The Canadian Harm Reduction Network
Letters from Africa
2006-10-20Fundraising update
Just a quick update from Shelley to say wowie!, have you checked out the Bingo chart lately? Since I sent out the first message just two weeks ago, the response has been tremendous... you guys are soooo great :) We're already about 28% of the way to our final goal, which we hope to reach by the end of December. Have a look a the great progress we're making here: http://www.scottgoestoafrica.com/bingo%202006.htm
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Email update from Scott, written October 15, 2006, part 1 of 3
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When saying hello to someone do you automatically ask “how are you” not really wanting to hear an honest or detailed response? In Zambia the reply to such a greeting is almost universally the same – “Surviving” or “I’m Just OK”. The longer that I live here the more these two responses speak volumes. In fact, someday in my dotage, I plan to write a book entitled ‘Just OK’ to describe my adventures here in Africa.
“Just OK” - not fine, great, couldn’t be better or spectacular as my father has been known to say. To probe further, if people choose to disclose, usually leads to a litany of all-to-common struggles – no work, no funds for school fees, clothes, utilities, rent, transport, … illness(es) in the family, compounding funeral expenses – the many realities of poverty.
Behind their beautiful smiles and unsettlingly calm and polite demeanor, one gets the sense of chronic stress and chaos intermingled with a resignation to ongoing and/or imminent crisis. In such a scenario, most people are, in reality, just trying to survive and “I’m just OK” seems quite apt.
You’d think the picture might be somewhat brighter for those few people who have found employment in this country. In fact, friends and colleagues who are working, are saddled with even greater challenges, demands and stressors. Imagine the never-ending needs of your entire extended family (the ‘village’) falling squarely on your shoulders alone!
In this economically, emotionally, socially and spiritually charged or ‘toxic’ environment, I have come to understand the interconnected realities of substance use, interpersonal conflict and violence, mental illness, despair fundamentalism, … and the spread of the HIV virus much more intimately. I have also witnessed great strength, resilience, faith, generosity, kindness, compassion and love.
I just returned from a one week excursion to Livingston and Mazabuka in Southern Province where I was undertaking a ‘mid-term evaluation’ of an HIV and AIDS program being carried out by the Girl Guides of Zambia (with funding from a Danish donor).
The following experience serves to remind me why I came to Africa in the first place and hopefully will shift the focus of this Update back to its original theme - the ‘survival’ needs of our “Just OK” fellow humans:
- Anne (not her real name) is an HIV+ thirty-something year old teacher and former Girl Guide (GG) who lost her husband two years ago and has three children (all school going age). She lives in a poor community minutes away from the famous Victoria Falls in Livingston. Anne recently recovered from a lengthy illness being cared for by one of the GG Leaders who took her into her own home. When I visited Anne she was living with two younger brothers (still school age) and her 32 year old very ill HIV+ sister ‘Jane’ who is also widowed and has one young child. These 8 people are living in a 6’ x 10’ storage room on the grounds of a local basic school. Though small, dark, infested and very poorly ventilated, if it weren’t for the kindness of the school headmaster, this entire family wouldn’t have anywhere else to stay and would be on the streets. Anne wants to get well so that she can return to school to complete her ‘diploma’ in education hoping to secure future employment so she can care for her large family. At the moment the GGs have little to offer in the way of food, clothing, medicines, etc but visit regularly to provide “spiritual guidance”.
...to be continued (this is part 1 of 3)
Much love,
Scott