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!