Readmore - The Canadian Harm Reduction Network

Letters from Africa

2001-11-22

Just spent 3.5 hours trying to get some doc's photocopied!!! The machine at our office hasn't worked for who knows how long – can you imagine that? Just another thing to take in stride. Had to walk to Cairo Rd (remember), ended up at VSO office, had lunch while I waited, etc.
Preparing for all day mtg. tomorrow with the other VSO vols doing HIV work. I'm the only RAISA vol. in Lusaka, but I'm told this is where VSO intends to focus more attention – HIV/AIDS and OVC's (orphaned and vulnerable children)= the direction identified in their organizational priorities. So I am in a very strategic placement/position :) Taking my entire resource library with me – condoms and all – I'll keep you informed.

Almost got arrested last night walking home from James' place. Seems like there is a 22:30 curfew in the city so as I was nearing my home and the Pomodzi hotel – where some commercial sex workers always try to chat me up- I was greeted by two police officers (avec oozies – they are a dime a dozen here – really). After much posturing it became quite clear what they wanted- after getting 10000 kwacha (approx. $4) the tone changed, they walked me part way home, and wanted my work address – I guess so we could 'chum around'. My first experience with 'the pay off'.

Provoked a 'staff mtg' to keep 2 remaining staff from jumping ship. Resulted in mtg with board reps who decided, as we suggested, to allow us to form an interim management team for the remainder of the year, so that they can focus their efforts on hiring staff – and figuring out why they have gone thru 4 ED's in 4 years!! (watch for what you wish for, eh)

Just spent the last 3 hours developing the organizations 'workplan' for 2002-2003. (haven't yet been formally oriented to the org'n but I'm now defining where it will go- I know this doesn't follow any of the OD stuff I've read- Oh well)

Invited to attend Thanksgiving pot luck with Canadian and American priests, sisters, Jesuits – poor souls don't know what they are in for – or maybe I should be concerned :).

This weekend: basketball finals on Sat. (cheap beer I'm told), swimming on Sun., and potential visit to Phoenix radio station – further discussion of upcoming program content.

Got sucked into World AIDS day planning committee (2 weeks before the event-- no concept of planning ahead) Result James designed all the visuals (logo, T-shirts, banners), my ideas being used for all the 'messages' . The global theme is "Men can make a difference" or something like that- a theme defined in Geneva I think in Jan/Feb-- I guess this wasn't enough lead time :) My suggestions for Zambianizing the day= (ie "Are you a real man?.. Can you handle your drink?.. Can you use a condom?", "You can talk to me" – on 1500 T-shirts around country, "We care...do you?" – possibly provoking specific politicians...). May be home sooner than I planned!!!

So that’s what’s been happening over the past while. Hope you all are well. Look forward to hearing from you soon.