News from Zambia 1
Some Notes From The Four Gap Participants
ROMA...LUSAKA
Roma Girls was established in 1963 just before Zambian independence in October 1964 and so has made a significant contribution to girls’ education, which was previously given little priority. A number of Australian sisters have worked here at Roma, which used to be boarding school, but this was changed into a day school and a primary school was introduced in 1992. The property was fifty acres when purchased and is seven kilometres from the Lusaka city centre.
Clare has been staying with the Roma Community comprising: Srs Kieran (works in secondary school), Marianne Dorothy (Councillor) Emma Chakupalesa (local leader), Kayula Lesa (works for Jesuit Social Justice), Catherine Chileshe (Headmistress of Primary School), Anne Taylor (Australian RSC Companion).
I have had such an incredible time in Zambia already and it has only been my first two weeks! It is an amazing place, the landscape is so green and beautiful and I haven’t seen quite so much rain in a very long time. I have been helping out at Roma Girls Primary School in Lusaka, mainly in the grade two class, which I have loved every minute of. The children are so energetic and friendly and also extremely fascinated with my hair and skin. I have also been going to PE classes with them, which they all love. They have sack races and carrying containers and mangoes in bowls on top of their head races and they all have such a good time.
Roma Girls primary is a wonderful place. Originally being the site of the secondary boarding school, it was then transformed into a primary school in 1993 to provide primary education to those children in the neighbouring compounds who previously may not have had the opportunity to go to school. Lusaka is full of life with people riding bicycles, lots of singing and dancing, women carrying boxes on their heads usually also with a baby strapped to their back, children playing in the streets together and plenty of crazy blue mini buses on the roads which are truly an experience. The sisters I have been living with at Roma have been so welcoming and have made me feel right at home. I couldn’t believe it, I even went to a ceili to celebrate St Patrick’s Day that the Irish embassy held and I was up doing Irish dancing with all the Irish community in Zambia. I have had such a great time so far and I very much look forward to the weeks ahead as we have some exciting things coming up like Easter, final vows for a couple of the Zambian sisters and even possibly a trip to Victoria Falls.
CHIKUNI
Chikuni is in the Southern Province of Zambia 30 km from the nearest town of Monze. The 14th July 1905 is marked as the beginning of Chikuni Mission. Here the Sisters engaged in educational work and nursing. A small dispensary operated in 1948 developed into a hospital with a large outpatient department.
Ros has been staying with the Chikuni community comprising Srs Patricia Murphy, Cecilia Chilufya, Beatrice Jacinta Katongo (local leader), Patricia McGraw, Veronica Banda, Liness Banda, Miyanda Mwiinga (away from the community preparing for final vows. She was with us MAGiS/ WYD
I am currently living with the Sisters of Charity on a mission around 3 and half hours from Lusaka. The mission is called Chikuni and the sisters work with other staff in the hospital. The hospital caters not only for its inpatients but also for hundreds of others in surrounding communities, who rely on the health service for their everyday needs. I go there to help out in any way I can.
In this area HIV and its complications are huge public health issues and throughout my time I have also been involved in outreach aimed at stopping the spread of HIV and safer living in malarial areas. Furthermore I have also been helping out in the opening of a surgery in the hospital. There, along with Sister Patricia I have been washing and placing instruments and drugs relevant to the mostly gynaecological theatre. This opportunity is really rewarding and I have loved every minute of engaging with Zambian culture and meeting all kinds of people from a range of backgrounds.
NAKAMBALA
Sugar estates were established in the early 60s in the area near Mazabuka because of its vast water resource base and its hot humid temperature, which are suitable for growing sugar cane. A sprawling farm spanning thousands of hectares of neatly planted rows of sugar cane, a sugar mill, a complex of residential dwellings, recreational facilities, schools, clubs, shops and clinics.
In 1966, the work of the Sisters of Charity began in Nakambala when they provided a social worker for the Estate, where a new factory had recently been constructed. In 1970, the Sisters began homecraft classes for the wives of the factory workers. In time the ladies who were competent were working fulltime making school uniforms for local schools and filter bags for the factory. The sisters became involved in other parish activities.
At Nakambala Becc has been staying with Srs Francisca Hang’ombe (local leader), Juliana Mwanza and Helen Namutami (She was with us at MAGiS / WYD)
I've been in Nakambala for 2 weeks now, and in the past few days I've really started to settle in. Nakambala is a small estate that is like an oasis within acres and acres of sugar cane. It comprises of a church, two schools and a large compound, which houses many of the workers from the nearby factory. As part of my experience, I have been going to schools in the mornings and then in the afternoons I have been going out with Sr Helen, who runs the Home Based Care program for the surrounding area.
The most rewarding thing I have done so far would have to be going out to Shimungalu Community School. Of all the outstations, Shimungalu is the poorest, and the school there was only constructed because the Sisters of Charity insisted on building it, despite the Zambian Government refusing to assist them financially. Although the school is very basic, it now caters for over 700 students, who come from the nearby village and would otherwise probably have nowhere to study. It has been amazing to see the children's enthusiasm and their passion for learning, despite their difficult circumstances, and it's great to see the incredible work being done by the sisters in such an important area.
On arrival in Nakambala I struggled quite a lot. I missed home, and although the sisters here are all lovely and wonderfully hospitable, the shock of being around virtual strangers really took its toll. However, once I went to the schools and with Sr Helen as she visited people in the compound, I started to see the wonderful work being done, and began to feel extremely lucky for getting the opportunity to meet so many amazing, inspiring people!
MAAMBA
In 1967, when coal was discovered, a small poverty-stricken town 75 miles from Choma saw the local population increase dramatically. The Sisters of Charity were asked to come to Maamba to assume responsibility for the clinic there and to work among the people. When the Sisters arrived in 1970, they occupied a house belonging to the mines. The house was resumed in 1983 by the mines and a new convent was built close to the clinic, church and stores.
At Maamba Megan is staying with Srs Mary Fallon Cecilia Mulanga, Nancy Mkandawirem (away from community...preparing for final vows. She was with was at MAGiS/ WYD), Colleen Jackson ( Australian RSC Companion)
After being in Maamba for a couple of weeks, I feel truly at home. Everyday I meet someone new and whether it be a little child or an old lady, I still marvel at the warmth that they show to me. Every morning I have been going to a preschool and help out with two classes. The first class contains children as young as 1 yr and 8 months, and the second class goes up to the age of 5. I help out with the class from 8 till about 12.30 each morning and never tire of the laughter and smiles that these little kids have. Communication is a huge difficulty because most of these kids only know the basics of English that including 'hello how are you,' or 'my name is ......' or 'I'm fine thankyou.' However we can still sing many songs together, laugh, kick a football and tickle each other.
On the afternoons I spend time at a special school, which contains a range of different kids, some who are handicapped physically, or some who are mentally challenged, or others who are blind or deaf. It was quite easy to connect with these kids. They don’t care if you can’t tell a story through sign language, all they want is for you to give them attention.
I sat down with one girl who was deaf, and we completed five different puzzles together. We were not speaking or signing a word, just sitting and enjoying each other’s company. This school recently acquired a computer for a young girl named Hannes who has only stumps for hands. Before using a computer Hannes had to write with a pen in her mouth. I am helping Hannes on the computer showing her all the different wonders of the computer. She is incredibly bright and hopefully she will be able to continue her study with the aid of her computer.
Maamba is an amazing place, the people are beautiful and are so considerate of everyone!!