Hello and Welcome!
Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm currently working as a Fundraising Advisor in Chipata for a small community-based organisation called Chipata Dzithandizeni Nutrition Group, based in the Eastern Province of Zambia.
It's a role I gained through Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and I'm hoping to share my experiences of Zambian culture with you through this site.
I'm lucky to be working with some amazing colleagues and the community, sharing skills in order to generate income and resources to support the work of the the Nutrition Group. The Group is situated in Kapata township right in the heart of Chipata and its focus is to provide nutritional support to vulnerable children and adults in the urban and rural areas of Chipata.
Before this, I had never been to Zambia, slept under a mosquito net or even accepted a job without meeting any of my colleagues first, so as you can imagine it was a bit of a risk! I'm grateful to VSO for all their support in preparing me for all the challenges! I'm hoping that with some fun and hard work along the way, I'll look back and think that every minute was worth it.
If you like, you can see where Chipata is by clicking on the map on the right. Also feel free to click on the Zambia Country profile to learn more about this stunning country. Take a browse through my blog and feel free to post me any messages along the way!
Please remember that all the views within this blog do not represent the views of VSO or Chipata Nutrition Group.
Thanks,
Sarah
Sarah Washington is fundraising for Voluntary Service Overseas - JustGiving
Hi Sarah
ReplyDeleteExcellent to learn that VSO is still supporting the work of Dzithandizeni, Chipata.
Way back in 1974, I travelled to Zambia to work with the Chipata Nutrition Group. Like yourself I was recruited via VSO.
At the time I was a newly married, fairly new graduate with a degree in nutrition. I managed the activities of the Chipata Nutrition Group whilst my (former!!)wife managed the newly-opened Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre in Kapata.
We spent two very memorable years in Chipata. Tough at times but challenging and rewarding.
1974 was before the onset of the HIV/Aids crisis that has hit Africa so hard - but there was still much to be done - must be so much more difficult nowadays.
I am now a senior academic at the University of Chester - but even now my personal experiences of life in Chipata shape elements of my thinking. I have not had students from Zambia but others from Uganda and Kenya have detailed the harrowing realities of providing sound nutrition in the context of HIV/Aids.
I'll pop some cash into your pot and wish you all the best. I'll encourage my students to chip in as well. Maybe I'll tax attendance at my classes!!
Whilst I was in Chipata a focus of my work was on nutrition education - mostly aimed at young kids (since most never hit secondary schooling)- those kids would now be well into their 40s.
We managed to get funding for a range of projects from Oxfam. Novib, the families of the Dutch Armed Forces and the wives of the Lusaka diplomates (organised by the wife of the British High Commissioner). The latter funding paid for the rough and ready publication of a nutrition-related comic and puzzle booklet that was sent to schools in the District once per term. Childrens' access to such media was non-existant at the time. A donation of £100 or so from their coffee morning fund did the business.
Anyway, I wish you all the best in your venture.
Dr Stephen Fallows
Centre for Exercise & Nutrition Science
University of Chester
Chester CH1 4BJ
01244 513407
s.fallows@chester.ac.uk