Last few days

Partly it feels as though we have been here for ever and partly that we have just arrived! As always the last week or so builds up to a rush of final meetings and reports. It is intensified at this time of year for us by the deadline for Scottish Government Small Grants application coming at the beginning of November. So a lot of international communication has gone on while we firm up our ideas for the best way forward with our partners here, building on what we have learnt from this Feasibility year so far. Consolidation and capacity building seem to be where we are at - both at home and in Zambia.

With the help of our trainee trainers we have finished the training courses at Chainama Hospital and College. As always for us the most interesting part is the reflective evaluation where trainees record what has changed for them. A great emphasis this year on the power of simple art making to open up communication  and the shared process to improve relationships. Assessment marks have been very positive too - so between us we seem to be getting the message across! We had productive meeting with Sergio Mainetti, who is the CBM/Basic Needs lead in the area to see where our approach might fit with what they are doing.

Just a couple of busy days to go and then seeing if all the things I wasn't going to buy but which have somehow appeared in my cupboard, are going to fit in my modest bag. Then it will be goodbye to Gossner which provides such a peaceful base and back to the cold.

Author: Joanna