Kelowna to Zambia - A Travel Blog

New Connections at UNZA (University of Zambia)

2007-07-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

We also really enjoyed Norman and Emily and the others working with Women for Change. Yummy dinner prepared by Emily and her family.

Our meetings yesterday were with people in the School of Medicine and others at University of Zambia. We enjoyed meeting Dr. Chifumbe Chintu, friend of Bill Nelems and professor of pediatrics. He introduced us to many others and we had indepth discussions with the Dean of Medicine (Dr. Mulla) , and conveyed Joan B's greetings (thanks Joan). He spent nearly an hour with us, and referred us then to his assistant dean (Dr. Mailbolwa, representing Nursing), and a senior professor in Public Health (Dr. Baboo).

They are all very excited and many had ideas right away about opportunities for collaboration. Lianne and Jessica (recent grads of UBCO nursing) will be most welcome as teachers in the basic nursing program, particularly in Mongu. Barbara and her husband will be welcome additions at the BScN program in Lusaka or in the MPH program. Physicians, particularly those interested in pediatrics have roles too - so something for everyone! There are research opportunities as well, but all of these we will match upon our return.

Today we went to the main campus to visit the Vice Chancellor. Also dropped in at the library. Joel and JoyAnne's grandfather worked in Zambia with the university in the 1960's and, to our delight and surprise, we found his work!!! By chance we also uncovered a librarian who was very much into distance learning and telemedicine (of great interest to Bill N). I think we will be collaborating with Dr. Chanda in both areas. This is just in time for our proposal to expand web-based public health continuing and graduate education opportunities to universities in low income countries.

And we look forward to our trip to Senanga tomorrow - leaving at 6:30 am!

Best wishes,
Gene, Joel, JoyAnne

P.S - For interests sake: The University of Zambia is Zambia's largest university, founded in 1966. It has a student population of about 6,000. Its main campus is located on the Great East Road, about 7km from Lusaka City.

News From Lusaka!

2007-07-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

Mula Bwanji everyone,

So we are here in Lusaka. Things are going really well. I am in total shock over the weather though...it is COLD. We are actually in sweatshirts right now...actually had to go and buy a couple more as I brought mostly warm clothes. It is like our fall weather right now. This is the dry season for them here.

Yesterday was a great day as we met with Women for Change staff and sat in on a meeting with them. They gave us their traditional welcome (song) and then we were able to hear what they are up to in all areas of their work. It is quite amazing and I cannot wait to share it with you all! I have copies of the agenda and their reports to show you. Then after that we went to the Child Crisis centre and met the young girls. We will be going back there near the end of our trip.

Gene and family arrived last evening and we went to Emily (the ED of WfC) house for a traditional meal which was very nice. I said hello to her from all of you. We will be leaving right away for Mumbwa and then in a couple of days right onto Senanga!!!! We are really looking forward to it. There are a few WfC staff coming with us and I will hopefully be able to update you from there. They are doing some incredible work there in terms of seed multiplication, vegetable community gardens and they are in the process of building a development centre!

I have all of your questions with me so will be looking into all of those things for you plus I have the video and the photo from the presentation, the t-shirts and medical supplies. I wish you were all here...you are definitely with us in spirit though and I will pass on your hello's to everyone in the village. I will try to write again soon...you guys are STARS!!! thanks so much for everything.

Zikomo (thanks)

Sheila and crew

P.S - This is Women for Change's website in case anyone is interested!

http://www.wfc.org.zm/

A Little Bit About Us

2007-06-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

Hello!!

This is the Kelowna-Zambia Partnership Blog where we will be documenting a three week journey to Zambia, Africa. Five members of the 'Partnership' - Sheila Olcen, Lynn Thornton, Gene Krupa, Joel Krupa and JoyAnne Krupa - are making this trek to initiate a partnership with the people of Senanga, a district in the Western province of Zambia.

Senanga was chosen for the partnership for several reasons:

1) It's about the right size - Senanga has a population similar to that of Kelowna - roughly 100,000 people.

2) There is great need - The people are very poor and there are high rates of HIV/AIDS, as well as several other major challenges to overcome.

3) There are few resources - few NGOs are working in this rural region.

4) We have contacts - Women for Change, an indigenous NGO has been working to establish groups of men and women interested in improving health, families and community.

5) The people are ready and organized to take the next step to improve their well being

While Sheila, Lynn, Gene, Joel, JoyAnne are in Zambia they will explore opportunities for collaboration with various groups doing important work in Lusaka and in Senanga. These include training health workers, training teachers, community development, improving gender equity, improving water quality and establishing microenterprise. They also hope to connect with athletes, artists and student groups. Even politicians from the city, provincial and federal governments are getting involved!

We initiated several projects in Kelowna and they will take the next steps with people there:

1) Art Exchange - Claire de la Salle has been in charge of coordinating the art exchange and her efforts combined with the efforts of a 4th grade classroom at Aberdeen Prep School have created beautiful results. Our Zambia crew will be bringing art supplies to Senanga to engage a number of children in an art project. Their creations will, in turn, be brought back to the Aberdeen Hall classroom to complete the exchange.

2) T-Shirts for Zambia - Mary Weston, head of fundraising, has been working alongside other group members to gather donations from local businesses and organizations in Kelowna for t-shirts with a "Kelowna" logo on them somewhere. Currently we are sitting at 100+ beautiful, colorful t-shirts to distribute at a much anticipated town-hall meeting. This will be a great way to initiate a friendship with the people of Senanga!

3) Medical Supplies - Magali, the outreach coordinator, has been working on a project to gather badly needed medical supplies from a number of family practitioners within the city. Items gathered include: latex gloves, bandages, acetaminophen, syringes and other basic medical necessities. This project is an extremely basic first step into understanding and addressing the health needs of the Senangan community.

In this blog we'll follow the developments of each of these projects and enjoy our team's pictures, stories, and experiences along the way.

Photographs are courtesy of Liz Morrison a VIDEA intern who has recently spent 7 months in Zambia.

Feel free to comment and ask questions - we'll do our best to answer all your questions!

- Magali