Sherri reporting from Zambia

We drove down to Zamtan today to be sure everything was in readiness for the ribbon cutting tomorrow.  As we suspected, there's  still a LOT of work to finish on the classrooms.  Windows and doors were installed today but the ceiling needs to be completed, the building painted inside and out and final finish work done.  But it's already in use!  This cute group of kids was enjoying the convenience of the covered portico to eat the nutritious porridge lunch prepared by the Kafwa.

We were reminded again, however, of how desperately the classrooms are needed.  The 2nd grade class met in the temporary shelter today while I had a meeting with the Kafwa under the tree.  A rainstorm blew in suddenly with little warning and everyone in the meeting under the tree scattered.   As the rain came down in torrents, we ran for our car and looked around just in time to see the kids in the temporary classroom burst out the door and head for shelter in the church.  Hopefully this will be the last time they'll get soaking wet in a school classroom!

We also saw the cement foundation for the toilets.  The government inspector told them they could not use the new school classrooms until more toilets were installed.  This little shanty community raised an amazing 2700 Kwacha or $450 which paid for the cement foundation.  Fortunately, one of our HealthEd Connect donors came to the rescue with the funds needed to complete the job.   Now for the celebration and ribbon cutting tomorrow!  Stay tuned...

Eerily quiet

Today is election day in Zambia.  After days of horns blaring, caravans of cars and trucks speeding by festooned with crepe paper streamers and campaign banners, people riding on car roofs, sitting on hoods, and leaning out of car windows, today is suddenly eerily quiet.  the roads that are normally bustling are entirely empty like this one outside Castle Lodge where we are staying. The entire country is on holiday with schools and stores closed.

This is the 5th transition of power in Zambia through democratic election.  Most African countries have struggled with coups and military take overs.  If Zambia remains peaceful tomorrow when election results are announced everyone will breathe easier.

The BIG Day!

Amidst all the pomp and circumstance a crowd of 200 at Zamtan could muster, the ribbon was cut by Angela, our head Kafwa, to officially open the school! The children sang choruses, the Kafwa danced, the men gave speeches, and everyone enjoyed an Orange Fanta at the conclusion.  The contractors, however, kept pounding and didn't miss a beat during the celebrations. Delays for various reasons, including torrential rains, slowed  down construction this month.  The latest bump was a country-wide preoccupation with the presidential election on the 20th.  The classroom furniture is finished and paid for but the supplier did not want to put his trucks on the road until after the election.  I'm sure there will be more hoopla when they arrive!  The party goes on!

Fwd: Sherri reporting from Zambia

This post has been "sending" for 3 days so I deleted 1 picture and am trying again.  You may get this twice!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: skirkpatrick@healthedconnect.org
Date: Jan 16, 2015 9:31 PM
Subject: Sherri reporting from Zambia
To: <Healthedconnect.goodtogo5@blogger.com>
Cc:

We drove down to Zamtan today to be sure everything was in readiness for the ribbon cutting tomorrow.  As we suspected, there's  still a LOT of work to finish on the classrooms.  Windows and doors were installed today but the ceiling needs to be completed, the building painted inside and out and final finish work done.  But it's already in use!  This cute group of kids was enjoying the convenience of the covered portico to eat the nutritious porridge lunch prepared by the Kafwa.

We were reminded again, however, of how desperately the classrooms are needed.  The 2nd grade class met in the temporary shelter today while I had a meeting with the Kafwa under the tree.  A rainstorm blew in suddenly with little warning and everyone in the meeting under the tree scattered.   As the rain came down in torrents, we ran for our car and looked around just in time to see the kids in the temporary classroom burst out the door and head for shelter in the church.  Hopefully this will be the last time they'll get soaking wet in a school classroom!

We also saw the cement foundation for the toilets.  The government inspector told them they could not use the new school classrooms until more toilets were installed.  This little shanty community raised an amazing 2700 Kwacha or $450 which paid for the cement foundation.  Fortunately, one of our HealthEd Connect donors came to the rescue with the funds needed to complete the job.   Now for the celebration and ribbon cutting tomorrow!  Stay tuned...

Jeff Manuel reporting from Zambia

Today we met with the Kafwa to discuss the many projects they were involved in. We discussed the Good Life Gardening project, the Girls Achievement Program, the Child Support Specialist program and the home visiting program.  The Kafwa are engaged in so many good programs that touch so many lives!

As a palliative medicine physician, I was most interested in the home visiting program where many of the patients are HIV positive and suffering from AIDS. The people they visit are very ill and have few resources. The kafwa  shared one story of a man with AIDS who had recently had a stroke and his family ran from the home instead of helping him. They found him in his home without clothes, alone and filthy. They bathed him, helped him put on clothes and eventually got him to the hospital.  The extra care and compassion they show helps make tragic situations a little better. 

When our meetings were done a man who lives across from the school was having horrible back pain and they asked me to come on the visit. This young man was a cement worker and had developed lumbar radiculopathy. I examined him and then offered some aspirin, some exercises and told him to not lift anything heavy until his pain improves. He is the only one working in his family, so I hope this does not become a permanent problem. 

Delivering health care with so little resources is so difficult. Our Kafwa do such a good job improving the health of their community a and showing compassion when there is no cure available. 

Ebola

The health workers should be in Hollywood!  We used role plays extensively in the training since 5 different languages were represented.  Josephine from Congo used a scarf to improvise an Ebola protective uniform and then proceeded to play the part.  There were many heavy moments as we explored the seriousness and rumors surrounding Ebola but there was also lots of laughter and fun moments too. We had the certificate program yesterday before the Zambian Kafwa departed for home.  The ladies from Malawi will leave today and the Congolese tomorrow.  Hopefully 2 Zambulances will accompany them to Congo --- incredibly challenging to make arrangements!!

7th grade

We met some of the new 7th grade girls today.....aren't they cute? They said they meet every Monday for the Girls Achievement Program and are really enjoying the book they are discussing together.  When I asked how old they are, I got answers ranging from 12 to 15.  This is probably reflective of the older ones having no school available when they would normally have started school.

Jeff Manuel reporting from Zambia

Greetings from Zambia.  Two important things happened today.   It was the first day of the new school year.  The school was full of children eager to learn and parents waiting in line to enroll their children. The excitement and energy was contagious as we entered the school grounds. 

It was also the first day of our health worker training on the facts and the fictions of Ebola. Today we shared with health workers from three different countries and five different areas.  We reviewed the myths and misconceptions that each group was hearing being discussed in their own communities.  It's clear that the fear of Ebola is real and that it is important that our health workers learn the facts about this challenging disease. 

It is inspiring to work with these dedicated women who have devoted their lives to improving the health of their communities. They volunteer their precious time to selflessly serve those around them. 

Michelle reporting from Dumre Village, Nepal

​Meet Kanchi Nepali! You might notice Kanchi's interesting surname. "Nepali" is the name of the sewing caste in Nepal, and we found her sitting cross-legged on the "front porch" creating a beautiful dress with her old hand-cranked sewing machine.   Kanchi is a traveling seamstress from a nearby village, who is currently living with the family that we visited in the mountain village of Dumre.  She resides with the family for a time, doing sewing for local families and then returns home or moves on to another location. She is paid in rice only after the crop is brought in. Being a member of the seamstress caste, a lower caste than the family we visited, Kanchi is not allowed to enter the kitchen during her stay. However, she spent the day laughing and chatting with the women of the family and playing with the children and appeared to be quite at home. If Kanchi were to suffer an illness, our visiting home healthcare workers would care for her just as they would the family members.

--

Michelle Mahlik

Philosophy Department, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

BOD, HealthEd Connect (www.healthedconnect.org)

Michelle in Nepal

​

We were honored to be welcomed into the home of a family living in the mountain village of Dumre, Nepal. These ladies are preparing a meal over the traditional cookstove found throughout Nepal.  The haze in this photo is the smoke that these women and children breath daily. HealthEd Connect is exploring potential cookstove solutions that will help alleviate the numerous health issues associated with the smoke.  Although this particular village is in a wooded area and has access to wood to burn, most Nepalese mold cow dung into patties or sticks to use as fuel.

--

Michelle Mahlik

Philosophy Department, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

BOD, HealthEd Connect (www.healthedconnect.org)

Michelle and Josh reporting from Nepal

​

We were privileged to spend a day in Biratnagar, Nepal with one of our delightful healthcare workers, Sangita Malla! This quietly charming lady is one of the cornerstones of her community, providing not only practical health care but psychological counseling and emotional support to 60 families in her village.  She works as a nurse at the local hospital and spends the remainder of her time as a Hope for Himalaya volunteer (HealthEd Connect's Nepal branch), providing compassionate care to her neighbors. Walking the dirt paths through the village, Sangita was lovingly greeted by each and every person we passed and we were welcomed with smiles and obvious excitement into 15 of the homes of Sangita's patients. Clearly, an important and beloved person to this village! Sangita proudly showed us the perfectly kept records of her treatment plan for each and every patient that she carries in a little plastic folder, along with her meager medical supplies. It is women like Sangita that are the foundation of HealthEd Connect's most successful programs!
--

Michelle Mahlik

Philosophy Department, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

BOD, HealthEd Connect (www.healthedconnect.org)

London sunrise

Sherri for Zambia team-

Short night but we're good to go!  London greeted us with a lovely sunrise vs. the usual fog.  As soon as Jeff  arrives on a flight from Denver, we'll hop on the tube for a quick trip downtown before boarding our flight for Joburg this evening.  Can hardly wait for another night on an airplane  in an economy seat!!

Zambia team - Sherri reporting

Chicago is our first stop on our way to Zambia.  Just getting ready to board for London.  Can hardly wait to spend the next 2 nights on planes!!

A roof for the New Year!

Old Zamtan school with cardboard roof.

New Zamtan school in final stage of construction

The roof is completed on the Zamtan School with doors and windows scheduled to be installed next.  Then comes the plastering and painting for the final touches.  This is an L shaped complex with 3 classrooms, a small library, a kitchen for the Kafwa, and an office for the head teacher. 

 

The ribbon cutting is scheduled for January 17.  Oh happy day!!!