The leadership model currently being used involves identifying a group of partners in the United States and a group of partners from Zambia and promoting a cultural and professional exchange. Arc Greater Twin Cities and the Institute on Community Integration are working together as the U.S team. Sandy Beddor works on both the U.S. and Zambian teams.
The first set of meetings took place in Zambia in January of 2008. Then, two months later, a leadership team came from Zambia for two weeks of training in Minnesota. The most recent trip took place in August of 2008.
One of the most exciting developments during our most recent trip took place in Chawama parish in Lusaka. We held a meeting for people with disabilities and their families to come and tell us their stories as well as their current needs and how they are or are not being met. The response was overwhelming. With less than 24 hours of notice to the community, we had 75 in attendance at the meeting.
As you can imagine, there were many stories that were heartbreaking. Zambia, to a large extent, is still a country where having a family member with a disability is considered bad luck and people with disabilities are often hidden away. Bearing that in mind, the courage it took for these people to come forward and come to our meeting is impressive, to say the least.
In spite of this, there was alot of hope at this meeting and one of the action steps identified by the participants was to continue meeting both to support one another as well as define action steps that they can take as a group to improve conditions for people with disabilities.
Fr. Patrick Chisanga attended the training in Minnesota and has been a major cog in the wheel in helping this all to move forward. Earlier this week, I received an e-mail with an update on the group as well as photos of the group. Here is an excerpt from Patrick's e-mail:
Special needs Chawama Group: first meeting- Friday 12 September. The turn out was overwhelming; I walked into that hall and was greeted by so many expectant and/or anxious faces of children, men and women, young and old with different disabilities. Ba Father for whom they had been waiting had arrived. That in itself was a honour, but also a huge challenge for me. Before going to Italy, I had began talking with a very small group of women who come out voluntarily after I had preached about the reality of a person with a disability in the family. The subsequent visit of the team from the USA had overwhelming results- hat off for all of you.
On that our first meeting, the one thing they all expected was to have their picture taken. It turned out ot be an exciting photo-taking session- I'll send some as soon as I can; still have problems downloading pictures from my camera.
I addressed the group briefly, especially checking their expectations and clarifying the misdirected ones. I emphasized on the the power of unity and recognizing that they are not alone in the situation, as well as the need to come out of the shame, suspicion and fear that often accompany any disability in the family.
There was also a parent from another parish who spoke to the group about her experience as a mother of a child with a disability and how she has struggled until she's able to stand up for the rights of her child, without fear or shame.
The group met again the following Friday; more came. Many still expected to have their pictures taken. I was not able to attend. The Home Based Care team addressed them.
Our task is to identify a core team that will work with Mathew and I and the parish executive representative(s) to draw up a program and orientation of our work.
It is obvious that such work demands a lot of consistency, time and energy. The parish team shows a lot of interest to learn and make follow up. I really do count on them as well as your support.
On behalf of Mathew and the whole parish community, I thank all of you- dzikomo.
Patrick.
Patrick also sent photos of the group's meetings:
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