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You Are Here - Support Us > Volunteering > Emma's experience
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My experience of Luansobe Emma Iavarone I arrived in Luansobe in April 2008 prepared for a lengthy stay. With my partner, Nick and good friend Rob, we were welcomed into the community by what seemed like a never-ending flow of smiling faces and hand shakes! I was immediately struck by the beauty of the surrounding Miombo woodland and felt as though I’d been hidden deep within a magical forest. We lived our lives, for the next few months, next to the villagers of Luansobe. This meant daily visits from children, friends and well-wishers that stopped by regularly not to mention the chickens, pigs, donkeys, dogs and cows! Norris, Medan and Saffie, ladies employed by the Trust in a variety of roles, took it upon themselves to make sure we kept ourselves fed and cleaned! When Nick fell ill with malaria they also became a nursing team, and kept vigil by his bedside until his full recovery. Shortly after arriving in the community a celebration was organised for the first International Day for Preventing Malaria. This was a fantastic opportunity to witness traditional dancing and the wonderful sense of humour that characterises Zambia. A group of talented young people from LUBS performed some short sketches highlighting the need for mosquito netting and demonstrating the avoidable consequences of using it for fishing, instead of malaria prevention. The volunteer organisation Orphan Medical set up shop at the clinic for a day at the beginning of May. News of their coming had reached some of the more remote communities around Luansobe, and the queue was more than one hundred people long for most of the day. I went to say hello to the incredible team, and chat with some of the people waiting for treatment. It was a real reminder of the poverty and lack of basic treatment available to a lot of people in Zambia. The team spent the day treating injuries and diseases, carrying out HIV and AIDS tests and advising people on issues such as epilepsy. I built up a friendship with the wonderful staff at the clinic (instigated by a bout of parasites!) Their work is tireless and extremely professional. From the Orphan Medical team I heard that the Luansobe Clinic is the best of its kind for miles around, with most communities reliant upon their out-reach projects for all medical care. Before we left the community Rob, Nick, Rebecca (a new and dear friend and fellow volunteer) and I couldn’t resist throwing a party. After days of preparation and negotiation, and more than a few hours cooking over an open fire, we hosted the gathering with singing, dancing, a lot of eating, and a fair few laughs! Our friends from the community made flattering speeches about the work we’d been involved with, and we responded with gratitude for their hospitality and kindness. To say that I was sad to leave Luansobe is an understatement. Spending three months living and working with the residents of Luansobe was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I hope it will develop as long friendships do, over the years. I am certain I’ll be going back (if they’ll have me!) Emma Lavarone worked at Luansobe helping to develop food security, as well as giving IT training to Kaloko staff, helping Crèche teachers plan and measure pupil progress and running a teachers’ workshop at LUBS. Emma returned to Kaloko in July 2009, with a group of sixth form students. The students gained first hand experience of supporting a practical development project with Kaloko.
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Kaloko Trust
UK, 39-41 Surrey Street, Brighton, BN1 3PB, UK |
