We had great day at the building site today.  The highlight was having Mrs Jennifer Chiwela climbing onto the scaffolding to help with the bricklaying.  We also planted three more trees and carried at least one million buckets of water to fill the cistern, make the mortar and keep the bricks wet so that they do not dry too quickly and crack in the sun.  The second week group (aka the young people) distinguished themselves by getting into the work quickly and with great energy and enthusiasm.  We expect to have the last wall finished tomorrow and then work will begin on the gables.  We are all tired, but pleased with our efforts today.

Jane Murray

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as promised - pictures!   the first one is the welcome from the villagers when we arrived in Munenge.  The second is the school as we found it when we arrived and the third is Norman at work on the scaffolding .  More to come tomorrow!

This will be our last stop at Arcades before heading of to Mazabuka.

Last night we dined with our second Supreme Court Judge and the head of the Zambian Human Rights Commission.  We enjoyed a fabulous feast and an interesting and entertaining discussion about the similarities and differences between Zambian and Canadian treatment of human rights. 

This morning we had breakfast with Rev. Peggy - who is the head of the United Church of Zambia and again we were made to feel very welcome.

Any hope we might have had of losing weight while in Africa has long ago disappeared.  We have been spoiled beyond belief - but tomorrow we will be back on the build site - and will have a chance to work off some of the calories.  The first group completed three rows of bricks on three of the walls - which took them to the top.

This group will try to complete the three rows on the remaining wall and then build up the gables at each end in preparation for the roof trusses.  We will also have another dozen or so trees to plant.  Surprisingly, the tree planting has proven to be the most difficult job - because the ground is baked clay that resists all efforts with a pick axe or sharp hoe.  Oh my kingdom for a jackhammer!

I will try to check in again after our day on the site tomorrow.

Jane Murray

Hello again

The second week group arrived safe and sound last night - tired but in great spirits and full of energy.

This morning they are still a bit jet lagged but ready to go.

We have had our orientation this morning and are now at the Arcades to exchange money and get some lunch.  Those of us who were at the orientation last week noted that the presenters were much more relaxed and at ease this week.  I do not think we realized how nervous they were last week.  It was the first time that PAF had hosted group like ours - and they were concerned about how we would react and whether they were well enough prepared.  They did a superb job and it is clear that they are more confident going into this week.

There is a wonderful outdoor market in progress here - with all sorts of Zambian crafts and clothing available  - and lots of opportunities for hard bartering - so we are planning to spend a good part of the afternoon here.  As I am typing I am being serenaded by Zambian drumming and singing - not your average mall experience.

Ben has brought some sort of gizmo that he promises will allow for posting of pictures......we shall see.

Tonight we are dining with another judge of the Supreme Court of Zambia - so there may not be time to get to the pictures until tomorrow after we get to Mazabuka.

I don't know if Phyllis mentioned that there is currently a new constitution being proposed for Zambia and a referendum is being held to vote on the new constitution.  Sounds familiar doesn't it?  The country is made up of 10 provinces - and so there are some similarities to the Canadian government structure.  We had a very interesting time meeting with one of the Supreme Court judges last week - and I am expecting an equally interesting discussion tonight.

I have been struck in all of our various meetings and discussions by the fact that the issues and problems being faced here are the same problems and issues as we face in Canada - it is only the magnitude and scale that is different.  And having said that - I am not sure that the aboriginal community in Canada would agree that there is such a difference in magnitude or scale.

There are certainly things that we can learn from Zambia - as much as there are things that Zambia can learm from us.  For example, I am wondering if the community school model may be something that might work well in our aboriginal communities - definitely food for thought.

That's it for now - hugs and love to all those following our exploits.

Jane Murray

Well it looks like Phyllis' careful instructions on how to do this might have worked.  I am a rookie blogger and I will have to add it to the list of 'firsts' for me on this trip.

We are back in Lusaka after the first week of building.  We said good bye to Greg and Nathalie last night - and the rest of the first week group will be dispersing in all directions today.

Bob, Claudia, Peter and I are looking forward to meeting week two group tonight.

Yesterday we spent the day in Nega Nega - seeing a school that was built by PAF several years ago.  It was wonderful to see the school in action and imagine a similar scene in Munenge in years to come.  The school at Nega Nega started out as community school and has recently been taken over by the government.  They now have 350 students between grades one and seven.  We were entertained by singing, drumming and poetry recitals by children of all ages.

We delivered a soccer ball and two sets of team jerseys to the children at Nega Nega and they were delighted to receive them.  We ate our lunch to the sounds of a very energetic soccer game with teams of at least 20 a side. 

There are so many images in my mind it is difficult to know how to convey what we are experiencing here.

We are hoping that the younger group coming in tonight will be able to help us get some pictures up on this blog - which truly will be worth a thousand words.

In the meantime, we are all healthy and enjoying every moment we are here.

Jane Murray

Dear Readers
At the end of a long and busy day at the build site in Munenga, we are relaxing in the internet cafe in Mazabuka. Some of the team have gone off to buy more shovels and water buckets so we can work more easily tomorrow. Our team of 12 left Lusaka on Monday at noon after several adventures with the bus company who decided we did not need the large comfortable bus but rather were better off with a tiny mini bus with  no room for 14 people and tons of luggage. We are carrying 4 extra suitcases full of donations for the school in Munenga and for PAF. Also a large amount of film equipment which is being carried by our video crew - Kate Rudd of the United Church video division and cameraman Steve. They are travelling with us to make a series of videos for the UCC about this project. Tonight Steve has promised to hlep Jane Murray and I to up load some of our photos onto this Blog.

This week we are staying at the Royal Laricio Lodge in Mazabuka. It is adequate to our needs and is well stocked with beer. This morning we, together with three leaders form PAF -the NGO that is managing this project, travelled  a half hour out of Mazabuka to the district of Munenga. The school is built up to the level of the top of the windows. It has two classrooms and one teacher's office in the centre. Our team will try to put on 3 more courses of cement blocks to be ready for the roof to be put on.

We were welcomed by a group of the headmen and local people and loads of children. Later in the morning we were visited by the Chief of the district, who gave the land for the school to PAF. Tomorrow we will pay a formal courtesy visit to the Chief in his palace.  It is evident that PAF has  a very impressive network of connections, including the District Commissioner, the District Education Board Secretary and the local Chief, in whose kingdom we are. With the comittment of all these parties, it is evident that the school project will go forward in a sustainable manner as there is considerable buy in and ownership from all the parties. The District EDucation Board Secretary advised that he had arranged for all the desks and furniture needed by the school to be provided once the construction is finished. Since we now have enough funds form the fundraising by the Ottawa Legal Community, it is likely that construction on the first teachers house may be able to start  in the fall before the rains come.

We had loads of fun today carrying bricks, mixing cement, laying blocks on the top courses, digging holes and planting a grove of mango and other trees, carrying many buckets of water from the standpipe well that is on the site. This well was build by PAF with funds from a United Methodist church group in the USA that supports clean water projects. We had a lot of fun with the kids. Bob Beaudoin is teaching them to sing Skinnamarink a Rinky Do.

I hope we will have time to sign in again tomorrow and tell you more of our news. I have not yet told you anything about our amazing weekend in the  community to Chipembi where we stayed with Omega Bula and her family. The welcome we recieved on our arrival on Saturday and again in the church service on Sunday was hard to describe. But  we will try when next we log on.
Blessings to all.
Phyllis MacRae for the Zambia Build Team

Emmanuel has arrived in Zambia.  KLM to Amsterdam and Lusaka was wonderful - great service, good food, smooootth!

Peoples' Action Forum gave us a thorough and moving orientation to the social, economic, political and cultural realities in Zambia.  So much potential - now, how to take action. 

Fun venture to the Kabwata Cultural Centre to learn how to start bartering.  Good crafts and clothes and very persistent sellers.

We are rested, gathering and heading off to Chipembi to meet with the Chipembi Congregation and the heads of institutions.  Phyllis will be presenting a gift to honour our partnership with the Chipembi Congregation.  We are so looking forward to the wonders of Makumba Farm.

Pam Barron sends her love to family and Orleans United.

Phyllis MacRae says "We are having a blast!"

And I say, let the good times roll in Zambia.

Love you Emmanuelites !!!

Norman

Getting ready for departure

On Tuesday May 8 members of the Zambia Lawyers Build Team met at Emmanuel United Church to discuss final arrangments. 14 people will be travelling to Lusaka on May 16-16, and a second group of 6-8 people will follow on May 25-26.  Our team leaders Bob and Claudia Beaudoin and  Peter and Jane Murray will be with the teams for the full two weeks. Intrepid leader Norman Williams will be with the team for week one and then will travel to the Emmanuel United Church partnership community of Chipembe north of Lusaka in week 2. Bags of soccer balls and other items are being packed to take with us for the Munenga community.

In the community of Munenga, construction on the school build project is well underway. The toilets (good!) and storage shed have been completed. The foundation has been laid and walls are now up to the level of the windows. Most of the labour and some of the materials are being contributed by members of the villages that will send children to the school. Members of our Ottawa lawyers build team will contribute to the building. More importantly, Canadian members will be able to establish relationships with members of the communities, hear their stories, dreams and challenges, so that we can share these with our frineds and family upon our return to Canada.

Stay tuned for more reports from the Build Team!

Phyllis

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