Newton does Mkushi!

This is the tale of my journey on my International Leadership Opportunity supported by the Welsh Assembly Government and of course my employer Rathbone.

As part of a personal development programme I am going to Mkushi a small town north of Lusaka to work for four weeks with the volunteer team at Donata School. The school supports 35 disabled pupils but has received funding to build to purpose built facilities - allowing them to take on more staff and pupils.

My role is to help them to build their capacity to make this move, and to project plan with them how they achieve long term sustainability......not much in four weeks huh?

I hope to keep you all updated with writing, pictures and video of the takes of the trip; and the scrapes that I am bound to get into!

All this will of course be electricity and internet connection allowing!

Hope you enjoy

Richard

Friday, 10 December 2010

The Adhoc Committee

Just a quick one today - it's been a bit mad saying goodbyes....and am shattered.

Did just that really today said farewells - everyone seems to know I'm off from Mutinda in the Butcher's, to Peter the Journalist with his pink umbrella and the banana lady.

Have to say much as I have moaned about some bit's its been great and the people have been so lovely and honest - special mention must go to the chambermaid who was honest enough to return the 300 dollars I left in my shorts sent for washing - that's about 5  months of her wages - I did giver hera  good tip before some of you start.

Anyway have had a spring in my step - realise I did have a bit of Cabin Fever from being stuck here - and after waiting 2 hors last night for the kitchen to do egg and chips I am glad to do my last meal at the Harvest inn. Even more glad on  the last meal as Peter the Journo informs me the Zambian Environmental Health have given them a week to clean the kitchen or be shut down......that news takes some digestion!

Anyway in zambia we have a 50 Kwacha note - its worth about half a pence - and it is the bain of your life when you buy something and they give you a handful of them - it buys nothing apart from 10 litres of water from the bore hole - anyway there is a sourfaced bar woman at the Harvest Inn  called Sharon - shes just had hair extensions so she looks like Dionne Warwick - every day whenever I buy abything she huffs and puffs - Zambians never have chenge its always a saga. So taday, just for my own amusement I bought a bottle of beer (6000 Kwacha) solely with 50 Kwacha notes that I have been keeping - 120 bank notes for one beer - her face was priceless.

Donata had a letter today (that's big news in itself - and causes excitement as it gives a new envelope to reuse) - however the contents just sum this all up. The council want to view the new school site to process the license - they have formed the wonderfully named 'ad hoc' committee to do this - the bad nes is they want 300 quid to pay for the visit, guess they need some cash

Heading to civilisation shortly to start wrapping things up!
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