While Jen and Mr. Kayula met early in the morning to go over the draft of the constitution for the NGO application, Dave went to town to run errands and arrange meetings. Once Mr. Kayula approved the whole document, we went to the internet café to print it. After going over the remaining forms to be filled out, we decided to set a goal for completion by the next morning.
We convened at the Water Department to check in with Mr. Chaila. It turns out he had made his best effort to secure the rig to dig our well this week, but was unable to manage it. Our disappointment was somewhat ameliorated by learning that he had arranged for his top geological engineer to do the required site survey in preparation for drilling during our April trip. We decided that since this was the best we could do we would be content with this arrangement. We filled out the paperwork, gave a deposit against the use of the drilling rig in three months, and made an appointment with the geological expert for Friday.
Dave paying for the well.
After tying up a few loose ends in town, we found ourselves with unexpected free time before our next activity. We decided to call Carol (the sister of Agness, the charming woman who works at the guesthouse) to see if she might be available for lunch. We met Carol during our visit in October and were impressed with her obvious intelligence, excellent English, and commitment to helping the women of Zambia. Our conversation over lunch confirmed what we had seen in October. Her orientation to life and the way she does her counseling work closely parallel our practice. We see many possibilities through this relationship for making principles such as conscious, compassionate awareness and going beyond self-hatred available to folks in Zambia who could benefit. The women tell us that depression and low self-esteem are two of the biggest problems facing women in Zambia.
Theresa (driving) and Carol.
Carol had taken the day off work so, after our great lunch, she agreed to accompany us out to Kantolomba where we were scheduled to walk the new property with Steve, the building architect, and lay out the Community Center. We picked up Steve in town at the site of another job he is doing—the conversion of an old house to a laboratory for an international group of scientists doing HIV/Aids work with a Gates Foundation grant.
In Kantolomba Dave and Jen worked with Steve to clarify the vision for the building and see if the land will accommodate the plans we had sketched. As we walked it off, we saw that our design for the first L-shape building to house three classrooms, the medical center, and a community learning center will fit perfectly. We laid out a small secondary building that will serve as office space and two bedrooms, which will enable us to stay on the property when we come for these short business trips. As soon as we go over our findings with the rest of the team back in the U.S., Steve will draw the plans. We will break ground in April. All very exciting.
Steve and Dave
Steve measuring out the lines for the building
It was getting late as we finished up so we piled into the car to return to the city and drop everyone in their various neighborhoods. On the way back, Theresa, Pauline and Carol reported that while we had been laying out the building the women were having a great time talking. Our usual crew (Beauty, Josephine, Georgina and a few more) met Carol for the first time and took full advantage of the opportunity to ask questions of someone well versed in women’s issues and rights. Carol has expressed a willingness to come to Kantolomba to do workshops on women’s issues, and clearly they will be well received.
The women in Kantolomba talking. Carol in the back left corner
(wearing black top and white skirt) Theresa in the foreground
Home again to cook dinner and work on the NGO papers. We managed to fill out the required forms detailing the members of our board, name of the organization, mission statement, our fiscal year, and myriad details. The forms are oversized and must be filled out in quadruplicate—no small task.
Only two business days remaining in this trip and much still to do.