Duncan’s Zambia diary

COINS organises these trips each year to reward the firms that raise the most money and those which are the most faithful supporters of the event. Duncan Macdonald, an SPV manager in Kier Group’s PFI business, organised two teams last year, which between them raised £15,000. This is his diary of the trip.

Saturday 1 march

As the pilot announced 20 minutes to landing in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, there was green space for as far as the eye could see. The landscape was far greener than I had expected.

We were met by Simon and his wife Caroline, representatives of Habitat for Humanity who were our guides for the Habitat projects we were visiting. Their passion for Habitat for Humanity projects, particularly providing housing for orphans and children, was clear.

The contrast between pockets of development and makeshift structures and unused land as we drove through the outskirts of Lusaka was noticeable.

I was amazed by the amount of people walking along the roadside: young, old, those that looked very poor as well as some smartly dressed. Walking long distances – for food, work or to buy and sell – is clearly part of life here.

Once we arrived at the Lilayli lodge half an hour outside Lusaka, five of us decided to shake off our travel legs by going for a run in the reserve. It was strange running through a reserve wondering what animals we could come face to face with – fortunately we all made it back.

Following a brief trip into Lusaka, we went on an evening safari around the reserve. The day finished with a meal and Paul Reader giving a demonstration of his card tricks – which caused considerable amusement as the first three attempts at one trick were unsuccessful – not great in front of 14 people!

Sunday 2 march

A briefing with Simon, Caroline and Djam Bakhshandegi (also from Habitat for Humanity) identified key issues in their work beyond simply providing houses. Health services, income generation, education and partnering with other charitable organisations are all needed to develop sustainable solutions which is Habitat for Humanity’s goal.

In the afternoon we visited a school provided by an umbrella organisation known as RAPID, which brings together CARE International, World Vision and the Salvation Army among others. By working together under the one banner these charities can leverage increased funding from large multinationals.

Being rurally located, the drive out into the bush was interesting as we were in a conventional bus negotiating four-wheel-drive terrain. The provision of this school saved the children having to walk 6km to the nearest school.

We received a fantastic reception from the pupils and teachers. The excitement of the children, the colour and the singing is a lasting memory.

We were taken on a tour of the school including classrooms, houses for teachers and the clinic. When compared to the construction of schools in the UK it was staggering to learn that this school could accept up to 300 pupils and cost only £175,000 to build!

Monday 3 march

After an early start we drove to Chazanga in Lusaka to start work on building blockwork to two houses. I was working on a house for a grandmother who was caring for nine of her grandchildren, orphaned by AIDS.

It was great to get stuck into mixing mortar and block laying under the watchful eye of our local builder Peter, who was generally impressed with our quality and productivity. We had a constant and often noisy audience of 20-30 children.

By the end of the day we had completed about half of the blockwork to the new house.

Before leaving we gave small presents and balloons to the children which brought huge smiles to their faces. The excitement our visit caused had clearly spread. We were mobbed by 50 or 60 children so excited and happy to see us.

Tuesday 4 march

Today we joined Sam Baguma, a director with CURE International, which is focused on establishing children’s hospitals that transform the lives of disabled children and their families in the developing world.

We spent the day visiting the Beit Trust CURE hospital in Lusaka. The hospital accepted its first patients in February 2007 and has already completed more than 280 operations this year. During our visit it was clear the emphasis is on training Zambian surgeons and nurses.

I really felt the passion the surgeons had for what they were doing. We were offered a chance to witness an orthopaedic operation being performed. This was a unique opportunity to see first hand the skill these surgeons possess, and an experience I shall never forget.

It was remarkable to compare the operating theatres to the complex operating theatres we build in our PFI treatment and emergency centres in the UK. Here, there were ceramic tiled walls, lots of trailing leads, no ducted positive pressure air supply and only a small air conditioning wall-mounted unit. Clearly operating in these facilities places increased emphasis on infection control measures.

Wednesday MArch 5

Today we took an early flight to Ndola, a city located in the copper mining belt of Zambia, north east of Lusaka. Here we met up with Simon and Caroline again and visited a Habitat for Humanity community project.

We were once again mobbed on our arrival by dozens of children, all very happy to see us. The community project involved building 300 houses and a school specifically for orphans and vulnerable children and their grandparents/carers.

We were given the chance to meet individual households. It was extremely positive to see the benefits that a relatively simple block-built house with steel sheet roof was giving compared to an insect-infested mud shelter. It put into perspective what huge improvements £1,000 can bring to these children and those caring for them. It was evident that real progress was being made, in terms of health and education, as a result of improved living conditions.

In the afternoon we visited the school, which teaches 238 orphans across seven grades. We met the head teacher and joined some of the lessons.

Again it was fantastic to see the positive impact a relatively simple building is having on the lives of these children.

Our visit was rounded off by giving gifts to the children, including a football which sparked a penalty taking completion between pupils, teachers and visitors!

Friday 7 march

After a day of travelling on Thursday (6 March) from Ndola back to Lusaka and on to Livingstone, south west of the capital, Friday was our day being tourists. We were treated to a cruise on the Zambezi and a trip to view the amazing Victoria Falls. At the end of the day we returned to Lusaka and after a short sleep, flew back to the UK.

It had been an amazing trip. And one which I could not have prepared for emotionally. I have not been to Africa before and it is different seeing things with your own eyes. So many of the children we saw were orphans yet they were so pleased to see us, so happy. It really makes you think how lucky you are... and makes you feel you want to do more to help.