Orientation Day - a challenging time.

On Thursday, 3rd December, fourteen people met at the Riverside Centre in Derby for the day that would show us  how to teach elementary health care principles to a less developed nation. John and Linden Boothby, and their friend Janet, were from Links International and were leading us for the day. They had travelled up that morning from Sussex.  Eight people were from Community Church Derby, and three were from other churches.

Our visit will be during the first week in March, but to encourage us to expect great things, here are excepts from a report of their recent trip to Malawi.

Janet teaching a group recently in Malawi. It was emphasized to us that the programme is based on discussion rather than the teacher standing at the front.

A participant in Malawi wrote, ‘The workshop was an eye opener. We discovered that we can influence our community to follow preventive measures against most of our killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, dysentery just to mention a few. As we were discussing we recognised the need of concentrating on sanitation in our community, and we agreed that sanitation will be our starting point. Our mind set has completely changed towards our community. When we were coming back on the 2 hour drive, we kept on discussing how we can implement the healthy tips that we learnt from the workshop. The fact that we have a role to play in our community cannot be emphasised enough. This workshop was worth attending!’

In Derby, Linden emphasied getting the Local Chiefs on board.  The Malawi report quotes Chief Chapsinja who wrote, ‘The training was timely. I will ensure that my community is practicing good health practices. In our country Chiefs are keys to the community, that is why I personally attended the training. I am convinced that the training is good so I will personally teach my fellow chiefs in their monthly meeting and work closely with the Village Development Committee to ensure that what we have learnt is being put into practice. I want my village to be a model village.’

We already have a good relationship with the Chief in Looking Town. I hope he will attend. In the photo below he is presenting me with the traditional welcome gift of Kola nuts and  water.

Behind us is the Rev. Samuel Kargbo, Alpha's brother, who is a Baptist Minister and very involved in the over-sight of the programme.

Kola Nuts

I was not expecting the gift and was not sure what he was giving me. We shared the nuts later and I am told that in Africa it is a symbol of peace, friendship, and hospitality, a bit like the Indian peace pipe. We are looking forward to the visit in March. Alpha has also promised me that we shall be treated to one of the high-lights of their year - the School Sports Day.