Yesterday was our first full day in Zambia. We spent our time in Lusaka where we visited the Beit Cure International Hospital. The hospital, which was built last year, offers free care to children who are affected by physical disabilities. Most children stay for a week while they prepare, undergo, and recover from surgery. While they are at the Cure Hospital mothers are trained and equipped to start their own micro business. With the help of the staff and a starter kid mothers are trained in tie dying so that they can sell their products and provide for their families.
After that we traveled to Kafue where we visited a Kennith, man who started his own treadle pump business. His energy and entrepreneurial spirit was a real encouragement to us, who heard that there was no spirit of innovation in Zambia.
From there we traveled 30km on beat dirt roads to a tribal village where we visited farmers using the treadle pumps created by Kennith. These farmers are clients of MEDA who are using the pumps to drastically improve the efficiency of their plots.
Clarance, a loan officer for the micro finance group ECLOF, introduced us to a group of his clients that work in a market in Kafue. It was fascinating to see how the group of 55 clients has used its micro loans to improve and expand their businesses.
The learning done through our various visits was more than anyone could possible absorb in one day. It was such a tremendously rich experience and I can honestly say I learned more about life and development yesterday then I typically learn in a semester at college.
Our time here in Zambia has had a great start and we look forward to traveling south to Choma today.
-Chris
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1 comment:
Chris, what a way to begin your time in Zambia. I know what you mean about learning more on site than in a semester at school. We'll be praying for your time there that God will use you and the team and also use Zambia in your life.
Roger and Joy Gulick
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