wave baskets, and me how to wave mats (which is a lot easier). The work shop went well and I really enjoyed it! She is this Friday having the exhibition, will be interesting! She has really worked for it and I will be helping her.
Afterwards I organized some activities with the Youth Club. First I made some Value Exercises and the one exercise and discussion about Self confidence. The reason for me doing this was that I wanted them to start thinking more by themselves, understand that there is not always any right and wrong, that they have the right to their own opinion and instead of just accepting things think of if they really think it is okay. It went okay, but it was difficult. They are not used to this kind of things so it was hard to make them try and probably they didn’t really understand what I wanted. During the Value Exercises they didn’t really thought of their opinion before they made their decision, they were not really able to explain why they thought like they did and mostly they just made the same decision like most of their friends. It was mostly 2-3 guys who explained, but they started thinking of why when I asked them, not before they made the decision. Evan though I made the questions quit easy, they were about parents. I want to try this again, but I am not yet sure of how I can improve and adjust the exercises to them.
Next morning Jafet and Mebin had a meeting, I organized a Picture Club with the children were they again were animals and this time it went better! They had fun! Lucie was assisting me with painting their faces and keeping the other children away from the pictures!!!
After this we started the journey back to Boma! The next time I went to Kashishi was quit reasently and then I went by myself and about one weak later then I planned because my teacher Gordon from Norway came to visit which I found out only the day before! Because of this, when I arrived they hadn’t received the information of that I was coming, instead they had been prepared last time. It was a pity!
On my way there Lucie escorted me halfway to Nganswa school were we talked to the teachers and discussed more about when we can organize lessons there. I also got some help with my stupid bicycle!! I hate my “Red Star”, which I named it in the beginning, and I will burn it before I leave!!
I kept going in the strong sun and while there I started to prepare a painting lesson with the children. I gave a letter from Lucie concerning the Exhibition, the next day I had the painting lesson and gave the pictures on posters to them from last time. They really enjoyed it and was of course very curious in the pictures. I was also planning to organize a picture club with the Youths there but I didn’t manage because of that they didn’t know I was coming. I finished later then I thought was a bit stressed when leaving. About halfway to Nganswa happens what I feared! My tire on my Red Star breaks again!! NOOOOOOO!!! I was soo angry but refused to go back to Kashishi. I kept going by fot without a plan, but I thought I will solve it somehow. So… I was walking…and walking… and again walking…until I pretty late reached Nganswa school in the dark! I was then prepared to spend the night with Tobie outside and in the morning I could get some help with the bicycle. But then I say some light in a house next to the school. I went there and asked if they had any place were I could sleep. Mr. Kosa, my angel and a teacher at the school welcomed me and took me to another house were the girls sleeps. There they gave me a warm cup of chocolate, I was in heaven!! The girls were very nice and in the morning when I came out to the school they were already fixing my bicycle! Talk about service! So I thanked everybody for the 100 time before I again started of to Boma! On the way I meet my project leader on motorcycle who Lucie had sent in her worry. He kept going to work in Area 5, and when I finally reached Boma I was very tired!!
When Gordon came to visit I was very happy to see him! With him he had Viveca (the coordinator over all DI:s). We had first a meeting at the office and the we went to Kebumba to visit a school. The performed a dance and theater for us and the people there presented what kind of work they do in their community through DAPP. Then me and Lucie invited Gordon and Viveca for dinner, but first only Gordon came so we had a meeting with him. We had a nice talk and discussed a lot about what we have done and will do. Then Lucie (my wife) made the traditional Zambian food, Nshima with beans, Chinese cabbage, tomatoes and Soya pieces (she is practically also a vegetarian now because of me!). They left already the next day.
I have now started working more with the Youth Club in Kankoso (15 min from Boma), I have organized a Picture Club with them and I will continue, games and I bought them 4 more different kinds of seeds (Chinese cabbage, watermelon, cucumber and carrots) + garlic for their fundraising garden (earlier they only got for onions and tomatoes) that we were planting together. The Picture Club went quit well, they didn’t do it the way I wanted, to plan together how they wanted to make their picture, it was more spontaneous. But many pictures came out very nice! The pictures will be but up in the school were most of them study when they have put up a door so that they wont be taken. Next time I will be harder on the planning but try to make it easier for them. Last time I was there I also were talking to the leader about what is not working in the Club. Because I have seen it is not very organized and the youths are not very committed. We decided together that next time I come he will bring their secretary of the club and I will bring the Area leader (who apparently has not been visiting much) so that we can sit down and discuss what needs to be done to improve, after that we will organize a meeting with all the youths and their parents.
One week ago there was an Agriculture Show here in Boma which DAPP Child Aid participated in. My task was to present the 10 lines so I made a nice poster and I braught some pictures. It was fun, very interesting and different! We got second price!
Lucie and me are now starting to plan a Sex/HIV- Campaigne. This program will take up almost a hole day and we will go around to different schools.
I am also now slowly starting to think about next Hip Hop Party for the youths, this time I will succeed!!! Last time I was more focused on HIV, and next time I will focus on Drugs and Alcohol. I think I the party will take place in about 1,5 or 2 months.
Soon I will also go alone to Area 2 again, there in a pre-school I meet a girl that could not speak, so I want to work with her, on a school that we saw had very bad lessons and with their Youth Club that I worked with once before with Lucie. After that I arranged a meeting with the Club leader and my project leader Kenny. They will now get money for Chicken aloens after finished building a chicken house. This Youth Club seams more serious.
Yesterday I arrived with Lucie back from Lusaka were we now got our Work Permit, last mounths we were able to fix the Visa here at the Immigration in Boma. Paul helped us but he really had to work for it, first they just said that they didn’t have it. It took us about one hour. It is really good that we have him helping, for others it is a lot more difficult! In Lusaka I also went to The Ministry of Health to get permit to work in the Hospital here in Serenje. I will first spend three days there for research that I will make in my Vacation week. After that I will probably keep working on my free time. They said that they will send me the permit so now I am just hoping they actually will.
I am still loving Africa and I always will! Thanks, Magda
onsdag 19 november 2008
Last Report
Madelene Kjellgren, DI:s last report from DAPP Child Aid Serenje!
So…I have written 3 reports out of 6, good job Magda, good job!!! I have to say I am very proud! It is now the last week in Serenje, it feels strange! I am going hooome! I can’t stop thinking about it, the feelings are mixed….In this last months, work has been alright.
To start with I was working with the Youth Club in the village Angoni – not so far from here, maybe 20 min by bicycle. I bought them 4 types of seeds for my own money which we planted together – this time I felt like I knew them better so I asked them what they think is not working in the club/what needs to be improved. I made the decision to organize a meeting with them and make a plan together. The meeting I had 2 weeks after with the youth and their parents. For the meeting I prepared a poster with the plan (which the club had agreed on) and I had written some notes. I had asked the Area leader to come and participate and I brought posters with pictures from the 2 last picture clubs I had to show the parents what I have been doing with them. The Area leader never showed up at the office as he promised, I was very angry!! He hadn’t even helped me to prepare the meeting which he had agreed on, I was not sure if I remembered the way to the meeting and will there be somebody to translate for me?? After taking the wrong turn twice I found the place. And there, thank God, was Cephas – one of the Youth Club leaders which is very active. He is doing a good job! AND he – the only one there – knows English well!! In this moment I hated the Area leader (who I yelled at the next time I saw him) and loved Cephas my angel haha! Quit many came to the meeting and it went very well! They enjoyed the pictures very much which had the themes The negative and The positive side of Zambia. In this picture clubs they were very active and creative, I was proud of them. After showing them the pictures we discussed why it is not working properly and what to do about it. I talked about why the Youth Club is important and asked the parents to encourage their youth to come and participate and be active. The parents and youth listened, asked questions and gave me comments. Then I presented the plan for them which they thought was very good. I thanked them, especially Cephas, and said good bye. I felt good about that I managed everything so well alone and smiled on my way home. Shortly after this I decided that I also wanted to work with another Youth club and after talking to the Area leader I decided to go for Kebumba. The same week Lucie was going there for another Corn leaf work shop, so I decided to come with her to give her assistance and to ask when the youth club are meeting. I told them that next time I will be coming and that they should inform everybody. This next time, nobody came – but the time after that they did! Then I told them about what I been doing with the Youth Club in Angoni and that I now would like to work with them and how. After that I played some games with them to get to know them better, they really enjoyed it – we had fun! Unfortunately only boys participated. The next time I came with suggestions of activities and seeds that I again bought for my own money. The seeds they had been given last time from the project had been taken by the youth club leader whoquit and left to another village, so they didn’t have any garden. Together we made a plan for the rest of my time in Serenje from my suggestions. After this they had a football game which I was watching for a while before I left. They are good!The same week I had my first presentation about running and training with the Youth Club in Angoni. I also started making a running manual for them so that they can keep training after I am gone if the want. The week after I went to Lusaka for my vacation. The last days I called to Child Aid Chibombo were I wanted to go for my task force week. Again, they said I can’t come – so I decided that I don’t care anymore. For the rest of the time I already have a plan and I refused to change it again. I went directly to Serenje – home sweat home!Since I now had like one free week I decided to go to Kashishi again that I promised. So again I bicycled for 3 hours and when I arrived I asked for the Youth Club leader Nicolaus. 2 boys escorted me to his home, maybe 30 min away. I was very welcomed by him and his family – wife and 2 young boys. I was tierd so when they gave me a cup of tea and some sweat potatoes I was in heaven! This night they made a sleeping space for me in the kitchen, the wife lied in the room next to me (it was a very small hous) and Nicolaus and the kids sleeped outside by the fire. The floor was hard and there were ratts in the kitchen so it was impossible for me to sleep. And I as scared so after a while I asked if I could sleep outside with the others. I felt bad – they have this living conditions always and I couldn’t even take one night. Outside by the fire it was very nice but I still couldn’t sleep. The ground was to hard and it was to cold. I managed to sleep about 1-2 hours this night so the day after I was a zombie. But I managed to go around with Nicolaus to inform the youth to meet the next day at 10.00 a clock. Then I prepared the activities at their place and I helped the wife to cock. She was a very nice woman and enjoyed chatting with her. Next morning I packed my things, said good bye to the family and me and Nicolaus went down to the school. Waited for about 1 hour – nobody came! I was angry, I went there for nothing. And this situation I had before in Kashishi so felt frustrated. But…it is Africa… I started bicycling home, I was in a bad mood and I was tired even though this night I could sleep. So the journey was slow and my stupid Red star felt heavy. On Saturday this week I went with Lucie to Angoni Youth Club. There I had a running competition with prices and Lucie had a work shop with them. It was nice but they didn’t try so hard with the baskets. But we had fun together!The day after I went to pick up my dog, that an Area leader had been taking care of while I was gone. On my way there I had an accident with the bicycle, I injured my legs and Lucie and Fredric, our project, leader came to pick me up with the motorcycle. It was a Sunday so when we reached the hospital there was no doctor (they have only one) and the nurses were not very willing to give me any help. My knee (especially the left one!) were swollen and colorfull and then I had some small sources on ankles, stomach and my arm. First day it was very difficult to walk and it was paining a lot. Of course I had to use this situation to the fullest – I made Lucie my slave!Loooser! Can you give me that book? Fix the pillow! Bring food!Following day I went to the hospital again, they released some blood from the knee joint and gave me pain killers. I was also applying Rub on. Stupid leg! I was very annoyed with it, I wanted to work! And actually I was working to hard. Fredric, our new project leader, was very concerned. Magda, go home now and rest! Noo, it’s just okay! I’ll be fine!But I have to admit, my annoying boss was right . I never became fine, after 2 weeks it was still very swollen even though I had been resting a lot more and really tried to take care. I had by then visited the hospital 4 times and I now wanted to go to a hospital in Lusaka I heard was very good. So I called to Vibeke again but she just refused to help me, why I don’t know since health should always come first, and she didn’t know what was wrong with my leg. So it is always better to check it to be sure. It is not good to have a coordinator like this who just doesn’t care, since she is the one you depend on. And we have insourence so I don’t understand her problem; it is her responsibility to help me. Because of her I have now been having some troubles to manage with money since I had to arrange with the hospital and the insurance company by myself and went anyway. At the hospital they checked my leg, made x-ray and gave me medicine for it. They said that it is okay but if it is still swollen in 2 weeks I have to come back. So that was nice to hear. By now it is okay, still a bit swollen and it is paining if you are putting pressure on it. And still I don’t have much feeling on the skin. But I can now use it normally, I just still can’t bend it all the way. Just before I went to Lusaka Lucie had a celebration in Kebumba School that I was participating on to assist her. Lucie has been given a donation from her country so she arranged for tables and chairs for the school. So when the school opened we went there and arranged activities during the day. What I did was to prepare a presentation about my country Sweden, some competitions for the children and a runningcompetition with the Youth Club. Then I was singing songs with Lucie! It was very successful and everything went well! Lucie did a good job preparing all this. (This busy day I had to stand and walk almost the hole day and I could feel my leg was just getting worse and worse.) Since the beginning almost me and Lucie has been preparing a HIV-campaign. But it has been veeery sloooow. But now more in the end we finally pulled ourselves together and started to work on it. We made a theater, a test for the children to find out the situation here (like a research) and planned to make a discussion with the girls and boys separately. We went to Boma School and Kebumba School and made appointments. In total we worked with 5 classes and it went very well! But it is difficult also…Loooser! Can you give me that book? Fix the pillow! Bring food!Following day I went to the hospital again, they released some blood from the knee joint and gave me pain killers. I was also applying Rub on. Stupid leg! I was very annoyed with it, I wanted to work! And actually I was working to hard. Fredric, our new project leader, was very concerned. Magda, go home now and rest! Noo, it’s just okay! I’ll be fine!But I have to admit, my annoying boss was right . I never became fine, after 2 weeks it was still very swollen even though I had been resting a lot more and really tried to take care. I had by then visited the hospital 4 times and I now wanted to go to a hospital in Lusaka I heard was very good. So I called to Vibeke again but she just refused to help me, why I don’t know since health should always come first, and she didn’t know what was wrong with my leg. So it is always better to check it to be sure. It is not good to have a coordinator like this who just doesn’t care, since she is the one you depend on. And we have insourence so I don’t understand her problem; it is her responsibility to help me. Because of her I have now been having some troubles to manage with money since I had to arrange with the hospital and the insurance company by myself and went anyway. At the hospital they checked my leg, made x-ray and gave me medicine for it. They said that it is okay but if it is still swollen in 2 weeks I have to come back. So that was nice to hear. By now it is okay, still a bit swollen and it is paining if you are putting pressure on it. And still I don’t have much feeling on the skin. But I can now use it normally, I just still can’t bend it all the way. Just before I went to Lusaka Lucie had a celebration in Kebumba School that I was participating on to assist her. Lucie has been given a donation from her country so she arranged for tables and chairs for the school. So when the school opened we went there and arranged activities during the day. What I did was to prepare a presentation about my country Sweden, some competitions for the children and a runningcompetition with the Youth Club. Then I was singing songs with Lucie! It was very successful and everything went well! Lucie did a good job preparing all this. (This busy day I had to stand and walk almost the hole day and I could feel my leg was just getting worse and worse.) Since the beginning almost me and Lucie has been preparing a HIV-campaign. But it has been veeery sloooow. But now more in the end we finally pulled ourselves together and started to work on it. We made a theater, a test for the children to find out the situation here (like a research) and planned to make a discussion with the girls and boys separately. We went to Boma School and Kebumba School and made appointments. In total we worked with 5 classes and it went very well! But it is difficult also…The 4 October I had my next Hip Hop Party for the Youth, this time it went very well, I am proud of myself over my improvement! For this time the theme was “Just say NO drugs!”. My decorations was very cool, and my competitions was fun planned – but it was sometimes hard to make them understand, at least it worked! The price for the main competition was a trip to Nsalu Caves and Nkundalila Falls – 3 won from the party and then me and Lucie choose the 10 most active in Angoni Youth Club. This was also from Lucies money from the people. At the party I also had hot music and I got a lot of help from my very good friends to get good loud speakers. First I was going to rent but they demanded 125 000 kwacha for the hole time!!! Now I got them for 10 000. I was very grateful. I had also arranged with Angoni Youth Club to make a theater about drugs and alcohol for the party as an income generating activity – I paid them 10 000 kwacha. I had fun activities during the party and they enjoyed! In short: my party rocked!The day after we went for the trip – it was so cool! We had a lot of fun together! And at both places we arranged games. It was very nice! And nobody of them had been there before, in general it is difficult for people here to travel, so I think it was a very good experience for them!My last task I did myself was from the beginning – in Chimpati I meet a girl that can’t speak and since then I have been thinking a lot about how to help her in the best way. I have been contacting organizations/companies in my country but nobody would help me or answer me. So I decided to contact my boss (I was working with handicapped people for 2 years before I started the program and I am a trained Under Nurse). She thought the best thing to do was to make pictograms for her. So I kept thinking and decided to go for buying a book, pens and markers, glue, siccer and paper for her to put pictograms inside the book. I made structure in the book for her to be able to fine the words easily and made few examples for her and the pre school teacher to understand. The girl is also very young so I think this can be very good for her to be able to learn to communicate with people better – she is now quit shy also. Her preschool teacher seams to be very good! Perfect for the job! He really cares! When I came to Chimpati I decided to make one last picture club with the preschool before I started working with only the girl. They enjoyed very much and afterwards I left the rest of the colors with the Pre School. I explained them the way to my idea, how she can use the book, the structure of the book and I gave them advices of how to teach, support and direct her. After that I made few examples together with them so that they really understood the idea and they thought it was good. They even gave me a drink and cookies to show their appreciation. I managed quit well and I had a good feeling from the day.
Now what did I achieve during this 6 months? I guess a lot of it you can’t see. But I do think I had some impact on the youth… How much or how little I don’t know. There is no numbers to look on.
Then I also hope that this little girl in Chimpati has some use from my idea, if the idea works and they do use it I believe I could have done a great impact.
I guess I will never find out, but I tried.
Soon I am leaving Zambia,see you in 1 year!! Magda
So…I have written 3 reports out of 6, good job Magda, good job!!! I have to say I am very proud! It is now the last week in Serenje, it feels strange! I am going hooome! I can’t stop thinking about it, the feelings are mixed….In this last months, work has been alright.
To start with I was working with the Youth Club in the village Angoni – not so far from here, maybe 20 min by bicycle. I bought them 4 types of seeds for my own money which we planted together – this time I felt like I knew them better so I asked them what they think is not working in the club/what needs to be improved. I made the decision to organize a meeting with them and make a plan together. The meeting I had 2 weeks after with the youth and their parents. For the meeting I prepared a poster with the plan (which the club had agreed on) and I had written some notes. I had asked the Area leader to come and participate and I brought posters with pictures from the 2 last picture clubs I had to show the parents what I have been doing with them. The Area leader never showed up at the office as he promised, I was very angry!! He hadn’t even helped me to prepare the meeting which he had agreed on, I was not sure if I remembered the way to the meeting and will there be somebody to translate for me?? After taking the wrong turn twice I found the place. And there, thank God, was Cephas – one of the Youth Club leaders which is very active. He is doing a good job! AND he – the only one there – knows English well!! In this moment I hated the Area leader (who I yelled at the next time I saw him) and loved Cephas my angel haha! Quit many came to the meeting and it went very well! They enjoyed the pictures very much which had the themes The negative and The positive side of Zambia. In this picture clubs they were very active and creative, I was proud of them. After showing them the pictures we discussed why it is not working properly and what to do about it. I talked about why the Youth Club is important and asked the parents to encourage their youth to come and participate and be active. The parents and youth listened, asked questions and gave me comments. Then I presented the plan for them which they thought was very good. I thanked them, especially Cephas, and said good bye. I felt good about that I managed everything so well alone and smiled on my way home. Shortly after this I decided that I also wanted to work with another Youth club and after talking to the Area leader I decided to go for Kebumba. The same week Lucie was going there for another Corn leaf work shop, so I decided to come with her to give her assistance and to ask when the youth club are meeting. I told them that next time I will be coming and that they should inform everybody. This next time, nobody came – but the time after that they did! Then I told them about what I been doing with the Youth Club in Angoni and that I now would like to work with them and how. After that I played some games with them to get to know them better, they really enjoyed it – we had fun! Unfortunately only boys participated. The next time I came with suggestions of activities and seeds that I again bought for my own money. The seeds they had been given last time from the project had been taken by the youth club leader whoquit and left to another village, so they didn’t have any garden. Together we made a plan for the rest of my time in Serenje from my suggestions. After this they had a football game which I was watching for a while before I left. They are good!The same week I had my first presentation about running and training with the Youth Club in Angoni. I also started making a running manual for them so that they can keep training after I am gone if the want. The week after I went to Lusaka for my vacation. The last days I called to Child Aid Chibombo were I wanted to go for my task force week. Again, they said I can’t come – so I decided that I don’t care anymore. For the rest of the time I already have a plan and I refused to change it again. I went directly to Serenje – home sweat home!Since I now had like one free week I decided to go to Kashishi again that I promised. So again I bicycled for 3 hours and when I arrived I asked for the Youth Club leader Nicolaus. 2 boys escorted me to his home, maybe 30 min away. I was very welcomed by him and his family – wife and 2 young boys. I was tierd so when they gave me a cup of tea and some sweat potatoes I was in heaven! This night they made a sleeping space for me in the kitchen, the wife lied in the room next to me (it was a very small hous) and Nicolaus and the kids sleeped outside by the fire. The floor was hard and there were ratts in the kitchen so it was impossible for me to sleep. And I as scared so after a while I asked if I could sleep outside with the others. I felt bad – they have this living conditions always and I couldn’t even take one night. Outside by the fire it was very nice but I still couldn’t sleep. The ground was to hard and it was to cold. I managed to sleep about 1-2 hours this night so the day after I was a zombie. But I managed to go around with Nicolaus to inform the youth to meet the next day at 10.00 a clock. Then I prepared the activities at their place and I helped the wife to cock. She was a very nice woman and enjoyed chatting with her. Next morning I packed my things, said good bye to the family and me and Nicolaus went down to the school. Waited for about 1 hour – nobody came! I was angry, I went there for nothing. And this situation I had before in Kashishi so felt frustrated. But…it is Africa… I started bicycling home, I was in a bad mood and I was tired even though this night I could sleep. So the journey was slow and my stupid Red star felt heavy. On Saturday this week I went with Lucie to Angoni Youth Club. There I had a running competition with prices and Lucie had a work shop with them. It was nice but they didn’t try so hard with the baskets. But we had fun together!The day after I went to pick up my dog, that an Area leader had been taking care of while I was gone. On my way there I had an accident with the bicycle, I injured my legs and Lucie and Fredric, our project, leader came to pick me up with the motorcycle. It was a Sunday so when we reached the hospital there was no doctor (they have only one) and the nurses were not very willing to give me any help. My knee (especially the left one!) were swollen and colorfull and then I had some small sources on ankles, stomach and my arm. First day it was very difficult to walk and it was paining a lot. Of course I had to use this situation to the fullest – I made Lucie my slave!Loooser! Can you give me that book? Fix the pillow! Bring food!Following day I went to the hospital again, they released some blood from the knee joint and gave me pain killers. I was also applying Rub on. Stupid leg! I was very annoyed with it, I wanted to work! And actually I was working to hard. Fredric, our new project leader, was very concerned. Magda, go home now and rest! Noo, it’s just okay! I’ll be fine!But I have to admit, my annoying boss was right . I never became fine, after 2 weeks it was still very swollen even though I had been resting a lot more and really tried to take care. I had by then visited the hospital 4 times and I now wanted to go to a hospital in Lusaka I heard was very good. So I called to Vibeke again but she just refused to help me, why I don’t know since health should always come first, and she didn’t know what was wrong with my leg. So it is always better to check it to be sure. It is not good to have a coordinator like this who just doesn’t care, since she is the one you depend on. And we have insourence so I don’t understand her problem; it is her responsibility to help me. Because of her I have now been having some troubles to manage with money since I had to arrange with the hospital and the insurance company by myself and went anyway. At the hospital they checked my leg, made x-ray and gave me medicine for it. They said that it is okay but if it is still swollen in 2 weeks I have to come back. So that was nice to hear. By now it is okay, still a bit swollen and it is paining if you are putting pressure on it. And still I don’t have much feeling on the skin. But I can now use it normally, I just still can’t bend it all the way. Just before I went to Lusaka Lucie had a celebration in Kebumba School that I was participating on to assist her. Lucie has been given a donation from her country so she arranged for tables and chairs for the school. So when the school opened we went there and arranged activities during the day. What I did was to prepare a presentation about my country Sweden, some competitions for the children and a runningcompetition with the Youth Club. Then I was singing songs with Lucie! It was very successful and everything went well! Lucie did a good job preparing all this. (This busy day I had to stand and walk almost the hole day and I could feel my leg was just getting worse and worse.) Since the beginning almost me and Lucie has been preparing a HIV-campaign. But it has been veeery sloooow. But now more in the end we finally pulled ourselves together and started to work on it. We made a theater, a test for the children to find out the situation here (like a research) and planned to make a discussion with the girls and boys separately. We went to Boma School and Kebumba School and made appointments. In total we worked with 5 classes and it went very well! But it is difficult also…Loooser! Can you give me that book? Fix the pillow! Bring food!Following day I went to the hospital again, they released some blood from the knee joint and gave me pain killers. I was also applying Rub on. Stupid leg! I was very annoyed with it, I wanted to work! And actually I was working to hard. Fredric, our new project leader, was very concerned. Magda, go home now and rest! Noo, it’s just okay! I’ll be fine!But I have to admit, my annoying boss was right . I never became fine, after 2 weeks it was still very swollen even though I had been resting a lot more and really tried to take care. I had by then visited the hospital 4 times and I now wanted to go to a hospital in Lusaka I heard was very good. So I called to Vibeke again but she just refused to help me, why I don’t know since health should always come first, and she didn’t know what was wrong with my leg. So it is always better to check it to be sure. It is not good to have a coordinator like this who just doesn’t care, since she is the one you depend on. And we have insourence so I don’t understand her problem; it is her responsibility to help me. Because of her I have now been having some troubles to manage with money since I had to arrange with the hospital and the insurance company by myself and went anyway. At the hospital they checked my leg, made x-ray and gave me medicine for it. They said that it is okay but if it is still swollen in 2 weeks I have to come back. So that was nice to hear. By now it is okay, still a bit swollen and it is paining if you are putting pressure on it. And still I don’t have much feeling on the skin. But I can now use it normally, I just still can’t bend it all the way. Just before I went to Lusaka Lucie had a celebration in Kebumba School that I was participating on to assist her. Lucie has been given a donation from her country so she arranged for tables and chairs for the school. So when the school opened we went there and arranged activities during the day. What I did was to prepare a presentation about my country Sweden, some competitions for the children and a runningcompetition with the Youth Club. Then I was singing songs with Lucie! It was very successful and everything went well! Lucie did a good job preparing all this. (This busy day I had to stand and walk almost the hole day and I could feel my leg was just getting worse and worse.) Since the beginning almost me and Lucie has been preparing a HIV-campaign. But it has been veeery sloooow. But now more in the end we finally pulled ourselves together and started to work on it. We made a theater, a test for the children to find out the situation here (like a research) and planned to make a discussion with the girls and boys separately. We went to Boma School and Kebumba School and made appointments. In total we worked with 5 classes and it went very well! But it is difficult also…The 4 October I had my next Hip Hop Party for the Youth, this time it went very well, I am proud of myself over my improvement! For this time the theme was “Just say NO drugs!”. My decorations was very cool, and my competitions was fun planned – but it was sometimes hard to make them understand, at least it worked! The price for the main competition was a trip to Nsalu Caves and Nkundalila Falls – 3 won from the party and then me and Lucie choose the 10 most active in Angoni Youth Club. This was also from Lucies money from the people. At the party I also had hot music and I got a lot of help from my very good friends to get good loud speakers. First I was going to rent but they demanded 125 000 kwacha for the hole time!!! Now I got them for 10 000. I was very grateful. I had also arranged with Angoni Youth Club to make a theater about drugs and alcohol for the party as an income generating activity – I paid them 10 000 kwacha. I had fun activities during the party and they enjoyed! In short: my party rocked!The day after we went for the trip – it was so cool! We had a lot of fun together! And at both places we arranged games. It was very nice! And nobody of them had been there before, in general it is difficult for people here to travel, so I think it was a very good experience for them!My last task I did myself was from the beginning – in Chimpati I meet a girl that can’t speak and since then I have been thinking a lot about how to help her in the best way. I have been contacting organizations/companies in my country but nobody would help me or answer me. So I decided to contact my boss (I was working with handicapped people for 2 years before I started the program and I am a trained Under Nurse). She thought the best thing to do was to make pictograms for her. So I kept thinking and decided to go for buying a book, pens and markers, glue, siccer and paper for her to put pictograms inside the book. I made structure in the book for her to be able to fine the words easily and made few examples for her and the pre school teacher to understand. The girl is also very young so I think this can be very good for her to be able to learn to communicate with people better – she is now quit shy also. Her preschool teacher seams to be very good! Perfect for the job! He really cares! When I came to Chimpati I decided to make one last picture club with the preschool before I started working with only the girl. They enjoyed very much and afterwards I left the rest of the colors with the Pre School. I explained them the way to my idea, how she can use the book, the structure of the book and I gave them advices of how to teach, support and direct her. After that I made few examples together with them so that they really understood the idea and they thought it was good. They even gave me a drink and cookies to show their appreciation. I managed quit well and I had a good feeling from the day.
Now what did I achieve during this 6 months? I guess a lot of it you can’t see. But I do think I had some impact on the youth… How much or how little I don’t know. There is no numbers to look on.
Then I also hope that this little girl in Chimpati has some use from my idea, if the idea works and they do use it I believe I could have done a great impact.
I guess I will never find out, but I tried.
Soon I am leaving Zambia,see you in 1 year!! Magda
First Report
First month Report
by Madelene Kjellgren at DAPP Child Aid, Serenje District in Zambia
I have really been enjoying my time in Zambia, I like our house, I love this little town Boma, I really enjoy meeting and talking to the people here and it is so beautiful it can make you speechless!I am looking forward to the rest of my time here and hope I will be able to give and receive a lot!
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