Day 11 - Linda Farm

With no Kennedy around, it has fallen upon Beth to chauffeur half of the volunteers to and from project in Dream Livingstone’s automatic Toyota. You’ll all be pleased to know she drove brilliantly and welcomed the challenge of the Zambian Highway Code. For SKIPees and parents: Beth is insured, has an international driving licence and has 4 weeks’ worth of driving experience in Africa . . . it made sense for this group leader to stand in as driver since Kate failed to look after herself on a 2 wheeled push-bike!

Back to the more serious topic of project: today was our first day at Linda Farm and a reality check for all. A bit of history for you: in the 1970s Linda Farm was donated to local people with disabilities by a Norwegian farmer as a means to keep them and their families from begging on the streets. Each family was given a small plot of land to farm vegetables in order to become self-sustaining. In recent years they have encountered a number of challenges. Elephants and crocodiles are a real threat, trampling their crops/buildings and posing a risk when collecting water from the neighbouring river. At peak harvest families will make approximately $5 a day. At present, with no crops growing, families are struggling to meet their daily needs. Through Dream Livingstone, and thanks to Dutch well-wishers, the funds have been raised and the construction of an electric fence around the Farm will soon commence.

The residents’ homes are the original farm workers’ homes from the 1960s. There are currently 19 families, of approximately 7 members each, residing at the Farm in crowded living spaces. Sanitation is poor with 3 pit latrines and 2 “bathrooms” available.

In Zambia there are 3 types of schools: private schools and government schools have tuition fees and require children to wear uniform, whereas community schools are run on donations and by voluntary teachers (not always qualified). Due to a lack of funds and no nearby community schools, many children from Linda Farm have never been to school and you can find children of 11 unable to read the alphabet. This, factored in with the natural priority of money for food, often results in children sacrificing their studies so to assist their disabled parents with begging. As you can imagine, this is a catalyst for an untold number of problems. These issues struck a chord with Rabeccah and Kennedy who, motivated by the power of education, decided to initiate the running of a preschool within Linda Farm. When first established, the preschool was attended by less than 20 children but this quickly expanded to 80 (and counting) when neighbouring compounds caught wind of it. With currently 1 teacher and no grade distinction she has her work cut out!

With such a harrowing experience for volunteers and so much to discuss for the coming week, we sat down to an epic debrief. Although a tough day it has definitely reinforced why we are all in Zambia!

A final thanks to Thomas and Bernard for taking the time to introduce us to their community. Rachel Y is now thinking of putting forward the motion of SKEPIP (Students for Kids and Elderly People International Projects)!

"We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count." Neil A. Maxwell