Preparing to depart

As a team, we spent yesterday packing up the equipment that we are taking to Zambia to help build the playground equipment. Each one of us will be taking a second suitcase with us filled with this hardware - imagine the careful packing that went on, including luggage scales, to make sure that none of the bags exceeded 50lb!

We did experiment with some creative packing strategies for the heavier items. Do you think that she would be able to get through security like this?

Vacuum-sealing the blankets we are taking for the children at the school.

Unfortunately, two of our team members who have been preparing with us since last September will be unable to travel with us to Zambia. We will miss them, and will be thinking of them when we are there. We are, however, happy to welcome Walter, who decided a week ago that he would like to travel with us and he was able to get a last-minute ticket.

So we are down to the final few days until we depart. Early next Sunday morning, we will leave from here, and late next Monday night, we will arrive in Zambia!

Posted by: Kate.

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog of the Zambia 2010 Workteam! We are now just over two weeks away from departure, and are busy sorting out the last minute details.

So who are we?

We are an intergenerational, interdenominational, group of 12 people from the city of Thunder Bay who feel called to travel to Zambia to help the people of Lifesong School in the town of Kitwe. We come from a variety of backgrounds - students, teachers, people working in healthcare, and grandparents. In fact, we even have 2 high school students who will be traveling with their grandparents to Zambia as a part of our group! This project is co-sponsored by Nu-Vision Ministry Canada and Knox Shuniah United Church.

What will we be doing in Zambia?

One of the projects on the wish-list of Lifesong School is a playground for the children to use, and so we have been fundraising for the past year in order to be able to buy the necessary parts and then hire labourers in Zambia to build this equipment. Our fundraising has been extremely successful, and has included a Breakfast Fundraiser with guest speaker Dale Shippam; a balcony fundraiser in partnership with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra; an African Dinner with guest speaker Omega Bula, the Executive Minister for Justice, Global, and Ecumenical Relations with the United Church of Canada; and a grant from the United Church of Canada.

In addition to the playground equipment, we also have several teachers and retired teachers in our group who will be doing some training sessions with the Zambian teachers; as well as two Dental Assistants who will work with a Zambian Dentist to check the teeth of all students at the school.

What is Lifesong School?

Lifesong School is located in Kitwe, Zambia, and it cares for 230 orphans and other vulnerable children. With 20% of the population of Zambia being HIV Positive, the need is great. It is estimated that 50% of the population is under the age of 15, that there are over 1,000,000 orphans in the country, and that only 10% of children are able to attend school regularly. The children who attend Lifesong School are receiving an education, as well as 2 meals per day.

So we are very excited at this point in time, and maybe a little bit nervous about the experiences that we are going to have on the other side of the world; and we look forward to keeping you updated as we go along!

Posted by: Kate.