Chris' Blog - 14-15th May

The Trip – 14/15 May – 33-34/47

Wednesday saw us with a scheduled ‘Free time”, however we were all kept busy. I visited Raman’s factory – Wood Industry Processing. The plant takes pine trees from a stage where they have been cut down, through to timber, molding and different products such as doors and flooring. Importantly now piece of wood is wasted, including the sawdust and bark.

The reminder of the team visited the Zambian flying air doctor.

Lunch was a combined meeting of the Ndola clubs, with Matilda from the team that visited D9600 the guest speaker. And then the sad part as we left on our way to our next hosts at Kitwe. All of the team, with the exception of myself are staying with PDG William, while I am with a different host, Moss.

The evening was an evening with our hosts, so while I went out for dinner, the rest of the team had an evening in.

We spent Thursday with the Rotary Club of Mufulira, about a 45 minute drive from Kitwe. While with Mufulira we visited a farm set up by one of the mining companies for retired and out of work miners as a way to teach them skills to look after them selves when they stop working in the mines. Yes in retirement they are planning to farm!!! The farm started in 2004, and has a manager (paid by the mines), with the rest of the group in a cooperative. To date they are growing Bananas, assorted vegetables, maize (of course) and a piggery. They have further plans, including a dam. Interestingly there is no need to liaise with people down stream, they can just block it up.

After the farm, it was off to the golf course for a super fast lunch (1 hour from ordering to delivery), and then a visit to a local health clinic / hospital in a squatters camp, and then on to a school building and water pump that have been installed by the local Rotary club. One thing you have to say about Rotary here (D9210), they are making a difference to the many disadvantaged and struggling people. It is hard to understand even while we are looking at people from our 4x4’s how much difference a bore hole and water pump improve life for these people. Something to think about next time we turn on our hot water taps and have a shower. Well done all here for these projects.

We then take in a short tour of the town, and then join the Mufulira club for a meeting. We arrive back with our hosts in Kitwe at about 10pm for dinner. (For the rest of the team they enjoy a meal prepared by chef Jodie).