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The Communities Without Borders newsletters are in PDF format and require Abobe Acrobat Reader |
Spring 2008
Winter 2006
Fall 2005
Spring 2005
Winter 2004
CWB News- February 2007
Zambia trips planning 2007
Nineteen people attended a preliminary meeting to plan one or more trips to Zambia in July. A number of other people are strongly interested to participate but could not come to the meeting. Our core objectives for the trips will be to make many new friends, to “bear witness” on what we have seen upon our return and to produce something of tangible benefit for our hosts.
Among the activities foreseen for this summer’s trips will be the construction of a health clinic in Simukanka, teacher training for volunteer teachers in community schools, an assessment of the health of children attending community schools and implementation of of program of prevetive medicine for this group and the teaching of English as a second language.
Please contact Dick Bail or Brita Gill-Austern at CWB for further information.
Simukanka Health Clinic
In August of 2005 the village of Simukanka in rural Southern Province met under a Mupundu tree with visitors from CWB. It was the first time that such a delegation had visited Simukanka. We learned that the villagers’ highest priority was the construction of a health clinic. We learned that the nearest facility was about 12 miles away and that it was generally not accessible to the villagers. We learned that 4 children died of malaria in the school last year, and we know that these deaths were preventable with inexpensive techniques and medicines. We learned that young women die in childbirth at home because there is not accessible health care.
Professor Brita Gill-Austern responded. The village development committee has drawn up architectural plans approved by the Ministry of Health. The MOH has agreed to station a nurse 24/7 in the village when the structure is complete. The villagers have already produced 40,000 bricks by kiln-firing clay. What is needed is cash for relatively expensive items such as timbers, cement and a metal roof and windows. In just a little over 6 weeks Brita has raised $25,000 which is enough to ensure the construction. Visitors this summer will participate in the construction. Congratulations Brita!
Community Schools Initiative
Over 400 children in our communities attend community schools because enrollment in government basic schools is not available to them. The instruction is given by volunteer teachers who receive a stipend of $17 per month. The teachers are usually secondary (high school) graduates without formal teacher training. The instruction occurs in very crowded, poorly lit, small rooms with perhaps a single blackboard in poor repair. The learning is usually by rote repetition. Children do not have books or paper or pencils. This very deplorable situation is the only education that many of these children will ever have. It is the weakest link in the Zambian educational system.
Since it is the weakest link strengthening community schools may be the most appropriate place to focus attention. A group of 7-8 CWB people have been meeting regularly since July 2006 to explore ways to improve the educational experience for children in community schools. This summer we plan to visit and observe in several community schools and then work with the volunteer teachers to design a training program that will be of use to them. We also plan to provide books for the schools through Childrens International, a program identified by Al Jacobson, which has already been the source for books in some of the schools. In the future we may hope to establish a “resource” community school where teachers can obtain regular training and supervision and where they can obtain resources for their classrooms. Improving the incentives for these volunteers is also on our agenda, perhaps through the provision of scholarships.
Health Initiatives
Last summer Dick Bail interviewed the care givers in 4 of the compounds where we work. He focused specifically on health issues. He found that not a single family could afford a “scheme card”, which would entitle them to free care in a health center, despite the fact that the cost is only about $1. In addition transportation and medicine costs are substantial barriers to care. Many children with severe and sometimes life-threatening conditions are not able to receive care.
CWB
has
begun to collaborate with the Angels of Mercy in Lusaka to improve
health
care for our children. Angels of Mercy is a registered non-governmental
organization in Zambia with close linkages to the government health
system.
It was formed by 2 very experienced community health nurses. They carry
out
health screenings at the community schools and provide referrals for
children
needing them. In addition they provide at these school clinics
immunizations,
de-wormimg medicines, and vitamin A. CWB is working to arrange free
medications so that common conditions can be treated. This summer a
survey is
planned n cooperation with the Angels of Mercy to more accurately
define
health needs.
Video added to the garden
compound page!
Recent Happenings in Lusaka - the following report was filed by CWB's Envoy to Zambia, Jane Ndulo (April, 2005)
SOCIETY FOR WOMEN AND AIDS IN ZAMBIA (SWAAZ)
On the 11/03/05, I visited the four family support homes in the four project areas - Mandevu, Ng’ombe, Bauleni and Chawama. I was accompanied by Ms. Juliet Kalaluka, the project officer in charge of the OVC. This visit was intended to familiarize myself with what was going on in the project areas and to be introduced to the Staff and the OVC. The schedule for the visit was prepared by Christine Kalaluka. The OVC and the staff in the project areas were informed well in advance about my visit and were all available. Most of the OVC supported by SWAAZ are taken care of by either their Grandparents, Uncles, Aunties or a surviving parent.
During the visit I had a brief discussion with the staff and all the children adopted by SWAAZ in the project areas. The children were all dressed in their school uniforms and looked very smart. According to the four year-old records, SWAAZ takes care of a total of 118 (64 Boys, 54 Girls) OVC in the four settlement areas. Chawama 28 (16 boys, 12 girls); Ng’ombe 21 (11 boys, 10 girls); Mandevu 36 (23 boys, 13 girls); and Bauleni 33 (14 boys, 19 girls). The age range for these children is 8 - 18 years.
Orphan status: Single orphans: 47 , Double Orphans 66, Vulnerable 4, Not indicated 1.
All the children are enrolled in Primary Schools within their communities with the exception of two boys who are in a secondary school, Grades 8 and 9. These go to schools located outside their communities The breakdown is as follows:
Grade 2 = 4 (2 boys,
2
girls)
Grade 3 = 4 (1 boy, 3 girls)
Grade 4 = 33 (19 boys, 14 girls)
Grade 5 = 48 (24 boys, 24 girls)
Grade 6 = 15 (5 boys, 10 girls)
Grade 7 = 12 (9 boys, 3 girls)
Grade 8 = 1 boy
Grade 9 = 1 boy
In Bauleni, the person in charge of the children complained that most of the children absent themselves from school and do not write class tests.
Generally the performance of most of the children in the various schools where they are enrolled needs improvement. In order to assist the children improve in their performance SWAAZ has engaged two volunteer trained school teachers who give the children extra tuition for two hours daily after school.
The children are served with meals daily during the week. Breakfast is served to those attending the morning session classes and lunch for those attending the afternoon sessions. The meals are prepared in the Family Support Homes and parents take turns to prepare the meals.