An update on our Foundations for Farming project

Towards the end of 2015, Arise launched a new farming project. It involved working with a charity called The Dawn Community Care Trust and aims to teach Foundations for Farming methods, which were developed on the ground in Africa for African people, but can be used anywhere in the world. It is a model based on the Bible which focuses on putting God and the gospel at the heart of restoring the land to God’s intended purposes.

Foundations for Farming in action at Kaniki

Foundations for Farming is based on four key principles:

1. On Time - Effective farming requires tasks (such as planting and weeding) to be done promptly at the right time.

2. At Standard - Effective farming requires tasks to be done to a standard of excellence with exact measurements.

3. No Waste - Effective farming requires avoiding wasting resources, energy and opportunities.

4. With Joy - Effective farming requires a good attitude and a joyful heart.

Joyful John, the Kapumpe gardener who helps teach Arise guardians

A year and a half on from the launch of the project, we have been able to review and reflect on progress so far. It has been fantastic to see how well the farming has been going – the maize growing, the plot extended, soya beans, tomatoes and cabbages added and most of all, the enthusiasm of the volunteers and guardians and the pride they have in their work. 

Growing cabbages

Growing corn

However, changing traditional ways of thinking and working is a very long-term process. The small group of guardians who have been involved in our farming project have been enthusiastic and pleased with what they’ve grown, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they have replicated what they have seen in their own plots of land. This is definitely the next big challenge for the project. The fact that we have a nearby water tap makes it easier for guardians working on our demo plot compared to irrigating their own land. It has provoked us to carefully consider the conditions that they are working in. 

Working hard on the plot at Kaniki

Apparently if Zambians go against their traditional methods, other Zambians often talk and might suggest they are involved in witchcraft. This can mean the person is belittled, ridiculed or ostracised. This is why I believe it’s important that the people teaching the different methods are Zambians themselves, because they will understand the cultural challenges faced by those they are teaching. If I was teaching it (a rather unlikely prospect as I know nothing about farming!), then people in the local community might tend to think they were strange "muzungu" (white people) methods! 

It is certainly no small feat to challenge mindsets and to try to create change. We have suggested to the guardians that they try out the foundations for farming methods in a small area of their own fields, with the intention that better results would be the strongest way to convince them of the effectiveness.

Visiting guardians' fields

Recently we visited the fields of the guardians in the project. We saw a variety of results. For example, one of our most committed guardians told us she hadn’t tried the new methods because she didn’t have a way to collect the chicken manure Arise had purchased for her (even though she hadn't mentioned it at the time). Another guardian had used the new methods where she had planted quite a large area of maize and it was growing extremely well. Perhaps we need to encourage the other guardians involved in the project to come and see her plot for some inspiration and encouragement!

A guardian whose maize has grown extremely well
(with her husband who has passed away since the photo was taken)

There are definitely things we need to think about as we consider how we develop the project further. We really want to help our guardians transition from using the foundations for farming methods at our demo plot to applying them in their own fields, and to see them have greater ownership, rather than always being reliant on our volunteers or the trainer.

One idea that has come from the initial project is how these methods could be taught as part of the curriculum at Kapumpe Christian Primary School. With children generally being more open-minded and less tied to traditional ways, we think they will make a receptive audience.

Kapumpe children enjoying corn grown by Arise guardians

I am really pleased that overall the project has got off to a positive start. It’s one small step in helping to empower people in their local communities, which is what Arise is all about.

The Missionary Position

One of my friends here in Zambia was recently describing his stereotypical view of a missionary. Socks and sandals, long hair, floaty clothes…you get the picture. I did laugh at the time when I realised I was actually wearing a raincoat, head torch, socks and flip flops. Not quite the look I would usually go for at home! 

Looking ridiculous in the rain recently

This conversation with friends got me thinking about what a missionary is. The Oxford dictionary definition is ‘a person sent on a religious mission, especially one sent to promote Christianity in a foreign country’. In this context, I guess I could be considered a missionary. I have been volunteering at a Christian school and with an orphan project that has the hope of Jesus at the core of its values. However, in some ways what I am doing is not so different to what many people in the UK do. There are a large number of people in Britain who volunteer or give their time in different ways to support people, relieve poverty or empower others.

Arise youth meeting praise and worship

Growing up, I was inspired by books I read about several Christian missionaries. I was interested to discover their tales of adventure and challenge, and to read about their courage in spite of adversity. It seemed amazing that they would give up privileged lives to spend years doing things such as working with drug addicts in China like Jackie Pullinger, or building relationship with people in Ecuador like Jim Elliot and his friends who were later killed by the Auca tribe. 

But much of the world has changed in recent years. With the advance of technology the world has become seemingly smaller. Moving to a third world country doesn’t necessarily require you to live in basic conditions and in many places it’s much easier to keep in contact with friends and family back in your home country. Poverty also exists in every single country to some extent, so we all come across it and have the opportunity to respond to it, wherever we live.

Not exactly slumming it at the ice cream parlour in Ndola

During my time here I have come to believe that the local Zambian people are often the best people to help other Zambians. They have a far deeper understanding of their own culture than visitors do. For any of us who come to volunteer in their country, our roles should be focused on empowering them to create their own change. 

A young man from a local bush church teaching at a community school

In the Bible Jesus said that the most important thing we should do is to love God and our neighbour. The well-known parable about the Good Samaritan reminds us that our neighbour can be anyone we come into contact with. I think the biggest impact us volunteers working here in Zambia can have is to demonstrate love and care. This might mean giving food to someone who doesn’t have any, or donating a pair of shoes to a child who is unable to attend school because they don’t have own shoes to wear there. It could also mean listening to someone who’s facing a difficult situation or giving up your time to help someone in a crisis. In fact it’s something that any one of us can do in any country of the world. 

An Arise guardian collecting school shoes for her grandson

Arise Newsletter – Term 1, 2017

As we reach the end of the first school term, we'd like to share some of the key Arise news and events so far from this year. This is also the final newsletter from me before I move back home to the UK. I have already handed over the leadership of Kapumpe Christian Primary School and a separate newsletter for Kapumpe will be published during the holidays so do email me or send me a message on Facebook if you would like to be added to the mailing list.

 Two children who have joined Arise in 2017

This term has had several ups and downs but overall it has been a positive one. We recently welcomed a new Arise volunteer, Joshua, who is also from the UK. Joshua and Naomi, along with our local Zambian volunteers, will lead the Arise project as I return to the UK. It is great to know the work will continue and I look forward to hearing about future developments.

Josh received a warm welcome from the children

You may have gathered that there’s no such thing as a 'typical day' in the Arise office. I was reminded of this one recent Friday morning when we received some sad news. A young man from a family supported by Arise had died during the night. He had been supported by Arise throughout his schooling and in 2015 he completed Grade 12. His grandmother is one of the guardians in the project and his younger brother attends our youth club. Initially we were told that he had been hit by a train, but later it was discovered that he had been murdered and his body discarded at the train track. Sadly he was only in his early twenties. We were subsequently able to visit the family and the funeral house to grieve with and pray for them.

Visiting his relatives on a happier occasion

During the same day we also heard that one of the younger boys supported by Arise was absent from school because he’d been beaten by the police after being caught stealing. 

There are many difficult and complex issues when working in impoverished areas, but there are also many occasions when we hear happier news and see situations that reveal the best in people. Later on during this particular day I led a lecture at the Bible College, sharing about Arise and teaching about God’s heart for the poor. The students were amazed when I shared how Charity, one of our guardians who has struggled enormously with poor health, has made phenomenal progress (I will post an update on her in a later blog post). 

Learning to walk again

You will also see in the newsletter than one of our college students has achieved a nursing diploma. Two young men from the local community are committing their time to running a football club for Arise. And our first microloan small business group is raring to go!

Thank you for all the interest and encouragement that you show in the work of Arise and for the support you have given me during my time here in Zambia.

Click here to open the newsletter in a new window

A Journey of Faith

In Zambia conversations frequently refer to a person’s belief in God. There is an assumption that everyone you meet is probably Christian or of a religion. Recently I was speaking to a Zambian I had just met and he was asking about churches in the UK. I explained that the majority of people in the UK don’t attend church regularly and not everyone believes there is a god. He appeared surprised but intrigued, and asked, “So what do they believe in?”

Misaka Church

His question got me thinking about the factors that impact our personal beliefs about the existence of God. Our worldview, parental attitudes, upbringing, society, individualism, cognitive style, financial resources and personal experiences can all contribute to and affect our belief system. For some of the people I work with in Zambia, I expect that cultural attitudes, high death rates and poverty bear influence on their thinking. Interestingly though, I haven’t heard people question whether there can be a god even though there is so much suffering. It appears that poverty and high death rates mean people are more aware of our frailties as human beings, which perhaps a more comfortable lifestyle in the West sometimes protects us from.

A burial near Kaniki

For me, it's a mixture of creation, conscience and coincidence.

When I look around the world I see amazing design and evidence of a creator. For example, the beautiful sunsets and wild animals in Zambia point to this; the stars are also phenomenal at night - so bright in comparison to the UK since there is far less light pollution. In the book ‘Questions of Life’, Nicky Gumbel suggests that the stars give us a sense of God’s size and power:

On 20th August 1977, Voyager II, the inter-planetary probe launched to observe and transmit to earth data about the outer planetary system, set off from earth travelling faster than the speed of a bullet (90,000 miles per hour). On 28th August 1989, it reached planet Neptune, 2,700 million miles from the earth. Voyager II then left the solar system. It will not come within one light year of any star for 958,000 years. In our galaxy there are 100,000 million stars, like our sun. Our galaxy is one of 100,000 million galaxies. In a throwaway line in Genesis, the writer tells us, “He also made the stars” (Genesis 1:16). Such is his power.

Evening time in northern province

When flying between Zambia and the UK I always choose a window seat on the plane when given the option. I love looking out to see the landscapes and sea from an incredible distance. This perspective gives me a tiny glimpse of how big God must be to have created it all and reminds me of our minuteness as human beings.

View of Ndola from the plane

Despite our size in the grand scheme of life, we all have an innate sense of right and wrong. As C.S. Lewis puts it in ‘Mere Christianity’, “human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it”. Admittedly we don’t all see situations in the same way and some issues appear very black and white to one person but can seem distinctly grey to another. But whatever our perspective, we are all influenced in some way by an internal moral compass. My logic suggests this is most likely to have come from God as it is an innate sense within every human, whatever country they live in.

Perhaps the biggest factor that has influenced my beliefs are coincidences. There have been many occasions where I have prayed about something and seemingly coincidentally, something has happened which has made a real difference – perhaps the situation itself changed or my attitude towards it. For example, before coming to Zambia I prayed that God would provide the finances for me to volunteer since I would not receive a salary, and although I had some savings they wouldn’t have been sufficient. I prayed for a specific amount hoping that somehow it would happen bit by bit. Amazingly I received a cheque in the post for that exact amount!

Preparing to come to Zambia

I am not at all suggesting that God answers our prayers in the way we want him to. When I went through divorce, God didn’t answer my prayers by saving my marriage but he definitely did use the situation to change me. In fact I had an amazing peace throughout that I can’t explain apart from God. I learned to believe verses in the Bible that proved true during the ghastly experience - God will never leave you and his grace really does enable you to get through difficult circumstances.

Individually, occurrences such as these might seem like coincidences. But over time, seeing these coincidences increase and re-occur when I have prayed specifically for them, my faith has grown so I am convinced that there is a God who is involved in our lives. And despite our different lives and experiences, it is the same conclusion that many of my friends in Zambia have come to.

Friends in Ndola

I can't assume everyone believes in a God but it is interesting discovering what makes people in different parts of the world believe what they do. There are many things, including our experiences, which shape our beliefs. A wise friend once told me that life and faith is a journey. Parts of the journey might be like a gentle stroll in the park, and at other times it’s more like a roller coaster where we're hanging on for dear life. Although it doesn’t tend to go the way we plan and we don’t know what will happen next, it certainly is an adventure. 

Passing on the baton

I consider my role in Zambia (leading the Arise Orphan Project whilst being headteacher of Kapumpe Primary School) to be best 'job' I've ever had. There have been many challenges but the children are a delight and it has been wonderful to see the school grow, staff develop their skills and new Arise projects get off the ground. So many people have asked me why, if I am enjoying the work so much, I am planning to move back to the UK at the end of this term.

Rewarding good behaviour - a lovely bit of the job!

During my time here in Zambia, I have felt that God led me to be here for a time of transition. I didn't however quite anticipate the extent of the transition that both projects would go through during my time here. I didn't imagine Tim and Gemma (my friends who started the school) moving back to the UK at the beginning of my second year here, or growing from one Zambian teacher sharing class responsibility at Kapumpe to five Zambian teachers having sole responsibility for their own classes, and having a Zambian headteacher. I had no idea that Arise would grow to include child sponsorship, college scholarships, a farming project, microloan business training and a youth club. But it has been very exciting to see 
and be a part of the developments.

Arise farming project - the pioneer group

It has been a privilege to lead Kapumpe and Arise and work with a brilliant team during my time here. In a professional context, it has given me an opportunity to use my previous teaching and leadership experience as well as develop new skills, making many mistakes and learning a huge amount along the way. It has also helped to further shape my view of leadership.

I strongly believe that part of leading well is about developing the people that you are working with. The best leaders I have worked for are those who invested in their staff. We need to see potential in people and give them opportunities to develop their skills in such a way that equips them to do more than what their current role entails, and empowers them to excel in the future.

Leading with others

Leading well also involves knowing when it's time to pass on the baton and move on. It can be tempting to stay doing something because it is going well or because you enjoy it, but this could also risk limiting further growth. Handing over the baton gives your successor space to work towards the vision in new ways and enables them to take the work even further, with a new perspective. For example, our new Zambian headteacher at Kapumpe has different skills and experience to me which has already enabled him to spot new opportunities for growth and development. 

New headteacher at Kapumpe

When you look at the big picture, you realise that what's most important is not how much you enjoy your personal role, but rather how the vision and purpose of the projects can be fulfilled to achieve what was set out for the people they are there to support. It is certainly a collective effort. Here in Kaniki we have seen miraculous provision of money and people that I believe has been given by God. The growth of Kapumpe and Arise and any successes are due to them being part of God’s plan for people in Kaniki.

One of our Arise guardians with her granddaughter, a pupil at Kapumpe

As I have said many times, it is a privilege to have had an opportunity to play a small part in the plan here. I want my legacy to be one that empowers others to do more than I could. And although I will be moving back to the UK for the foreseeable future before the end of April, I most definitely hope to return to Kaniki again in the future. I look forward to seeing further development here, and to seeing the wonderful children who I taught in Grade 2 when they complete primary and secondary school and go on to college!

It takes a village

“It takes a village to raise a child" is a well-known proverb that exists in many African languages. It reflects a world view that is common in African cultures today. Zambian culture places a strong emphasis on family and community. Children are seen as a blessing upon the entire community from God and many people are involved in their upbringing. This is a wonderful aspect of Zambian culture which I admire, and one that has shone through recently in a very tough situation that I have come across.

Children are a blessing from God

Andrew* is 15 years old and the youngest child in his family. Sadly his mother died of cerebral malaria when he was just 7 years old. Andrew's father had already died and then his older brother died of malaria at aged 18. In Zambian culture, grandparents, aunts and uncles or sometimes an older sibling are most often the people who will raise the children of deceased relatives. In Andrew's situation this is exactly what happened. He has been cared for by his elderly grandmother, living with her, and his aunts and cousins who all stay together. His sister lives with different relatives in another town.

During 2016, Andrew suffered a lot of ill health and spent time in two different hospitals. Every hospitalised patient in Zambia has to have a carer who stays with them, so his grandmother and one of his uncles took turns in doing that. Tragically since then, Andrew has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and admitted to a third hospital. I was recently visiting Zambia's capital city Lusaka where the hospital is located and so I was able to visit him.

Hospital in Lusaka

The children’s cancer ward where he is staying has quite a pleasant environment and looks much nicer than other hospitals I have visited here. However, this is not necessarily an accurate reflection of the level of treatment and care that is available. Andrew needed CT scans and unfortunately, as is often the case in Zambia, the machine at the hospital was broken. Our options were to wait - with no idea of how long, possibly weeks or months - or to take him to a military hospital and pay for the cost of the scans which is what I decided to do.

The entrance at the military hospital was as far as I was allowed to go

Going to the military hospital meant a 4-5 hour wait outside for me, as not being Zambian meant I wasn’t allowed to enter the building in case I was a spy. Whilst I was there, the soldiers working there chatted to us and took an interest in Andrew's situation. This time a different uncle of Andrew's had travelled with him and had taken on the role of carer. When I bought them some food to eat for lunch, the soldiers were quick to clear one of the tables in their office for Andrew and his uncle to sit at, and even fetched water so they could wash their hands. I could tell they were sympathetic to the situation and were doing what they could to help.

Andrew and his uncle eating lunch in the soldiers' office

After the scans, we were waiting outside for the taxi when it started to rain. Rain in Zambia isn’t just drizzle, but very heavy rain. I was about to usher Andrew back towards the shelter, knowing he would have to move slowly because he is weak, when a kind lady opened her car door and offered for us to sit inside. Even when the person she was waiting for returned to the car, they waited there and chatted to us so we could stay dry. A simple act of kindness, but help that we we appreciated.

Andrew waiting for the taxi

Back on the ward the next morning, one of the young patients there had very sadly died. Nurses were wrapping the body, and the mother was pacing up and down the ward wailing. Grief here in Zambia is expressed loudly. But although she was extremely sad, she wasn’t alone. As she walked up and down, there were people by her side, who I presume were her friends and family.

We were very upset to hear that Andrew's cancer has spread to his abdomen, which means that he will need to start chemotherapy once his assessments are complete. I was grateful that the staff allowed me to go and talk to him and pray for him before I left even though visitors aren’t even usually allowed on the ward.

Entrance to the children's ward with a 'No visitors' sign

Andrew's uncle has such a good heart. I expect that he will be at the hospital for quite some time, sleeping by his bed side and probably only going outside the building to wash their clothes or if he has enough money to buy food. All of the other children on the ward had female carers; mothers, aunts or grandmothers. The lady at the bed next to Andrew assured us that she has been encouraging Andrew to try and eat, and will continue to do so. Another lady showed us drinks and food that she had bought to build up her son’s strength, which she thought we might find helpful to buy for Andrew. Even my taxi driver turned out to be a hero. Not only did he help me with translation into the local language and took me to a market, shops and a pharmacy where I could buy cheap supplies, but he has said that he will return to visit Andrew and his uncle when he takes customers to that area of town. 

Although I was sad to leave, it is something of a comfort to know that the adults around Andrew will continue to care for him. He may not be their son, but he’s a child and they see him as a gift from God so they will do their best for him. Many of the guardians who we support in Arise do not have the space or funds to take in another child but will do it anyway. There are many Zambians who are selfless in this way, which is quite an inspiration.

One of our Arise guardians and the grandchildren she is raising

*name changed to protect his identity

Out of your comfort zone

Apparently you should do one thing every day that scares you.

When you live and work in another culture, you come across plenty of opportunities for stepping out of your comfort zone. One example is attempting to speak the local language. It's likely that words will be mispronounced or used in the wrong context. I’ve certainly tried words in Bemba and ended up looking or sounding rather silly! But on the other hand, there are also occasions when it's easy to stay within your comfort zone and avoid taking a risk. It’s natural to find comfort in familiarity.

Scary faces

 Everyone has a different comfort zone. One of my friends who came to visit me here in Zambia actually has a fear of flying. I was amazed that despite her fear, she flew from London to Ndola via Johannesburg and even took an internal flight on a very small aircraft. At first, some of the children at school were fearful about getting into the pool to learn to swim. It took them a while and they held on tightly to an adult, but they did it. For me personally, I love travelling and swimming but there are other things that do scare me just a little bit.

A friend that travelled to Zambia despite her fear of flying

I've tried to make sure that I step out of my comfort zone at certain times and on other occasions I have simply had to. Ridiculous as it may seem, I dislike insects and have on several occasions been scared of little critters that are far smaller than me; particularly scorpion spiders that are astonishingly quick and can climb walls! My usual approach is to just deal with it by killing them as quickly as possible. I wasn’t quite as cool, calm and collected when I found a mouse running around my house here – my approach to this was standing on the sofa and screaming!

Clearly not so scared of snakes!

After just one term of living in Zambia, I went on a trip to Kazembe and certainly felt out of my comfort zone. Once we arrived there my friend who had organised the trip announced that I would be leading the team in groups around the town and to the clinic, to talk about faith and pray for people. It would have been far easier for me not to do it, but we ended up being able to encourage lots of people and see an instant improvement in some of them. Doing a bungee jump over the Zambezi River in Livingstone also scared me a bit. Not in a petrified way, more exhilarating. There's something about adventurous activities like skydiving and white water rafting that appeals to me. It makes you feel alive.

Preparing to bungee

If I’m honest, I wasn’t even sure about writing a blog when I first came to Zambia. How do you know if you’ll have anything to say? How do you know if anyone will want to read it? But I’m certainly glad I took that risk. It has been a great way of sharing lots of things that are going on here and keeping friends and family at home updated. I’ve realised I seem to spend a lot of my time communicating with people in different ways, so I don’t know why I thought I wouldn’t have enough to say about my time here.

As school teachers we regularly try to push children out of their comfort zone and tell them that it’s okay to make mistakes, because we see the potential they can achieve. But we have to model it to them too. Many a time in the classroom, children have helped me with this by pointing out that I've made a mistake!

Eager faces ready to learn something new

Making our own choice to step out of our comfort zone, gives us the opportunity to learn, grow and develop. Yes, there’s a chance you’ll fail or won’t enjoy it but there is also a chance you will. Living and working here has taught me that when we step out of our comfort zone, we usually find that we can achieve so much more than we think. 

Snake!!!