A Trip to Kazembe - Part 2

One place most definitely worth visiting in Luapula is Ntumbachushi waterfall. We spent our day off there and had a wonderful time. It was even better visiting with some of our Zambian team members who had never seen a waterfall before! There are numerous waterfalls there so just as you reach one, you find another. I spent most of the day swimming or climbing up the falls - albeit the smaller ones. I also washed my hair there to avoid another cold shower back at the camp!

During the second half of our trip, we ran a series of meetings for children in the community. We had up to 400 children attend the meetings, which consisted of singing songs, Bible stories, praying together and playing numerous crazy games. It was tiring but great to see the kids learn about Jesus and have a really good time.

One of the pre-school kiddies who fell asleep on me!

Towards the end of the week, we also helped with clothing distribution. The clothes were given to children who attend the school where we were staying, but there were lots of other kids who would also have liked clothes. It was absolutely manic as all the children crowded round waiting for their name to be called.

Joseph and Maggie, the pastor and his wife who hosted our team during the visit, are the vision behind the school. They are an inspirational couple. Both have quite severe physical difficulties and yet they are hardworking and faithful people. They used to travel around the village on a bicycle but didn’t find it easy and would sometimes fall off. One of their children was really sad at seeing this, so worked and saved up for a year so that she could buy them the car that they now drive.

Pastor Joseph and his wife Maggie at their house

'The Good Samaritan Community School' was set up to care for orphans. There is a main school building with some smaller buildings built around it, including one which houses chickens. The other rooms are used for classrooms, although there are no desks or chairs. Displays consist of a few pieces of paper stuck to the wall. Ten teachers teach 400 children, and this is a ratio that is much better than in many government schools.

  

The orphans and vulnerable children that the school caters for are also fed there - porridge on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, rice on Wednesday and nshima on Fridays. There is clearly not much money in the area but Joseph and Maggie have been quite resourceful. For example, someone in the local area gave them some seeds, which they then gave to local farmers on the condition that they would provide the school with 10% of what was grown.  

The school kitchen

Kazembe is a very different place to Ndola, so the trip certainly opened my eyes to life in a more remote part of the country. On our way back we stopped overnight near Lake Mweru. It is such a huge lake that it looks like the sea because you can’t see the other side. We enjoyed a swim, as well as seeing a beautiful sunrise and sunset.

Unsurprisingly, we decided to travel back a different way through Zambia, avoiding Congo! It was a longer journey but a lot smoother. After the rest of the team were dropped off at various places, I got my first experience of driving a minibus! It was good to arrive back at Kaniki both safely and still healthy.

A Trip to Kazembe – Part 1

Kazembe is in the Luapula district in the North of Zambia. It's a place where much of the witchcraft in Zambia comes from and is ruled by a chief who gets his power from witches. Approximately 20,000 people visit Luapula Valley each year, including the president of Zambia, to see the annual Mutomboko Festival which includes symbolic dances to represent the first chiefs who conquered the valley.

We travelled from Ndola in the Copperbelt to Kazembe in Luapula

Statue in Kazembe marking the ceremony

However, we visited Luapula for a different reason. Our purpose for going was to train children’s workers and pastors in the district in children’s ministry (e.g. Sunday School) and to hold meetings for children. It’s a very rural place, so I don’t expect they have many visitors or tourists outside of the festival.

The Apostolic Church where we led the training

A friend of mine called Malene who leads Kids in Ministry in Zambia, had asked if I would be part of a team she was taking to Kazembe. Two years ago she and her husband led a team there and had a pretty eventful time. They saw some quite amazing miracles take place but also found it tough going, with several team members getting very sick. This time we headed for Luapula with many people praying for us and I also took probiotic tablets to prepare my stomach!

I guess you could call us a mixed bunch - one Brit (me!), one South African, three Danes, four Zambians, and a toddler! Different ages and life experiences but one united team. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily we all got on and how well everyone worked together.

Malene with her son Noa, our youngest team member

New friends - Maureen, Mary, Petronella & Deborah

The journey from Ndola to Luapula took two days, with an overnight stop in Mansa, the capital of the district. Perhaps not surprisingly, we had some hassle at the Congo border. Almost every person working there tried to charge us more than we were supposed to pay – there is clearly a lot of corruption. To cut a long story short, we got the Head of Zambian Immigration involved and eventually got through to the other side.

During our trip we slept in tents in the grounds of a school and there was a guard on the gate to keep us safe. Sleeping in a tent and showering in cold water is not my preferred option, but I did survive! We ate mostly nshima and vegetables, sometimes with rice, fish or chicken. It didn’t all look particularly appetising but it tasted pretty good.

My makeshift shower curtain!

Eating the village chicken for dinner!

Food from the local market

Apart from running the training, we visited people in the villages. Generally people were very welcoming and many asked us to pray for protection, wisdom or a blessing for their family. One day we visited the local clinic and spent some time in the ladies/children's ward. It consisted of several beds and not much else. We led some worship songs (mostly in the Bemba language) which they joined in with, and we then prayed for anyone who wanted us to and encouraged them with verses from the Bible. One lady's headache disappeared immediately – it was difficult to judge other conditions but they seemed very grateful that we were there.

Kazembe village

An unexpected addition to our programme was an invitation to go and visit the village chief. We were instructed on protocol before visiting, having to kneel and clap three times when the chief entered. I was actually a bit disappointed that he wore casual clothes rather than some sort of chief costume! Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to take photographs. However, it was an honour to be able to go and to speak to him, and he also allowed us to pray for him.

Waiting to be invited into the palace grounds to see the Chief

Following our visit to the chief, we enjoyed a much needed day off before running meetings for the children in the community. More on this will follow shortly in Kazembe - Part 2!

Parents’ Evening, Zambian Style

Last week we invited parents and guardians to come into school, to discuss their childrens' progress and see their work. It was both similar and very different to parents’ evenings in the UK. I have run quite a few over the years, but I think I enjoyed these ones the most!

Kapumpe Christian Primary School

Our lovely children

Zambian culture is based largely on respect, so parents and guardians were very respectful to us as teachers. They were polite, interested and listened to what we had to say. Many of them said thank you for the job we are doing - they are very grateful their children are getting an education as not all children here have the means to go to school. Of course, many parents in the UK are just as polite as the Zambians, but not all of them. At home it can seem that some parents can forget teachers are professionals and speak to them in a way which they would not dare speak to their boss or their bank manager!

Every parent or guardian wanted to know how their child behaves in school, as this is very important to them. All the feedback I gave was accepted, and never blamed on staff or other children. Fatima, the Zambian teacher who I am mentoring, ran the meetings with me. It meant that she could translate between English and Bemba for the parents and guardians who needed it. I found that having a translator gives you time to think about what you need to say next, and how you will word it.

Fatima, our Zambian teacher

A real bonus for us as teachers was that our meetings were held during the day rather than the evening. It would be too dark for people to attend later, as it gets dark here at 6pm all year round. Rosie and I planned activities that we could run with both classes for a day each, to cover each other’s class whilst the other met with the parents and guardians. At home, a full day of teaching followed by long evenings of non-stop, intense discussions can be very draining.

There is no need to allocate time slots here because people would just not stick to them, in true African style! We invited parents and guardians to come any time between 8am-12pm and 2pm-4pm, which worked very well. Zambian people don't mind waiting so there was no pressure to talk quickly or rush appointments. This was very helpful for me as I seem to talk a lot!

Home and school links are a strength of the schooling system in the UK. Here, it’s more of a challenge because we don’t see parents and guardians very often. Very few of them collect children from school, and they don’t all have contact phone numbers. There can also be language and cultural barriers which are not always easy to overcome.

Most children walk to school, catch the bus or cram in the van!

I certainly enjoyed the more relaxed feel of the meetings over here. Even Archie (Tim & Gemma’s dog, who Rosie and I have been looking after whilst they are away) came with me in the afternoon! 

Running parents' meetings with Archie the dog

Arise Visits

One of my favourite times of the week is Thursday afternoon, when I go and visit some of the families in the community that are supported by Arise. It is great to be invited into people’s homes and made to feel so welcome. We are always treated with honour and respect which makes for a humbling experience. For example, we're always given something to sit on – be it an old sofa, a water container or a log - although guardians themselves often sit on the floor.

Kamalasha, one of the nearest villages

Sometimes we bump in to children from school!

Although it is a privilege to be invited into peoples’ homes and to chat with them, it can also be heartbreaking to hear their stories and understand the difficulties they face. After the visits, I can go home to my house with a proper bed, running water and plenty of food. I know that if I get ill, my health insurance will cover the cost of treatment. And if I was really struggling here in some way, I know I have friends and family who can help me. And this is simply because I was born in a different place. It seems so unfair when you see the contrast but I've come to the conclusion that there are just some things that we can’t understand.

Eleanor with Elena, who is a very cheerful guardian :-)

The main purpose of the visits is to build relationships and encourage the guardians. We often ask them questions about how they and the children are, how their crops are growing or how the children are getting on at school. Our conversation is through translation as my Bemba only includes greetings and basic words! We listen, chat, encourage and pray.

Psalm 121 says:

I lift my eyes to the hills

Where does my help come from?

It comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

We can’t provide for all of the orphans or the guardians’ needs, or end their struggles. However, I believe in a God who can. Many people here appear more aware of the spiritual side of life than we sometimes do in the West. It is both provoking and inspiring to see such faith in difficult circumstances. Lots of people here can testify to knowing peace and even joy in the midst of sorrow or pain. 

Gift and her Grandpa

Beautiful Gift

  

I’m not sure who leaves our visits feeling the most encouraged– them or us? I suspect it might be me! I will share some of their stories in another blog post so that you can all be inspired too. J

Arise

I can't believe I haven't written more about 'Arise' earlier! It's definitely one of the things that drew me to Kaniki and a real privilege to be part of, because you get to see the difference it makes in people's lives. 

Kaniki Orphans Project (KOP), as it was originally known, was renamed last year to more accurately reflect its purpose. According to Google (the very reliable source that it is!), ‘Arise’ means ‘to get or stand up’. The purpose of the charity is to empower orphans, vulnerable children and their guardians to rise out of poverty. It works to try and break the dependency syndrome that is often rife in Africa.

Some of the orphans with a guardian

Support is mainly focused through providing education - covering the cost of school fees, books and uniform. The youngest children in Arise are sponsored to attend our school, Kapumpe Christian Primary School (as we only have Grades 1 and 2 at the moment) and older Arise children to attend community and government schools. Sponsors include individuals, mainly from the UK, and a fabulous charity called ThreeEighteen (www.facebook.com/ThreeEighteenUK). 

Alice, who is sponsored to attend Kapumpe Christian Primary School

Each week the Arise Office opens on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, where guardians are able to come and ask for help if they are struggling. This is run by two Zambian volunteers. Rosie and I run a homework club one afternoon a week each too, which is open to any children in the surrounding area.

Homework Club

A lot of time is spent trying to get to know guardians and children so we can build meaningful relationships and trust. We visit families in their homes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons - some in surrounding villages and others in quite remote areas out in the bush. In addition, there is a children's gathering that takes place on Wednesday afternoons where the children have a meal, play games and hear Bible stories. Guardians are invited to gather on Thursday mornings to chat and pray so that they can be encouraged both emotionally and spiritually.

Lunch at the Wednesday children's gathering which the children call 'Nshima Day'

At the moment, whilst Tim & Gemma (who run Arise) are back in the UK for a month, I am overseeing Arise. It means I am learning more about what is involved every day! So far it has involved co-ordinating the payments of school fees, transport money and making decisions about help we can give…or consulting Gemma over email! There is lots more to share about Arise so future posts may well follow.

Nsobe Arise Camp 2015

The plan was to take twenty Grade 10 Arise orphans (15-16 year olds) to Nsobe for three days of camping. However, when the day arrived, the rain came which meant we had to change our plans. What?? In Africa the sun is supposed to shine!

Due to a day and a half of heavy rain, what was meant to be camping in tents changed to camping at school! Unfortunately not all of our tents would have been waterproof, activities would have been restricted and the roads would have been bad. Not only that, but the rain put some children off and most ended up arriving pretty late.

We fit as many activities in on Monday as we could - playing team games, talks and Bible study, singing round the campfire, toasting marshmallows, watching a film with popcorn, and even decorating t-shirts (which my friend Ang had kindly brought all the way from Asda in the UK).

The funniest moment of the day came when I was trying to teach all the kids how to play rounders. We'd set up a pitch and I believed I'd managed to explain the rules quite clearly. It then became apparent that I'd missed one small detail out, when the first batter hit the ball and the whole team ran around the pitch! It looked so funny, I wish I'd caught it on camera. However, they picked up the game quickly and I was impressed that many of them were very good at it - we seemed to have lots of natural sportsmen and sportswomen!

There were several talks during the day which provided a good opportunity to encourage the children. (Even I did a talk! My grandpa Howard, the preacher, would have been proud!) We taught the children that the Bible says they are loved, they are important and they are part of a family, which is different to what many of them have experienced in their lives.

I really enjoyed looking after the children and spending time with them. They were extremely polite, helpful and appreciative. They didn't have to be asked to wash up but would just get on and do it. I was also amazed that when I announced it was bedtime, none of them made a fuss and they all went straight to bed. I am pretty sure I didn’t used to do that when I was a teenager!

One of the days was a bit drier so we piled into two minibuses and headed to Nsobe for the day. The kids absolutely loved it. There were so many new experiences for them. At the end of the trip we asked them to tell us what they had enjoyed. Hearing their responses made me shed a tear or two! Most of them enjoyed seeing the lake because they had not seen such a large expanse of water before. They also loved seeing some of the animals and holding snakes, which they'd never had the chance to do before. 

It is hard for us to imagine how unusual things like that are for them, compared to their 'normal' life. Even sleeping on the classroom floor was luxurious for many because it was spacious and warm. We fed them up as much as possible - nshima and chicken for lunch, rice and sausages for dinner, plus bananas, lollies and sweets. I don't think any of them turned any food down.

Catherine, our cook

Unfortunately we had a very long journey home because there was so much traffic. We dropped most of the children off near where they live but decided that four of them should stay over at AQ (where Rosie and I live), because it would be too far to walk in the dark. One boy lives on a small farm about an hour's walk from the road. The road is 11km from Kaniki so this gives you an idea of just how far he has to walk to get to school!

AQ, which is reasonably basic to us, seemed like more of a hotel for the children. The four who were staying were so excited to find out that they would have a bed to sleep on. The following morning I was woken up at 5:30am by them sweeping the corridor outside my room! I didn't have the heart to ask them to stop sweeping and be quiet so that I could sleep! They swept the whole house and did all of our washing up, and we hadn’t even asked.

Our camping experience certainly turned out different to what we'd planned but it still achieved the purpose - to make sure the children had lots of fun, some new experiences, get to know each other better and hear that they are loved by God.