The River Code

The River Code-

Women for Change uses this philosophy to help rural communities. It a basic philosophy, that has significantly improved lives for over 600 000 people in the rural areas of Zambia.

When WFC approaches communities that need help, they will sit down with leadership, and discuss how Women for Change can provide skills to help the people in rural communities.

They sit with the chiefs and explain the River Code, WFC shows them a picture, it’s a picture with someone carrying someone on their back, and then the other picture, it shows two people helping each other. These two scenarios both have the obstacle to cross the river.

Women for Change says we will not carry you across the river, but we will HELP YOU HELP YOURSELF to get across that river. It is then up to the community to decide if they want the help with tools for sustainability or to continue to receive “Hand-outs” or food rations.

It’s a simple and easy concept, but small rural communities have denied Women for Change’s help. Other communities have embraced Women for Change’s gift of capacity building.

Ill share one little success story with you. Communities that once were starving, now have grain storage structures to store food. A surplus of food; That is Amazing!

People in the rural villages already know that receiving hand-outs from the government only creates a dependency trap. They are in some of the most remote places in the World, and even they know that getting money from the government isn’t sustainable.

Now the question is, how do we apply this thinking to a young generation of youth on income support in our own first nation communities?

This is why I moved to Zambia; to find the answers. This is why I have absorbed myself in a culture 15 000 km away from my Momma and my Daddio, all my brothers and sisters, my boyfriend, my cat, my best friends, my whole entire support system and every familiar face.

 I see the bigger picture and want to encourage people in First Nations communities to really live. Not to wake up and have to deal with life but to live life. I want to see First Nations change their lifestyle during the course of my lifetime. I want Indigenous people to really live and enjoy life and not struggle from one welfare cheque to the next.

I am not asking you to follow my dream, but to follow yours whatever it may be. Mine was to travel the world and find new places to discover. Mine was to learn about Indigenous people world-wide and leave a light footprint everywhere I travelled.

I’ve left my hand prints at the school I helped build in Fiji, I have hiked up a mountain where the local people have never seen a foreigner, I moved to Zambia and have walked in the shoes in some of the poorest people. I have been on a safari. I have helped change the World <3

This is living for ME. I want to encourage you to live for YOU!

Women Leadership! YAY!

I phoned home on Sunday, like I normally do, and my pops had filled my in, that there are two women running in the provincial election in Alberta. How great is that? Alberta is setting a prime example for Women for Change. Will be following the election from Zambia!

Weekends in Lusaka

Had a great weekend go carting, We had a ladies day out and decided to have some fun and go carting!

We laughed the whole entire time and we had a few crashes and Tashayna ran over a few tires, but the day was a success!

World Water Day

Today is World Water Day. Please Conserve Water. Not just today, but every day.

My baby sister Heather, did an amazing fundraiser, one that I encourage you all to try. She participated in the Walk for Water in Edmonton. She walked for two km`s with empty milk jugs, and once she got to the destination point she filled up her milk jugs with water. Heather than walked back the two km`s with full milk jugs of water. The experience was to teach her what it is like in Africa to walk for water.

In reality, Women and Children walk much longer to obtain water. Hours. Some days the trip must be done more than once. How far are you willing to walk for that glass of water?

There is a project I would love to start upon completion of this internship. I would love to start a project very similar to BC`s Conservation Plan;To provide homes with conservation kits, to have low flow shower heads, and just little items that would contribute to conservation within my community.

We have a high number of community members on income support, and any way to help make their water or electricity bills smaller, so they can ideally use the saved money to no longer need income support services.

My mom had told me a story once, she said her grandma told her to never play with water, because one day we would have to pay for it, now we live in a world where water is more expensive per Litre than the price of fuel.

Please share the message `World Water Day`

`Ashley, what you are doing is amazing. You are being the change you want to see In the world, and by doing that you inspire me and many others. I may not have the strength to go to Africa, but because of the example you are setting, I know that I can do much more in my own country. Thank you for being an amazing woman, setting such an amazing example. Love you lots, stay safe, and keep inspiring ♥

This was posted on my facebook group. This is exactly what I wanted or hoped would come from this internship. This motivates me to keep going when days get tough and I feel like I`m not doing enough to help.

I had hoped this internship would open eyes all around me and make people understand. I am glad I have been your personal connection to Zambia.

House of Commons

Eeeeeeeeeeeeek!

A little birdie told me, that Denise Savoie (whom Ive posted pictures of in earlier posts) was quiete inspired by our group of interns. She had come to wish us farewell at our tea party in Victoria right before we all flew out to Zambia and Uganda.

Denise is the MP for the Victoria area, and for her to bring us up in discussion at the House of Commons is pretty amazing. I think all ten of us interns never beleived these internships would happen to people like us, we all come from small communities and I know in the future we will inspire others from our communities to accomplish and acheive their dreams.

I'd like to thank Denise Savoie for her support and acknowledgement. Its's always motivational to receive support from leadership.

and....a little side note. The Africa Hope Fund is following my twitter page :)

Quote to live by

Dr.Stash

Courtenay had a little ooopsie! Dr.Stash fixed her right up! Such a fun day. Never a dull moment with team Zambia!

Kony (Blah)

I am writing this post in response to the discussion I started on my Facebook group within my friends list, I had asked my friends not to support the Kony Movement, and with the help of my programme manager have come up with reasons why we do not support the Kony 2012- Invisible Children Organization.

I know you have all wondered why I have asked you not to support the Kony Movement…. If you use any type of social media, you know the Kony Movement has gotten extreme hype in the last few days. I will not get into the reasons why I’ve asked you not to support the Kony 2012 “Movement” but I strongly encourage you to do your own research on the organization, and form your own opinion on the video.

I have a completely different view, while I am in the ground here in Zambia, I have five of my colleagues in Uganda right now who I’ve done my training with, and I am sure they have had so many questions with the Kony stuff from people in North America.

There are more sustainable ways to positively contribute to the issues. Which organization you choose is completely up to you, please be skeptical of the organizations and do your research but these are a few I like…..

http://www.videa.ca – This one is the wonderful organization who felt confident in me, to offer me an internship with their partners in Zambia. I know my friends in Kelowna and BC should look into this one, we have a twinning program where we sell products from Zambia in Kelowna. Many opportunities to volunteer your time.

http://www.one.org/international- I love this “one” because Justin Beiber supports it! LOL but you don’t need to pay money, you just need to support the issues, and you can advocate in your local area. It focuses to change policies within countries to alleviate poverty and gender based violence.

http://wwf.panda.org  World Wildlife Fund- This one is great, because as an Indigenous Person, I agree with their statement of” Building a future where humans live in harmony with nature”

www.wfc.org.zm Women for Change-My Internship Placement.

Justice for Widows and Orphans-This one is local to Zambia. Courtenay and Tashayna have been the first two International Interns to Intern at their office. They do amazing things for women and land claims after their husbands die.

http://www.womankind.org.uk/what-we-do/where-we-work/south-africa/womankind-projects/ -Support Womens issues. For women to have a voice in this world is not universal.

Canadian Embassy

Our little visit to the Concelet yesterday!

Month One! Check!

I have been in Zambia for officially a month. Wow. Time flies when your having fun! Three More to gooooo!
Im sure the Creator is sending me signs while Ive been here, Ive just been keeping an open mind to watch for these signs.

One happened to me yesterday, I was doing an interview with Grace, An animator who mostly works in the field, I was asking her many questions for I need to do a newsletter on the Constitution and childrens rights, we were discussing and she said this quote "Youth are not the leaders of tomorrow, there the leaders of today"

I tell ya, I got the biggest smile on my face. This quote really stuck out to me when I was in Victoria doing my training with BCIC. I think it was the Creators way, of saying I'm on the right track! :)

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Funny Story! My family calls me every sunday to chit chat. While they are having Sunday Morning pancakes, its disnky time in Lusaka. Soooo, I get my 7 year old brother on the phone, and he says to me, more like yells "I HAVENT TALKED TO YOU SINCE FEBRUARY" I laughed, it is true, It was just February and we only talk once a week. I just realize how time is flying since Ive started the internship.

When I look back, later in my life,this six months is going to seem like a breeze!

Seriously missing all of you back home!

International Womens Day

On March 8 2012, I had participated in the International Women’s Day March in Lusaka. It will be a very memorable day for me among my time in Zambia. It was motivational, inspiring, and empowering to witness women coming together to make it clear, that they will not be victims to gender based violence anymore.

The theme for this year’s commemorating walk is “The empowerment of women and girls: Their role in Gender based violence, poverty, and hunger eradication.

15 000 people in Lusaka had participated in the march & many thousand more in rural areas.

This day will leave a lasting impression on my heart because this country, known on paper for being extremely poor and ranking very low on the human development index is not the country I see,I see this country as being beautiful and alive and uniting for a voice. It is inspirational and admirable to see women dancing, singing, and laughing down the march while singing about real issues in Zambia relating to gender based violence.

One of the key note speakers (NGOCC) had declared the gender based violence was a natural disaster and the epidemic of our time. For women to have a voice is not universal and the people of Zambia should have a zero tolerance in regards to gender based violence.

I had local Zambians personally shake my hand and thank me for supporting them on their walk. I had worn a black headband as a gesture of mourning the women who have been victims of gender based violence: rape, defilement, beaten & shot.

Gender Based Violences means any physica, sexual, mental, social, or economic abuse against a person because of that person's gender-Simplified Anti-Gender Based Violence Act No.! of 2011.

Zambian Name

Ive been honored with my Zambian Name! Bupea. In english it translates to Gift from God. So blessed and happy knowing the Creator is watching over me in Zambia.

Typical day in the life of Zambia

So my typical Ashley day, is I wake up at 5:00 am, and pray for some strength to get out of bed. I am always exhausted still, I go to bed super early every night, but I toss and turn from nightmares or bad dreams. This usually happens from the side effects of the malaria pills.

Malaria pills have many side effects such as vertigo, sensitivity to light, dizziness, nausea, and there famous for their effects on dreams. You need to take them with a meal, and not within two hours of any vitamins. I made the mistake of washing it down with water that was high in Calcium, and I was sick for days and couldn’t figure out why. Everyday, I feel some side effects of the malaria medication, but I keep taking it because I know what could happen if I contract Malaria.

I usually, will get up between 5:15-5:30am. I can hear my roomie Shaina making coffee and starting the morning porridge. I hop in the shower (which is a hose in a wall and shoots out a skinny stream of water) we’ve been extremely lucky, to be able to have hot water. I know my fellow interns in Uganda have to shower in a bucket and gather their own shower water.

I do a daily search on my body to make sure I have no open wounds. If I have an open wound I need to have it covered. This is just risk management and keeping yourself safe in Africa. This is tough, because if you know me, you know of my life long struggle with itchy eczema. In Zambia, it has a high rate of HIV/AIDS (Approx 15%) and I don’t want any blood to get into any parts of my body.I may be being overprotective but I dont take any chances. So I always do my best to not have open wounds.

I put on my work clothes and attempt to do my hair and make up. I don’t wear much makeup, because it is sooooo hot, it will just melt off! I secretly am jealous of the Zambian womens adaptation to the heat. They always look amazing reguardless of the temperature. Then I quickly eat breakfast and choke down some instant coffee. I already miss a good cup of home brewed coffee with my mom and dad.

Its 7:00 am, and we do the quick check, have you put on your mosquito spray? Have you taken your malaria pill? Do you have water in your backpack? Do you have bus money? After we’ve gathered all our things, we head off for my favorite part of the day, the commute to work, we walk to the University Teaching Hospital bus stop and get on a mini bus. It is a small mini van usually sacked up with 16-20 people. It reminds me of a clown car, people just keep piling in and out. Then we bus into town and transfer to a bus that goes to Chelston and Nathan, Shaina & I get off at North Mead, the area in town where our office is located. Along the way, many people say “Maokwabwangee” It translates to Good Morning, and we wave to many people and smile.

Lots of Zambians are curious about the three mazoongoos (foreigners)  and ask us questions, most Zambians think were Chinese, or from Thailand. Nobody ever guesses Canada. First Nations peoples are not well known. If we say were Indian, they think were East Indian. You have to say Pochohontas, then they might know what kind of indian you are. LOL

We then get to the office between 8:00-8:30. There is no punch clocks in Zambia. Everything rolls on Zambia Time. Reminds me of Indian Time back home. LOL then I work the morning in my office and check emails from home and have a cup of tea and visit with the other staff. In Lusaka, people check in every single day with each other to see how everyone is holding up through these tough times at WFC.

Lunch time rolls around at 1:00, and if we’re lucky, our colleagues will take us for Shima and T’Bone Steak. Usually costs around 12 000, if we all pitch in. Which would be around $3.00 Cdn for a meal. You have to eat with your hands and just dig into the shima and grab some steak, and there is also pumpkin leaves in peanut sauce. Very tasty! You roll it in your hands and be careful not to get burned. Mr. Swanze did not warn us how hot the Shima was. The first time we went. He laughed and said “that’s the best part about getting new interns, burning there hand on the shima” Everyone shares some laughs and they teach us more Nanja-One of the popular languages in Lusaka.

We come back to the office between 2:00-2:30 and work until 4:30. Then we do the 1-2 hour commute back to the YWCA, where we live. The commute is longer on the way back, because we grab things for dinner for the night and Lusaka has BAD traffic jams. I could tell you stories for days about the adventures with the mini busses and how no one follows the street lights.

 We make dinner and chat with Courtenay and Tashayna who are our roomies and work with Justice for Widows and Orphans. We all teach each other the new words we learn, and find something to laugh about. Never a dull moment in the cottage! If were not sitting and laughing, were killing spiders. Well Shaina kills them……. I usually freak out and hide. They are way too big to squish and they run so fast!

We are so ZOMBIE tired at this point, we will play some cards to pass the time, visit people staying at the YWCA, or work out. People think were weird for working out. They laugh because we tell them we eat too much Shima!!

Then we get ready for bed, check our beds for any tarantalas, and crawl into our bug nets. Me and Shaina (my roomie, we share a little bedroom at our cottage) stay up for a few minutes and talk about everything! Mostly our boyfriends. Ha Ha.  Then me and Chicky (my teddy bear) will say our prayers and pray for everyone here and at home. Then eventually fall asleep. I try to fall asleep before Shaina because she SNORES and I mean snores! She has boughten me some pink ear plugs to help and I keep my Ipod in my bed, and I can hear her snoring over my music. So we get some sleep and do it all over again the next day!

No two days are the same. We have fun every day and make the most out of our Africa experience!! We know how rare this opportunity is!

What do I want to accomplish in Zambia before I leave. I want to make a lasting impression with the Non-Governmental Organization that I’ve been partnered with. I want to educate them, that even in Canada, my peoples still struggle with the same issues of sustainability. I want them to know, I respect and admire their culture. I want to be able to do my best in advocacy for sociological issues that are gender based violence related.

In Canada, I also strive for the same goals. First Nations struggle with the issue of sustainability daily. I want to be a positive role model for young aboriginal women. I want to make my family and community proud. I want youth and women to be empowered. I just want to make life easier for the average First Nations person. I have seen what a struggle it has been to try to succeed in a society where I’m expected to fail.

 I do not know the creators plan for me, but I pray every day for guidance. He guided me to Zambia for a reason and I’ll keep praying for advice on how to use what I’ve learned.