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

Wednesday, 2 March 2011

Goodbye Tarcs!

I've just heard the sad news that my VSO colleague and good friend Tarcs has passed away. I remember Tarcs fondly as the guy who came in on my intake back in 2009. He was from the Phillipines and CEO of various companies and extremely experienced. According to him he was going through a 'mid life crisis' and wanted to do something worthy for a change and he certainly did that after moving out to Zambia to support the Kalomo District Council with fundraising.

Tarcs was great fun and was always smiling! He would joke with all of us about having lost so much weight in his first 2 months of living in Zambia as he couldn't get access to his favourite dishes from home.

He would even laugh at himself for his Internet obsession. His first words to me were 'do you think I'd be able to get internet in Kalomo?' (Kalomo being a tiny village in the middle of Southern Province). He was also very giving and up until recently would always send hilarious updates on his facebook and check into see how we were doing in Zambia. Tarcs will be missed around the world and I feel very honoured to have met and worked with him. Tarcs Taruc RIP
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