2 Months at Site!!

It’s been so long since my last entry…sorry for the delay… here’s what has been happening over the past few months…

My New Favorite Place…

I went to Zanzibar for holiday, which was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it. There are white sandy beaches and women who give massages, henna tattoos or manicures right there on the beach. There are also Masai warriors walking along the beaching selling handmade jewelry. They wear beautiful robes with plenty of beads and carry spears!!

I went on a tour through the spice forest with a guide and two small boys who made us cones from banana leaves (to hold the sample spices in), and small woven frogs from leaves, as a gift in the end. There was also a fruit tasting, I tested passion fruit for the first time… yummy!!

The second day on the island, a bunch of us went snorkeling. The coral reef was breathtaking. There were so many fish I had never seen before, including a giant red and gray starfish, we were also visited by a family of dolphins who swam alongside us for a bit!

After almost a week on the beach, we headed over to Stone Town, a city full of endless alleyways with countless curio shops. Many of the doors have huge spikes on them, which were used to keep the elephants away. There is a night market where vendors come to sell their paintings and other crafts. Freddy Mercury (the singer from Queen) was also born in Stone Town, but he only lived there for a minute before moving to India.

Zanzibar has an extensive history regarding the slave trade. During this period, 10 million people came through Stone Town to be sold at the slave auction. I went on a tour of the former slave market, which left me feeling sick. We went into actually rooms where people were kept (in retched conditions) before being sold in the slave market. It was a difficult tour to take.

We took the train there and back – two days each way. The train took s through a game park where we saw elephants, zebras, giraffes, impala, a hippo, hyena and a baboon (which I didn’t personally see). So, if anyone is looking for an incredible way to spend a holiday, Zanzibar would definitely be a place to consider. Let me know if you’re going… I’ll meet you there!!

Back in Kabuta…

I was worried that I may have a difficult time adjusting back to village life after such a wonderful holiday, but I found that I was happy to be back home. There are so many projects to keep me busy in Kabuta, I can never stay away for too long.

One of my main projects is the completion and opening of a clinic in my catchment area. The “tech team” and I are working with the NHC’s (neighborhood health committees) on gathering all of the information so that we can submit our proposal. This will be your chance to help, as we will be asking for assistance from friends and family in the States. I’ll write more once everything is finalized.

I’m working with the community and the clinic to organize a WASHE workshop (water and sanitation health education). Right now in Kabuta, we have a pretty serious cholera outbreak. There have even been some deaths. When the water sources in my catchment are were tested, they were all very contaminated with various bacteria; and now that it’s rainy season, there is all sorts of clay and who knows what else floating in the water. So water and sanitation in Kabuta is a bwafya sana (meaning “big problem” in Icibemba). There was a baby who died last week from diarrhea… and he lives behind the clinic. Diarrhea is so common in Kabuta because of poor water conditions. Right now, especially in this time of cholera, it is so important that we sensitize and educate the community. My hopes are that this workshop will train enough people who can then go out into the community to help others.

I’m also working on a project proposal with the Veterinary and Livestock Department in the BOMA to launch a small animal husbandry program. Due to the location of the community (directly on Lake Mweru), the people have come to rely heavily on fishing. The problem is that because of the population, the lake is being severely over-fished. The idea behind this project is to encourage people to become rely on other means of income generation… beyond the lake. We’re hoping to bring dairy goats, sheep, pigs and chickens to Nchelenge District; which will help not only to generate income, but also with malnutrition. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that our program is a success. So right now, I’m busy with the community organizing pilot groups for the project. I’ll keep everyone posted as things unfold.

In addition to the major projects, my days are spent working with various women’s groups, sharing new knitting and crocheting patterns, working on a marketing plan for an IGA (income generating activity) crocheting hammock chairs for babies. There are various cooking demos and soya workshops. Meeting with the Anti-Aids Clubs through the catchment are and working with the CAFT (Community Aids Task Force) to organize ZATF’s (Zonal Aids Task Force). I am working with the Social Welfare Agent and the PTA’s at the schools to mobilize groups of caregivers of OVC’s (orphan and vulnerable children) for various IGA’s to help with school fees for the children. We’re looking into bee keeping and animal husbandry, as well as knitting/crocheting, baking and gardening. Then there are the health talks and sessions about positive living, HIV/AIDS and nutrition. We (the community and I) are certainly busy.

In the BOMA, Libby and I just finished a four-week workshop with the employees of Anvil Mining on the basics of HIV/AIDS, transmission, prevention, stigma and VCT (voluntary counseling and testing). We were requested to arrange workshops with the police force here, since that is another high-risk population; but that will have to wait until next quarter since we’re both so busy.

The vegetables in my garden have grown enough so that I can eat them now… that’s a rewarding feeling… eating something that you’ve grown. I also just planted celery and watermelons… a little late, but better late than never I guess. Also, my 2 pushi (Kushipa and Talala) are boys!! I just learned that last month... it was a shock, considering that I thought they were girls for the first 5 months of their lives... don't know how I missed that one!?!?!?

Thank you so much to everyone who sent packages!! The contents of your packages really gave our “toe-time” a boost!! For those of you who don’t know what “toe-time” is… my neighbors come over every few weeks (just the ladies), and we just spend time together talking while doing pedicures and facials. It’s a good time!!

I miss you all so much,

xoxoxo