Post was completed the last week in Zambia (August).
It’s hard to believe my time in Zambia and with Africare is
coming to a close! The second half of the summer really began to pick up speed
as the management team in Lusaka completed the final hiring process for those
individuals that will be working out at the two sites of the project; Lundazi
and Mansa. The M&E officer, project director, and officer in charge
extended contracts for the following positions: M&E assistants (2 per site)
and site contractor/building specialist.
In July we all came together in Lusaka to collaborate as
a team and solidify the objectives and deliverables associated with the next 18
months of the project. It was a unique experience as Africare HQ individuals
were present, along with every other member involved in various aspects of the
ZaMs project. We discussed gaps in the project, constraints, budget
adjustments, community sensitization efforts, and the production of required
quarterly reports for the donors involved. Additionally, we assigned roles to
the incoming Boston University interns that are scheduled to arrive in Zambia
at the end of August. Various presenters, including myself, exposed site staff
to the proposed business plan, IGAs per site, and ongoing operational and
financial logistics. Overall, it was a highly effective conference. It was
great to see such collaboration amongst team members, all with varying roles
and responsibilities speak to their ideas or concerns in moving forward. I was
quite impressed with the openness and professionalism of the Africare HQ staff from
Washington; though they oversee the project from a distance, it was important
that they were brought up to speed with on the ground efforts here in Zambia.
In our talks, of course, were the ongoing concerns with the energy crisis and
lack of water supply in Lusaka and beyond.
Outside work, I made a final in-country weekend trip to Lake
Kariba and the town of Saivonga. It is the largest manmade lake and reservoir
in the world and splits the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. It was an
experience to say the least; much like my other personal travels in country! I
woke up early and walked for nearly an hour and a half just to locate the
correct mini bus area where buses were headed to the area I wanted to go.
(“Down this street, on your left”, “No, not here. Back that way a few blocks”,
“No, not here. Over that direction”) Yikes! I finally boarded the mini-bus
around 830 on what was supposed to be a 3 hour ride south to the lake. After a
flat tire, a broken wheel rod on the trailer, a 2 hour stop in the village
(because the bus wasn’t in fact going to Siavonga, but across the border post
to Zimbabwe) I finally caught a bus to the village of Siavonga. I arrived early
enough (4pm!) to head down to the lake and catch the sunset and I must admit,
my time spent there was some of the most relaxing and tranquil days I’ve found
during my entire visit to Zambia J
It was lovely! (See attached pictures!) The ride back was great- I hitched from
Siavonga to the turn off to the border post without any issues and then managed
to hitch a lovely ride from there all the way to Lusaka from a South African
couple also visiting the lake for the weekend. I even met up with them later in
the week for dinner!
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