Our colleague Maya de Ridder has started volunteering with ProjectsNow in Zambia. She is working on the design of a dormitory and teacher housing and is helping to build the Bbakasa Science Laboratory. In her first update, she shares her experiences and the challenges she faces in her first month in Africa.
Maya describes the culture shock as quite big. The reality in the rural in Zambia can be harsh, especially when you talk to people. “On average, there is no water supply, electricity for 22 hours a day or any transport besides walking. Temporary solutions are the norm,” she says. The drought makes life even more challenging. Maya notices that she wants to make a difference but because of the different pace of things and not being acquainted with how things are done in Zambia, it takes more time to get things done. “I suddenly feel how accustomed I am with the Dutch way of doing things…”
The beauty of Zambia
Despite the challenges, Maya describes the country as beautiful and the people as very hospitable. “There is a big difference with the Netherlands in how people treat each other. The patient attitude of the locals makes a big difference. I love how people dance wherever possible and I’m surprised by how much they laugh.” She was warmly welcomed by the local people and her host family. Maya helps the local community out whenever she can. For example, she has already helped out with installing water for Bbakasa – where people now eagerly wait with their buckets.
Progress
More and more water is becoming available and people are happy with this progress. The men are working hard to build a water pump and water tower, while the women take care of the children and prepare food. Traditional role division is strong, and even Maya takes on a role as the caregiver during her visit. “From my own perspective, I wouldn’t mind some progress in these traditional roles.”
“My place is next to a river, which is about 10 km from the school. This distance makes pumping water a big challenge. But that is not the only challenge that we face…” Maya works on a project that consists of a collection of school buildings. “As I was told prior to coming here, the first two classes of the primary school are housed in a rundown building. The teachers have to sleep in converted offices, which compromises their safety. I am working on a new building for secondary education. This is particularly important because if the school is not operational next year, many children will lose their chance at an education – and that would be devastating…”
Making a masterplan
The impact of the project is significant, and Maya has even visited the Ministry of Education during her first month. “Apparently, no school in the region has had a master plan or some sort of an educational housing plan. Something that is considered essential and even legally necessary in the Netherlands.” The lacking of a development plan or vision has inspired her to make one. She uses her experience with the projects of lyongo architecture as a basis, such as working on the design of the schoolcampus on Saba.
The current school is cheaply built with roofs made of iron sheets and no attention to climate or shade. The classrooms are heavily secured with steel for the windows which Maya believes is unnecessary. The building blocks are too large and the spaces unpleasant. “The changes or extensions are based on the idea: there are too many students and we have to do something quickly. So new classrooms are built without a plan. Construction of these new rooms or buildings is done in phases, which leads to unfinished buildings and delayed transport of materials most of the time.”
Future designs
Maya is focusing the next few weeks on a design for bringing the existing buildings, teacher houses and the future secondary school together in a masterplan. She is working with local teachers and the ministry to draw up a list of necessary facilities. “They thought my ideas about the spaces between the blocks and additions to the school was an ‘eye-opener’. It is nice to see that you can make a difference, doing this work as a volunteer”. Another next step is the design of the school itself. She wants to focus on how the climate can be improved.