The second instalment of Fiona's updates from the field
The last few weeks have passed in a blur of activity. Sometimes you can be on the verge of frustration at the lack of impetus to get jobs done, then there are times when the ammount of activity unfolding is incomprehensible. The last two weeks have definitely been the latter as the EduSport office has gone into overdrive delivering programmes in the Copperbelt, Southern Province and Lusaka. For me, I have been to Monze, Kazangula and Livingstone to see the International Inspirations (UK Sport’s 2012 Olympic legacy programme) in action with SCORE, Right to Play, SIA and EduSport. But the highlight of the last two weeks has to have been the experience of witnessing Mr Kabwata body building contest; facinating, intriguing and slightly scary in equal measure. Big boys!
IDEALS students returned to the UK last weekend which signalled the end of the project for 2009. Waving them off at the airport was a strangely emotional moment. It has been refreshing to see the students work hand in hand with community peer leaders and build relations that will last long after they step off the plane in Heathrow. For those that have had doubts if the IDEALS project has moved forward and question its value, admittedly I was verging on the cynical, I have to emphasise that any concerns I may have haboured have been unequivocally quashed having seen the project in action. The highlights are epitomised by the Wallace Tournament, an incredible experience for newcomers to the event like me! All the student placements came together to play against each other in netball, football, basketball and volleyball. The students had spent the evening before making elaborate banners (by torchlight through a power-cut) and arrived with their teams on open-top trucks chanting and donned with face-paint. As the students departed I was reminded exactly how special the IDEALS project is, I saw in some the same impact after their 6 week placement that I too had experienced back in 2006 and I have little doubt for a few it won’t be a final farewell to Zambia - they have Zambia fever! Having waved the students off, it was also time for me to bid goodbye to my work with UK Sport officially.
It has been an exciting time for Friend of EduSport and it is going to be a busy few years ahead if we are to achieve our ambitions as a charity. Being here has allowed for discussions with community representatives and committees of our supported areas; namely Chawama, Kalingalinga and Bauleni. In partnership, we have reviewed our sponsored peer leaders to ensure those that benefit from our support for school fees are adequately active with their community sport programme. The result of which have been new peer leaders added to our pending list and in the coming weeks we will be having parents meeting to explain the expectations of those on our sponsorship list. This will also allow us to have direct contact with parents and guardians with our sponsored peers which will be advantageous for future support and understanding.
Prior to her return to the UK, Rona McIntosh (FoE Chawama SEE Coordinator) and I had an emotionally charged meeting with the founding teachers at CSEE community school. The meeting took place in the ‘baby class‘ a brightly coloured room filled with posters of the alphabet and numbers, on arrival there was one 4 year old looking wide-eyed waiting to be picked up by an older brother after his first day at school. Having started in 2007 with just 2 pupils, the school has developed and indeed established itself as a respected school earning the trust of over 200 pupils and parents. CSEE has impressed by its ability to be largely self-sustained, FoE currently support the school with rent payments out of term time (3 months of the year) and have 2 sponsored teachers as part of our sponsorship programme. We have all agreed that the next stage is to own land and build a purpose built structure. As such Rona, Jack, Sharon, Toxie and I visited various plots of land on the fringes of Chawama, unfortunately all of which had already been sold by a matter of hours. We quickly realised that buying land is much like buying property in London, by the time it is advertised as ‘on sale’ it is already sold! This week Jack, Melissa (Loughborough University IDEALS media student, opted not to get her flight home) and I viewed a vast plot located beside the railway line measuring 100m by 100m. Trying not to get over excited until we have something in writing and confirmed; but it is perfect! Should this land be financially feasible for FoE to purchase with a two year payment schedule, this land can accommodate all our dreams of a school, sports pitch, playground and orphanage all housed within the grounds! Keeping fingers tightly crossed as Jack does the negotiations, I believe that we have the opportunity to fulfill the original vision of Chawama SEE; a school that focuses on quality education, creating opportunities to fulfill potential and accessible to all.
On the other side of Lusaka, Kalingalinga EduSport have been busy creating new partnerships and putting together project proposals. Their vision over the next year is to build a hard-court surface on the edge of their community field to allow their teams to play volleyball, netball and basketball all year round. A number of IDEALS Alumni have shown an interest in supporting this initiative and FoE hope to see approval of the budget and project outline in the coming weeks.
As for me, it looks like I will (VISA pending) be in Zambia until the end of the year. I have moved to the Durham/SIA house in Chilenje and bought my first set of Zambian wheels...a Zambike! It has been refreshing and revitalising being back in Lusaka, as always I am humbled by the work being done by so many inspiring individuals. Some of which I am honoured to call friends of EduSport! Watch this space for the next developments.......
By Fiona Campbell
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News 
International
links can be a powerful way to support the global dimension across the
curriculum, bringing the issues to life for students in both countries.
One of the main aims of the DfES International Strategy is to enable
every school in England to establish a sustainable partnership with a
school in another country by 2010
