Presents

In Zambia maize forms the staple diet. Food means nshima, which has something of the consistency of mashed potato and is made by boiling maize flour in water.

Most families will have access to a little bit of land where they will grow maize. Many rely on this maize for food – without it they go hungry.

Over the years I have tried to help by paying for a bag or two of maize seed for friends or small groups.

One day I was meeting with an AIDS support group that my friend Jennipher had set up. They told me that they have been offered the use of some land to grow some maize. I thought that I could help and offered to pay for a bag or two of maize seed. When they sat there with glum faces I was somewhat amazed. They then explained that unless they had more food they wouldn't have the energy to plant the seed.

This wasn't the first time that I had been told that the energy expended with work was more than the calories a person obtained from their food. It is hard to realise just how close to the edge some people in Zambia live.

Climate change means that maize crops have failed more often than not in recent years, however for a Zambian it is still important to grow some maize each year.

Often I find it difficult to know what to give people to mark Birthdays, Christmas or other occasions.

Spending time in Zambia has given me opportunities to give alternative presents.

As I mentioned most people seem to have access to a bit of land where they can grow maize.

For a few years I did some work at Monze Mission Hospital developing their computer systems. O who worked in the office wanted to grow some maize. So I took the opportunity to give him money to buy maize seed instead of buying my dad a Christmas present.

I am sure that this present was the one my dad remembered and probably appreciated more than any other.

I sent my dad this photo of O's crop later in the year.

 

My dad was fortunate to celebrate two silver wedding anniversaries. He was married to my mother for more than 30 years. When he was about to celebrate his second 25 years I was in Zambia. Friends of mine C & R ran a small project. This involved growing a variety of vegetabes, as well as some maize.

The small farm they used was about 10 km to the west of Monze, not far from Hichanga Dam which supplies water to Monze. They needed something to transport their goods into town. As they had a couple of oxen so an ox-cart would be very suitable.

R had a friend who was an artist and we decided that a small inscription on the cart would be appropriate. In the event Rs artist didn't appear – so R picked up a paitbrush and with some paint wrote the inscription himself.

My Dad and Stepmother's silver wedding anniversary present was the oxcart shown below!

 Please support PIZZ a project lifting families out of poverty. Check out this website Tr
ansformation Through Education

 

At the beginning of this year I took some tests, the outcome of which was that Prostate Cancer was detected. As part of the teatment a course of radiotherapy was recommended. The course comprised twenty sessions taking place on consecutive weekdays. To add interest (and hopefully raise something for the charity), I decided to wear a different Zambian shirt for each session. My granddaughter Amy took some photos and videos and posted them on Facebook and Instagram.

I thought that I should use the opportunity to share them with you on my blog and reach another audience. Over the next few weeks I will post the photos and videos of the 20 shirts, together with information about PIZZ school and some more of my exploits in Zambia.

PIZZ school is an amazing project providing opportunities for some children who would never have an education otherwise. Many of the children from the school gain the confidence and qualifications which enable them to transform their lives and that of their families. This project relies on Transformation Through Education

to pay its teachers, provide school meals for the children and cover other costs. If you are able please support this charity. Please share the details with others. Thank you.

2004 marked my second visit to Monze. I decided to spend 4 months helping at the hospital working with local staff to develop computer systems.

I was joined during my visit by a physiotherapist – Emily. She worked as a volunteer at the hospital and at a centre nearby, providing support for children with disabilities. During this time there was also a surgeon who had come from the US with his wife.

Well Emily and the surgeon's wife decided that it was time for me to embrace the local style of dress. They found a tailor and brought her a piece of material from the market (known as Chitenge). Ireen took measurements and before long I had what was to become one of many shirts she would produce for me. Unfortuately this shirt no longer exists – except as a patch in an old backpack! However many others are still wearable!

The photo above was taken before mobile phones could be used for selfies – even selfie sticks didn't exist! Like most photos – especially those taken in Zambia there is a story.

The photo shows John and his family in 2006. John told me one day that he wanted to dig a well.

He only needed a spade and a pick-axe and he could do the job himself. I appealed to my friends and he bought the implements.

All was well until he had dug a hole about 6 feet deep! The problem was how to get out of the hole and remove the soil!

The answer was a rope, a bucket and a windlass ( A pulley system that sat on top of the hole and allowed the bucket to be lowered into the hole.)

Oh, and someone to operate the windlass!

So I borrowed equipment and agreed to pay for food for John's friend to ensure that he kept near the hole!

All continued fine until the hole was about 20 metres deep – I didn't want to think of John 70 foot down a hand dug hole! John was concerned that the rope was fraying!!

So a new rope was purchased!

The well is considered deep enough if, in the morning, at least one full drum of water can be extracted from the bottom of the well!

At 30 metres the hole was found to be suitably waterlogged! So job complete – well not quite!!

John is worried that the sides of the well (which he has been working in daily) will collapse!

2,000 bricks plus sand and cement were purchased to line the well - from bottom to top!!!

Open wells are very dangerous. I knew of one child who fell down a well and died.

So the well was covered and a rope pump purchased. Now my work really was finished!

Oh then John decided to move!!

I had never expected to get away with providing just a pick and shovel – so I wasn't too surprised at the outcome.

I learnt a lot during this exercise and came to know John a little.

I have met with John now and again over the years, but for the past 10 years or so I hadn't seen him, until this year when I came across him again. I was delighted to see that he was still going strong. He has always been a bit of a rogue, but he is a real character and someone I always remember fondly.

Best wishes,

Chris

Even the trees seem to be distressed

 

Zambia is very dependent on farming and in particular it's maize crop.

For Zambians food is nshima which is maize flour boiled in water – though to be honest the process is a lot more complex and requires constant attention to provide the correct result.

When the maize crop fails everyone is impacted. This year the crop has failed in the southern part of Zambia spectacularly.

Water is of course vital to life, but in Zambia it is also by far the main source of electricity. Hydro-electric power is generated from the dams and in particular the huge Kariba Dam. Sometimes after the dry season – in October or November – the water levels are low and electricity needs to be rationed. This year rationing was introduced in March! There are suggestions that before the end of the year there will be no mains electricity for Zambia.

These issues have a knock-on effect . The crop failure means that farmers have no money to spend in the shops, so the small local traders have no business and they too have no money to spend with the marketeers – and most of the people in Monze seem to be marketeers.

The lack of power makes it difficult for all sorts of businesses to operate. Grinding mills which should be operating 24 hours a day cannot grind enough maize, adding to the shortages. The prices of maize meal has soared, resulting in a lot of hunger. The water supply also relies on electricity. In some areas of Monze the mains water supply is very little if at all and often people have to get up in the middle of the night when the pressure might be enough to collect a small supply.

Even the trees in the garden here look to me to be distressed.

The situation can only get worse until decent rains return to Southern Zambia.

The weather here has been relatively cold, with maximum temperatures generally around 20ºC. We have had a couple of cloudy days, but generally the sun has made up for the air temperature.

I am trying to see how we can address some of the challenges at PIZZ School. I met a couple of students last week who had passed their grade 12 exams and have been offered places for further training – one as a nurse and the other in agriculture. The computer science teacher is frustrated that the lack of power means that most of his practical work cannot be done. He would like a solar system installed to allow the students to learn. Soon they will be preparing for exams.

Transformation Through Education is a new charity which is funding the school, but it will take time to ramp up the fundraising to meet all these needs. It is very disappointing that money already raised for the school is not being passed on. You can find out more about the charity at www.transformationthrougheducation.org.uk

I attended mass on Sunday which was back inside the church now sparkling with it's false roof and a fresh coat of paint. it was good hear the singing reverberating throughout the building and there was a celebration to welcome the improvements.

Chris Barrell