Go Sisters & EduSport

 

It started with Bright asking them all what they had learnt the previous day. He would throw a ball at attendees in order to get them to participate.

 

Toxi then did a KAO Session – Kick Aids Out. To demonstrate how the HIV virus attacks, we went outside and formed a circle. One person stood outside and one in the middle. The circle was the body, and had to protect the person in the middle from attach.

 

She then went on to define AIDS and HIV and asked how you would know if someone was infected. Although they were all at school, and some looked little more than 12, she asked who had had sex. A few hands went up, and you got the feeling that the boys were not trying to show off. You really get the impression that by the time a girl hits 14, it is expected that she would be sexually active. She really hammered home the message that if people were asking you to ‘be their friend’; it was highly probable that they had an ulterior motive.

 

How do you know that you are not sick? If you have a VCT (Voluntary Counselling & Testing). If you are not sick, you do not want to risk getting sick by going with someone you don’t know. AIDS is not a disease; it is a combination of different diseases,

 

She then went on to warn that using a condom does not necessarily guarantee your safety. It may be faulty, out of date, or used incorrectly. She then demonstrated how to open one, and how to dispose of it. We had the delight of one being filled with water and passed around the class!

 

She wrapped up by stressing that you should all get tested and think about the impact on your education, future, dreams, and family should you become infected.

 

Bright then briefly spoke about the UN convention of the Rights of the Child, which celebrates its 20^th anniversary on 20^th November 2009. He emphasised that even though they were children they had rights, and they discussed what some of these rights were.

 

The remainder of the morning was spent discussing the aim, equipment requirements, and rules of the different sports. Lazarus kicked off talking about football. Most were able to contribute, although they did not discuss the off side rule.

Alice then spoke about netball, followed by Bright who explained basketball. Lazarus finished with the rules of volleyball, something I knew little about.

 

They then stopped for lunch, and I finally got to try nshima. There were only three ordered as apparently on Saturday most people had wanted chicken and chips! It was very bland, and a bit difficult to eat as there was no cutlery, it was very hot so trying to roll it in to balls and dipping it in the sauce that came with the chicken, whilst keeping the flies at bay, was quite challenging!

 

After lunch it was activities practice, and the director of EduSport – Michael Mwango popped in for a few minutes to observe the workshops in action and give a small speech to the children.

 

The day was wrapped up with feedback and a song and a pray.

 

Needless to say, as it grew time to leave, the heavens opened. This didn’t seem to worry them as we had impromptu dancing and singing.

 

We helped Toxi lock up, in the loosest sense of the word lock, and walked back to the main area, past the market and the local football match. Three white faces did cause a bit of staring, but nothing unpleasant.

 

Came back to the room and for the first time didn’t feel all hot and bothered. The Chelsea Man U match was on TV and I watched a bit until Chelsea scored, and then went and had a shower. Most of the TV appears to be American trash or BBC. They are a series behind on Strictly Come Dancing, and also have The Weakest Link.

 

Monday – Quiet day in the office. The heat sees to have returned today, and by the time I got back to my room, I was not very pleasant to be around!

 

Went along to the local bank to cash some $ to pay for my room, but they would not accept some of the notes as they got rejected by one of the machines! Not a great situation when you’re in a cash economy that doesn’t do credit cards! Popped into the branch near where I am staying, but they shut at 14.30, so will have to go in tomorrow.

 

Popped out to pay for my flight to Livingstone. Chris took me and Michael, who then popped into the Mayor’s office briefly. On the way back we stopped to get some fuel. Timed it well as there was only one car in front of us, by the time we were served and tried to leave the forecourt was chaotic !

 

Tuesday - It must have ranged overnight and is much cooler today. Almost to the point that you could wear a cardigan.

 

Went to the bank near me to try and change the remainder of my money. Had intended on getting there for 8.15am when they opened, however I was formatting my note to Michael and didn’t get there until 8.30am. There was one lady in front of me who was expecting some funds to have been transferred into her account. These couldn’t be found, and the fact that they were having systems issues meant I waited 30 minutes before I was served! Finally got into the office just before 10.00am. Very quiet today, with a lot of people still away. I have finished my memo to Michael and am just waiting for that to be printed off by Natchi. I also helped her complete the excel spreadsheet for the Livingstone and Kazungula. It seemed to work, and we added a Variance column too.

 

It’s now 3.15pm and I’m quite bored! Can’t really go as I was in late. Will try and leave pronto though if the others do, and maybe go back to Manda Hill.

 

Wednesday – went through the memo that I had written with Michael, which he seemed quite content with. I have added his responses to the observations and suggestions that I have made.

 

Other than that, not much doing today. Went and sat outside for half an hour or so and had lunch. Natchi asked me to do a form that could be used when people have claimed expenses but have no receipts. I did this whilst she was out and we went through it and tweaked it on her return.

 

Left at 2.00pm ish and went to Manda Hill. On the way there, a large thermometer said that the temperature was 46C, which I find very hard to believe, particularly as two hours later it had fallen to 31C. I was able to pay for the bits and pieces that I had been able to purchase on Sunday, but had a similar problem in the Kilimanjaro Café, where I had seen a little dress for the baby and some ‘Christmas Giraffe’s’. Did take a gamble and bought the stripy duvet I had seen in Woolworths.

 

When I got back, Lisa was watching TV, there was no Wi Fi internet connection, even after I turned the router on, so I sat and watched that with her for a while. There was no hot water, but she did say someone was on their way to fix it. There were quite a few people there tonight, although not all of them were staying. I think there were a couple of meetings. One group decided they wanted food, so when I went to get some water, I also got some bits for her, and then helped her prepare the food. I then tried the shower, although the water was not that much warmer. There was loads left over, so we had rice, veg and nshima, and watched CSI. I put some rice and veg in a container to have tomorrow, or when I return on Sunday.

 

About 9.00ish, it started to rain quite hard, and there was also thunder. The rain continued for most of the night.