Monthly Archives: June 2010

Haggling at a Market

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Two students wrote about haggling at one of Lusaka’s unique craft markets. Run by the Dutch Reformed Church in Lusaka, this market is open on the last Saturday of the month and attracts vendors and craft artists from all over Zambia and neighboring Zimbabwe.

The Market! El Mercado! On Saturday we went to a craft market in Lusaka. The market is open on the last Saturday of the month by the Dutch Reformed Church in Lusaka. It has about 100 vendors and supported by ex-patriots. Going to a any market and haggling was a brand new experience for me since I am very shy. I learned to haggle with people I’d never met before, lowering the price from 120,000 to 70,000 Kwachas! Haggling at the market was a nerve-wracking and empowering at the same time. I spent the rest of the time walking up and down the market multiple times looking for gifts for people and picking up an assortment of knick knacks for myself along the way.

-Domonique

 

People from all over Zambia and Zimbabwe came to sell anything from bracelets made out of elephant hairs to bowls to pipes to even bow and arrows. The food was great, I got Chinese food. There was a great mix of foods from other cultures such as burgers, fried chicken, fries, and kabobs. When entering the market, I was overwhelmed with amazing smells of food from China, Zambia, and other places.

The market was a great experience: the shy people got to “haggle” and the outgoing people got to understand how to haggle and argue. When walking around the market, I could sense vendors staring at our group. Once I made eye-contact, they would confidently strut up to me to sell their items. What I learning today was the power of the “haggling!” Many of these items were 15,000-180,000 Kwachas (about $3-$40). The rule of “haggling” is to try lowering the price and if they refuse to lower the price say you have to go and then walk away; and then they’ll come running after you with a lower price!

-Tammy

A Bittersweet Goodbye

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On Friday (June 25th) was LearnServe Zambia Group 1 last day at Chikumbuso. I found myself on the verge of tears several times during the day because I knew we would be leaving and never coming back. In only three days I had formed personal relationships with some of the women, teachers, and children. One girl in particular, named Elida, became a source of encouragement for me. She was thrown out of her house at sixteen, because of a misunderstanding, and before she could make it to Chikumbuso, she was raped. She has a two year old daughter named Kelly and she lives in Chikumbuso. Despite her present situation, I found her to be one of the most optimistic and liveliest there! She taught me a great deal of words in the local language Nyanja. Speaking in Nyanja helped me a lot in bonding with the people there, because they could see that I was making an effort to connect with them and not another common tourist.

Though the departure was sad, the goodbye celebration was very uplifting! The children showered us with poems, scriptures, dances, and songs. We were also able to share a couple of songs, and my all-time favorite dance, the Cupid Shuffle. At the end they thanked us for bringing some joy to their lives, giving them gifts, spending time, and getting to know them, when really they have given us (or at least me) a much more meaningful gifts. I shall never forget the ideals, principals, and love I found in Chikumbuso. I am a more aware and appreciative person from this one experience than I was before!

-Yasmine

Second year visiting Chikumbuso

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Yesterday was our final day at Chikumbuso. The Chikumbuso school was filled with many memories that were both fun and awkward. The widow’s project, the bag making has been improving since I first visited last year. Also in Chikumbuso they had started a new program where young men turn glass bottles into wine glasses and cups. After seeing how much Chikumbuso has changed and flourished in only one year I think that it only means more success for both of the programs.

One new memory I have is of two girls I remember from last year named Esther and Peggy. They both wrote a letter to me. I thought it was really cool that both of them remembered me because it showed me how friendship can last even though them in a long time. I also realize that I’ve forgotten about the many other friendships that I have formed. From now, I would like to renew these friendships that I had lost many years ago.

-Ayinde

Beautiful Voices

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The Chikumbuso project operates a school for orphans, and includes many other projects, one of which helps widows earn an income.  Sewing and crocheting projects help turn found (free) or inexpensive materials into a higher value product.  The sale of those products sustains the widows and also helps to support Chikumbuso’s projects.

Important lesson learned today: generosity is an action that creates an equal and opposite reaction, always and no matter what people have to give.

Raissa and I walked into the store at Chikumbuso, trying to look casual. Elizabeth had warned us and wasn’t sure how women working at the store, would receive our gift we brought along. We walked around slowly, as the rest of the group came in twos and threes. The bags on display, crocheted by women at Chikumbuso, were as unique and beautiful as a hundred desert snowflakes. We marveled at the simple ingenuity that brought them about. Using plastic shopping bags as “yarn” to crochet handbags, purses and messenger bags, bringing a whole new meaning to sustainable production.

I didn’t even see Elizabeth come in with our contributions before I heard the shouts and whistles. The women clapped their hands, and smiled at us openly for the first time. Through the language barrier came astonishment, wonder, and thanks in a thousand fragmented sounds, like rainbows scattered from a prism. I was overwhelmed by the immense warmth that two bags of recycling had produced.

The vice president of the project thanked us formally in English on behalf of the widows and Chikumbuso as a whole. She didn’t need to translate—there are some sentiments that completely transcend language—but it made us feel work important, and our presences appreciated.

By this time, the contents of the bag were spread out on the carpets where the women work. Women threw the plastic bags up in the air letting it rain down on their heads, laughing and talking very quickly. Then, one of the women began to sing. It was a call-and-response song. Her voice was strong and warm. When everyone else joined in, the effect was increased exponentially—it felt like the room itself would lift up and float away. There were at least three parts to the song, and the harmony was so wonderfully complex and yet reassuringly stable. It sounded complicated than it actually was, because I found myself singing the middle part. Some of the women danced on the carpets, tapping their feet and moving their hands and hips to the beat of fifty hands clapping in unison. They mirrored the beat of our hearts. That is where they came from, and it is also what they spoke to.

-Emma

Just some bags

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My story is about giving the widows of Chikumbuso a few plastic bags.

It was after the second activity of the day and Elizabeth came into the back room where a few of us students were hanging out. She asked us to go and “browse” in the bag shop that Chikumbuso owns. So we go and “browse.” After 5 minutes of “browsing” Elizabeth walks into the store hands held high, holding 2 of the largest ziplock bags full of plastic bags. All of the widows sitting on the bench next to the front desk instantly released cries of joy. As Elizabeth walked over to them, their excitment visibly grew with each of the 5 steps that Elizabeth took. The widows then started going through the bags and then one of them stood because she was either speaking in English or she was filled with too much joy to express, her words failed her. But she managed to thank us for the bags and she tried to express what they meant to her.

The widows moved over to their work mats to sort the bags and as they sorted the bags they began to sing out of pure joy. As these women were singing so beautifully it made me realized just how happy they were to receive these simple plastic bags. These bags would help them feed their families, help them improve their community, and help fund Chikumbuso. These bags could do a million times more good here in Zambia, for these widows, than back home in the US being recycled in front of Giant.

-Grace

Tattoo

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Today marks the beginning of our three day project at the Chikumbuso Womens and Orphans Project. We were greeted by over 200 children, who were in single filed lines by grade level. Their ages ranged from three to eleven. At the direction of their teacher, the students began to sing in unison, “We welcome you. We welcome you. Welcome to Chikumbuso. Welcome to Chikumbuso.”  We all watched  with gratitude and felt honored and privileged to be received into their community, but slightly disappointed that it would only be for a short time.

After introductions and a short tour of the school, we headed to a shaded gazebo to begin session of face painting and crafts. The students were eager to learn how to make bracelets and did quite well despite the language barrier. Face painting was a real hit! We painted the students faces with rainbows, the sun and stars. I was surprised when a young boy about six or seven years old came over to me, rolled up his sleeve and said, “I want tattoo.” Stunned, I asked what kind of tattoo he wanted. His reply was, “a scorpion.” So, I dipped my brush into the brown paint and drew the best scorpion that I could on his arm. After I finished, he looked down, gave a nod of approval, puffed his chest out, flexed his arm and ran to show all of his friends his “new tattoo.” I let out a sigh of relief and thought this is going to be the beginning of an amazing journey.

 

Kim Riley

Teacher, The S.E.E.D. Public Charter School

 

First Impressions from Ty’Ronn

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I woke up at 6:45AM to the television playing clips of the World Cup. After finishing my breakfast we took a shuttle to Chikumbuso Womens and Orphans Project (http://www.chikumbuso.com/). While traveling I noticed that the road started to change from paved cement to Earth road. When we finally arrived at Chikumbuso where we were welcomed by the students with songs and welcome phrases. One person who had a huge impact on  me today was “Teacher Andrew” he is a 5th grade teacher. While shadowing him for no more than 10 minutes, he quickly caught my attention by having his students sing songs and yell to the top of their lungs to get them excited for learning. I really admire his energy and his excitement for teaching. He was also teaching my favorite subject, Math. While learning fractions the kids had to stand and answer questions, this is the type of learning I like. The children in Chikumbuso are fun and intelligent. With the lack of textbooks and resources, I would have never thought of them being so brilliant.

I am still amazed that I am actually here is Africa. (Hi Mom! See you in 17 days.) I feel that this is one of my biggest accomplishments so far. The group that I am with is awesome! It’s amazing how we bonded so fast, and how we worked together, and came together all for one cause, to Learn and Serve while in Zambia. I can’t wait until we build the bicycles, go camping, and work with the rest of the kids tomorrow and Friday.
- Ty’Ronn (LSZ 10 Group 1)

 

 

People Are People

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At the school, we planted gardens, met people from all different grades, and I got in the face with a soccer ball.  At lunchtime, we returned to the organization which provides food for students, Comedor San Roque.  We helped wash hands, serve dishes, and clean silverware.  We also started playing Ninja, a game which followed us back to the school and spread throughout every grade.

Tonight, my host sister, Cati, took me to a birthday party.  Perla and her host sister also went.  It was fun without being overwhelming.  At first, I was completely lost. People were speaking Guarani and Spanish, and Perla and I sat in the corner trying to be inconspicuous.  Eventually, we joined the party, eating and laughing and trying to sing when we didn’t know the words.  I was forced into dancing and made new friends who probably think I am completely insane.

-Zena

Second Impressions

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So, I’ve got to be honest, my first impression of Paraguay was mixed. Walking out of the airport, I was tired, hungry, and jet-lagged. I remember it was raining and couldn’t help but notice a stray dog near the airport. Not the greatest first impression, but today all of that changed.

It was still raining; I was still tired, but today we were introduced to the high school in the small farmer’s town of Isla Pucú in the Cordillera Department district.  After a quick breakfast and a short bus ride to the high school, I was introduced to an entire school of Paraguayan teens.  Needless to say, my fellow travelers and I were nervous.  If it weren’t for the smiles on the students’ faces, I might have been a little more than nervous.  Next, we were led into a classroom closely followed by what seemed like the entire school.

Sitting in a packed room, we were presented with dance routines, good local food, and covers of “Yellow Submarine” and “My Heart Will Go On” on the harp.  The students were so friendly and welcoming that everyone on the LSP team had a smile on their face.  Afterwards, we were literally mobbed by a crowd of students, all requesting pictures and autographs.  It was a little overwhelming, not to say I wasn’t flattered.

After lunch, we were introduced to the afternoon class, and received the same warm welcome as before.  Right now, it is Tuesday morning, and after a great night with my host family, I find myself looking forward to the day ahead.

-Taylor 
LSP10

Days of Travel

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Today was probably the most hectic day we’ĺl have all summer. After finishing the 9 hour flight to Sao Paolo, which started Saturday night, we were ready for a good night`s sleep. Instead it had somehow become 5:00a.m. on day 2 of our adventure. Despite the lack of sleep, we’ve had a lot fun during the layovers between flights. Countless card games and excursions looking for a McDonalds have strengthened our friendships even more. Yes, parents we’ve even had time for summer reading.

After the dreary process of sitting on planes and waiting at gates, it seems like we`ve hit the ground running in Paraguay.  We checked into the hotel and feasted on some delicious empenadas for lunch. The highlight of the day, however, was meeting with leaders from Santa Ana`s community center. Domingo and his teammates were unbelievably warm and gracious. We`re all looking forward to leaving tomorrow with Domingo for Isla Puku and meeting our host families. Getting to know everyone provides a comfort for the upcoming homestays because I know I’ll always have friends for support. After our first day in Paraguay, our spirits are soaring high.

-Max Z.
LSP 10