Today we got an early start. We began our day by working on the computers in our rooms at Castle Lodge. Blogs take time!
Michael working on a blog while listening to his practice recording.
Dave and Brian making some last minute preparations
When Muyunda arrived, we set out for an internet cafe suggested to us by Eunice, the owner of Castle Lodge. Unfortunately, a storm knocked out the wireless at the lodge, so we have to go out to get online. The cafe was very nice; it had good speeds, new computers, and very reasonable rates. We will be back for sure!
Internet Cafe!
Brian sending off finished blogs
After we finished at the cafe, we headed out to Kantolomba. Theresa has made it known that Michael was eager to work with the kids on football, and Friday is the sports day for the afterschool girls program Rose has organized. Between the two events, we had quite a welcoming committee.
So many friendly faces!
While he was getting ready for football, Michael took a moment to explain the workings of sunscreen to some of the kids.
Michael extolling the virtues of sun protection
There ended up being far too many kids for a proper football technique clinic, so instead we decided to organize games. We moved with a great train of kids down to a nearby field. For the younger kids, we gave them a ball and set them up on one side of the field. A vigorous game of chase ensued. The older boys divided up into two teams and laid out a football pitch on the remaining portion of the field. An energetic game of football soon followed.
The younger kids chased each other around...
...while the older boys picked teams.
Football scenes:
A few football fans
Meanwhile, the older girls were busy back at the Living Compassion property. Rose has organized a netball league as part of the afterschool girls program. Every Friday the girls mark out a netball court and play a series of games. Today was no different; four teams competed in a round robin. The competition was vigorous but amicable; each scoring play was greeted with applause from both spectators and players.
Making equipment
Setting up the court
Theresa got in a few shots before the games began
Let the games begin!
A break in the action between games
The action resumes
As the sporting events wound down, Francis arrived to meet with Dave about a quotation for finishing the electrical work on the main building and wiring the hammermill building. It was agreed that Dave and Francis would go to Masala market to buy supplies Saturday morning.
Dave, Francis, and their silent partner
Meanwhile Friday, Peter, and Reuben continued to work on the plumbing in the main building. They are making great progress and hope to be finished before the end of the trip!
Peter, Friday, and Reuben installing a shut-off valve for the water tanks.
Peter and Friday working on sinks
At the same time, Brian and Muyunda spent some time working on using a USB cellular adapter to get online from the property. A new cellular tower has gone up nearby, and we are hoping we can find a way to allow Theresa to communicate regularly from the compound as the cooperative works on projects.
Soon it was time for lunch. After the kids were served, we sat in with the co-op ladies for our meal. The Zambian skies opened up with a fury - a heavy rain began, accompanied by thunder and lightning. We were glad to have a well-made roof overhead!
After lunch we had a meeting with Theresa and Rose to check in on some ongoing projects. Of particular interest were Rose's health programs and the afterschool girls program. There was lots of good news to report:
*In addition to sports on Fridays, the girls program meets every Tuesday for a knitting class. They began by learning to knit baby socks and hats. Perhaps we will see some of these in the future on Sangha Market!
The girls are divided into two groups, with the older group getting family planning and reproductive health in addition to learning to knit. In this older group there are 18 young women ages 15-18. Though it is not uncommon in Kantolomba for 14-year-olds to be married and have children, none of the older girls in the program have become pregnant since the program started in May.
In addition to providing health information, Rose works with the girls to bring awareness to issues of violence in the home and child abuse. She has positioned herself to be someone the girls can come to about these issues.
Rose's ladies.
*Every Tuesday and Friday Rose is available for onsite health screenings and first aid. For a 500 kwacha fee (about 12 cents), co-op members and their families are able to receive basic medical care, advice on health issues, and recommendations to a doctor for more serious issues. The fee has thus far paid for the first-aid supplies and drugs needed for the program.
Rose also confirmed that all co-op members are using their mosquito nets.
*In August the cooperative came together to thoroughly clean the homes of every member and to launder all bedding with a disinfectant. This done, all of the homes were sprayed to keep out insects. This was especially helpful for older members, who have more difficulty keeping up with housework. The home cleaning and spraying effort lead to a steep decline in skin rashes among the elderly and children. Both Theresa and Rose are supportive of making it a regular event.
*Theresa and Rose were also eager to highlight the success of many of our students. As an example, they mentioned Mercy Mwale, who started in our school program without any prior education and is now at the top of her class in the government school!
Meeting with Theresa and Rose
After our meeting it was time to head into town. We hoped to follow up a lead on efficient cooking stoves by visiting the Office of Community Development for Copperbelt province. Unfortunately, the director was already gone for the day when we arrived. His assistant claimed to have heard of the pulumusa stove project, and said the boss would have more information for us if we returned Monday morning. You can bet we'll be there!
Today was a great day for cute faces:
The Coop ladies enjoying a cool afternoon
Georgina's baby, Gloria, gets cuter by the day!