Presidential Election Appears to be Decided in Zambia

From reports I have read this morning, it looks like Rupiah Banda of the MMD party will be Zambia's next president. For more information, click here.

Twin Cities Zambia Disability Connection Receives Write-up in Connect

An article on the Twin Cities Zambia Disability Connection was published recently in Connect Magazine, a publication of the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. Here is a link to the article: http://cehd.umn.edu/Pubs/Connect/2008fall/Zambia.html

Editorial on People with Disabilities in Zambia Published in The Times of Zambia

An editorial recently appeared in The Times of Zambia on the need to change the attitudes and actions toward people with disabilities. To read the article, click here.

Zambian Presidential Elections and News Updates

The election of a new president is set to take place in Zambia on October 30, 2008. There are four people running, but only two that are considered to be front runners. Here are a couple of recent articles on Zambia:
Zambian Voter Roll in Dispute

Zambia Faces Uncertain Future

Update on Chawama Special Needs group updated in Friar's Newsletter

Father Patrick recently published an article in the Friar's Newsletter about the work the parish in Chawama is engaged in with people with disabilities. The article appears below:

With deep reflection and experience, Friar Patrick
Chisanga speaks on the trainging he recently
underwent in the USA, (Advanced Leadership
Training Program in Disability Advocacy, Services
and Policy):

I would like to share with you about some activities
going on here at Makeni Friary and Chawama
Parish with regard to the training I did this April in
Minnesota, USA.

As you are aware in August there was a follow-up
visit of our instructors from the USA, who stayed at
our Friary and carried out basic training
programmes here as well as at the Parish.
In agreement with the Parish Priest and his
Executive, I have since slowly began to identify and
meet with people with different disabilities within
Chawama - young-old, men-women, Catholics-non
Catholics; whose need include different degrees of
physical as well as mental developmental
disabilities. The turn-out has always been
overwhelmingly high from the very beginning,
indicating that there is indeed a real need and
pastoral challenge in our area. The number has
since risen to almost 100 people. The team that
visited this August met and spoke with some of them.
They also gave some basic training to a number of
parish community leaders. These have since formed
the core group that is actually identifying and
coordinating these people with various special
needs.

Our first task has been to clarify the expectation of
these people and what we are able to offer.
We emphasise the importance of realising that they
are not alone in this situation and that they can
hear and learn from the experiences of others. Their
voice can also be stronger when they speak as one
united voice. We also deal with the shame, fear and
suspicions that are often associated with such
conditions in the family. Of course, there will be
those with particular medical, mobility, and/or
educational needs, for whom we would have to seek
particular assistance. The USA team is ready to help
when need be.

We are trying as much as we can to empower the
parish community and leadership itself to own and
run this program so as not to burden the community
as well as to guarentee continuity. Some Lusaka
based team members who went with us to the USA
and are directly involved in this ministry are giving
us their support. That is all for now, Thanks and
pace e bene.

World Bicycle Relief

Here's a simple idea making a big difference. World Bicycle Relief has donated 24,000 bicycles to HIV/AIDS caregivers in Zambia so that they can better care for their clients. For one man, this decreased his trip to see one of his clients from 5 hours to 40 minutes.

Update on Progress of Family Advocacy Group in Chawama

Recently, we received an e-mail from Fr. Patrick in Chawama. In the e-mail, he updated the progress of the family advocacy group that has been meeting at the church in Chawama. 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:

Final Training in Zambia

Today we are in the process of conducting our 2nd workshop in Zambia. There are about 30 people in attendance. Unlike the workshop at Bauleni, we are flying through our material and had to add additional material for the afternoon.

As mentioned yesterday, Sister Agnes has the organization down to a science. Besides getting everything set up, we watched her actually cooking what ended up being an excellent lunch of fried chicken and other tasty morsels.

It’s pretty hot as well and we are sweltering in the classroom; but, we would be hot anywhere today. It’s pretty amazing how attentive people can continue to be in the face of this heat.

Beth covered collaboration and networking this afternoon within the context of person centered planning. She really did an amazing job. She asked for someone in the group to volunteer someone they knew with a disability. It worked really well to apply the principles to real life situations.

One of the big highlights for the group was listening to Lori pronounce the names of the participants as we handed out the certificates. They were given a choice of having someone from the group do it or for Lori to do it and Lori was elected unanimously! She really did a good job despite a few snickers here and there.

The end of the workshop today marks the end of our official work on this trip in Zambia.

Moving on to Livingstone

Today we moved on to Livingstone for the rest of our trip. The sisters in Lusaka gave us a nice going away luncheon complete with wine(although none of us felt we could drink wine at 11:30 in the morning!) and a cake and probably the best cauliflower ever. Most of the produce we have eaten on this trip has been grown right out in the yards of wherever we are staying and has been pretty awesome.

Livingstone looks a lot different from Lusaka. There are definitely more trees and hills and not as much smog. The breathing is a little easier. We are staying with the sisters again at a guesthouse called Holy Cross. It’s definitely the smallest of all of the places we have stayed. It is cozy and features a kitchen for us to cook in…a very nice novelty to have even if we don’t end up using it.

We stopped by Cheshire homes, the location of our workshop tomorrow. Sister Agnes really has things organized and the space for our workshop is really nice and comfortable.

Possible Collaborations in Higher Education

We had excellent meetings with the Zamise College (Zambia Institute for Special Education) and with the University of Zambia Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Psychology, Sociology of Education and Special Education. In both of these meetings we discussed possible collaborations between the University of Minnesota.

At Zamesi there is interest in using the College of Direct Support and identifying connections for special education textbooks and materials to send out to the special education programs throughout Zambia.

At the University of Zambia there was interest in a shared research agenda that would involve community organizations and perhaps a community intervention. Several faculty were present at this meeting and they expressed interest in working on projects that support teachers in working closer with family members and within communities. There was also interest in supporting students to conduct research and in reviewing and supporting these efforts. These faculty were also interested in connecting and collaborating with the Zambian leadership team.

All parties agreed to remain in contact via the internet and to look for concrete and specific ways to collaborate in the future.

Zambians Using College of Direct Support

It has been exciting for us to hear about how the College of Direct Support (CDS) has been used in the country of Zambia. Makela has been using the CDS and has completed two courses, Positive Behavior Support and Teaching Skills. She is a Principal at Bauleni and has reported using the information and skills that she has learned in the CDS courses to teach and develop the skills of her teachers at the boarding school and in her home based education program. She indicated, "I learned that when a child has behavior it could be because they are trying to communicate. That had never even entered my mind."

In addition to the use of CDS by the Zambian team members who attending the leadership training program in the United States, others are interested as well. The Lusaka Ministry of Education is likely going to set up a learning lab in their resource center so that teachers can access the College of Direct Support. Additionally, Zamise (Zambia Institute for Special Education) is interested in providing the College of Direct Support curriculum to the 120+ special education teachers that they graduate each year. Having learned about their
curriculum, it is evident that the College of Direct Support curriculum could be useful in many ways.

In a meeting earlier in the week we learned about the many needs that educators, families and policy makers have regarding disability services and issues in Zambia. These include working with families and support networks, basic values and attitudes toward people with disabilities, supporting children and adults with autism, working with children who have challenging behavior, transition and employment issues among many others. The CDS certainly contains much of this content.

We will follow up with our Zambian colleagues and begin registering new learners for the CDS as they are identified.

President's Funeral

Today was a national holiday due to the president’s funeral. So pretty much everything was closed and it seemed like pretty much the entire country was planning on spending the day in front of the television watching the proceedings. The funeral did pretty much last the whole day and when we ventured out in the afternoon, hardly anyone was out on the streets. Typically the sides of the roads are crowded with people and depending on the time of day, traffic is bumper to bumper.

Since we had some unexpected time off, we debriefed a bit about the workshop and what we have accomplished on the trip so far. There were some really positive connections made with the University of Zambia and we will most likely continue working on a research collaboration with them in the near future. A representative from ZAFOD attended our workshop on Tuesday, which gave us an excellent opportunity to interface with them again and begin to build more of a relationship for future work. Within faith-based organizations, we will continue to work with our established partners. One can’t underestimate what the sisters are able to accomplish here. We heard countless stories of sisters making something out of nothing.

We are really hoping to be able to work with Mikela Mukongolwa at Bauleni Street Kids Project to implement an autism classroom. Mikela already has some fantastic ideas about how to put this into action.

There are really a number of directions we could proceed with our work here and it seems as though we will easily be able to create a plan that satisfies research as well as technical assistance needs. Not surprisingly, Amy has a grand plan mapped out in her head for next steps.

Workshop Day

Our big event today was the workshop we were giving at Bauleni Street Kids Project. We really had no idea how many people to expect, but we ended up with about 75 people in attendance. We had a very nice mix of parents, administrators, and educators.

Advocacy and self-advocacy were our main topics for the workshop. Amy spoke about person-first language and valued social-roles. She showed a video called “A Credo of Support” and the reactions to that were interesting. One man was surprised by the line, “Do not help, ask if I need help and what help I may need.” He related a couple of incidents where he did not ask and the person was very offended. In one, he pushed a wheelchair across the road when the light turned green and the man in the chair was very angry and told him he had not right to do so. In another incident, he threw a quarter into the bag of a disabled woman because he thought she was begging. She became angry as well and told him, “I don’t need your money.”

Another facet of “A Credo of Support” that surprised people was the line: “see my disability as an attribute.” It had never occurred to a few people that a disability could be seen as an attribute.


Liz presented next about law and policy, Lori was up next with self-advocacy, and Beth ended the day with community organizing.

One thing we found out today is Africans love to get certificates for going to education workshops. Apparently, they even keep them in scrapbooks to show people. They are very particular about having their names spelled correctly…I think I rewrote at least 10 certificates! I will admit I had a great deal of difficulty spelling some of the names.

After the workshop, we headed back to Kalundu and had dinner with the sisters. They are always such a joy to be around and have been very gracious. I also have to give a big thank you to Nama and Mikala. They have shepherded us around Lusaka for a week now and organized everything flawlessly.

Today was a very full day of meeting with organizations and people in the community. So many, in fact, that we had to split into two groups to cover them all. Amy and Liz did the more official government and university meetings. Lori, Beth, and I went to meet a group of people with disabilities in Chawama at the church we had visited yesterday. The poverty and need is so great here that it is hard to know how we can make any sort of a difference. I felt a little selfish. Our main purpose for being there was to gauge what was happening in the poorer communities and how their needs were and were not being met. So, they really had more to offer us than we most likely had to offer them.

A couple of really incredible things happened, though. We found out that none of them had ever met together as a group and they indicated that they wanted to continue to meet on a regular basis. So, they have their first group meeting a week from this Friday. Organizing as a group is certainly one way to start to take back some of your own power and work for a better way of life. Also, there were some non-secular staff from the church there and they were so surprised at how many people showed up and they had no idea that so many people with disabilities lived in the community.

From there, we went to lunch at an Indian restaurant…which struck me as kind of odd for some reason. On the way there, we saw LOTS of military starting to gather around the area of the president’s funeral on Wednesday. Brother Joseph referred to them as “very serious.” I believed him.


Our last stop of the day was at an Organization called ZAFOD(Zambian Federation of Disability Organizations). It was very interesting and dynamic…which is a polite way of saying there was tension. ZAFOD is a self-advocacy organization and one of the ways they advocate is by using the court system to set enforceable precedents in the legal system. One of the gentlemen we met with made a comment about how little the church helps in advancing the cause of people with disabilities. He also mentioned that they were considering suing the church at some point and that offended brother Joseph greatly. He said, “How can you sue someone you have never even met?” He was very insistent that the church is an inclusive place. I don’t think it is as inclusive as he thinks, but I don’t think it is as exclusive as the representative from ZAFOD thought. In the end, these two groups need each other and the reality is that it would be very difficult to effect any sort of change in Zambia without involving the churches.

Zambia Training Plans

The team of researcher/trainers from the U.S. has developed a training program in collaboration with the Zambian team members. The training will be delivered in both Lusaka and Livingstone. Over 100 Zambian professionals, family members and advocates will attend the training. Currently we have planned to share stories of about people with disabilities we know and with whom we have special relationships, a focus on inclusion, creating valued social roles, rights and respect, the role of the church in changing attitudes and creating opportunities. We have planned an interactive approach to the training and will be working with Mikala and Sr. Nama to ensure the training we have planned is still relevant and appropriate. More later.

U.S. Team Returns to Zambia

The U.S. team from the University of Minnesota and Arc Greater Twin Cities are en route to Zambia. First we have stopped in South Africa and linked up with Mikala (Zambia team member) for an international conference on intellectual and developmental disabilities - IASSID. This has been a great conference and we have learned a lot, met new Zambians from Inclusion International who will join our work in Zambia and connected with a group of researchers who are interested in collaborative partnerships. Mikala presented a research paper at the conference and she was very well received and respected for the amazing work she is doing at Belani Street Kids.

In addition to the conference in South Africa, we are having some fun and doing some sight seeing. Amy has a friend in South Africa who has been a wonderful asset and tour guide for all of us. Our colleagues Lori and Beth experienced a close up encounter with a baboon who decided to leap into their laps while they were driving on the Cape. Our colleague Derek summed it up, "Yikes and hilarious." We also visited the penguins and have a beautiful view of table mountain from the inn where we are staying. Amy was excited to experience 10 rainbow sightings in one day (yes they were different rainbows and she has pictures as proof).

Kristin, Beth, Lori and Liz leave for Zambia Friday morning. Amy leaves Saturday morning. We are very excited to get to Zambia again. Our work there will be interrupted because of the funeral of the Zambian president. It will be an interesting time to be in Zambia. More later.

Opportunity Partners

Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The group arrived at Opportunity Partners in Minnetonka to learn more about vocational and residential services for people with disabilities. Opportunity Partners Job Developer Deborah Lawrence, who traveled to Zambia 10 years ago to help teach the deaf, connected with the group about her experience in Zambia and offered suggestions for grassroots job training. They also heard from guest Ruth Murphy, Executive Director of the Community Design Center for Minnesota, who shared her success in implementing gardening projects with immigrants in Minnesota. The group also toured Opportunity Partners’ production facility to see examples of work being done here, and heard presentations on residential services and programs for youth. After a pizza lunch, the group visited two other Opportunity Partners locations: a work site and a group home, both in Bloomington. It was a full day of learning and exchanging ideas!

Zambian Team Attends University Class

As a component of the leadership training program the Zambian Team members had the opportunity to attend one of the course sessions of the certificate in disability policy and practice offered by the Institute on Community Integration and the University of Minnesota. The topic for the class session that evening was on transition and the State Transition specialist, Jayne Spain was a guest lecturer. Prior to class the team attended a discussion forum for Graduate students at the Institute on Community Integration. This was an opportunity for them to see how post-secondary educational programs operate and what types of programs are available to students and the general public related to disability policy and practice.

Zambia Training Program Goes to the Capitol

Thanks to Arc Greater Twin Cities and their excellent policy advocates, the Zambians got to participate in the policy advocacy efforts first hand. They went to the State Capitol and learned how various organizations in Minnesota work together to address public policy for individuals with disabilities. They also got to meet elected and appointed officials and see the legislative process in action.

It Snowed In Minnesota - Just For the Zambian Team

April in Minnesota is good for at least one or two final snows. While most Minnesotans were highly discouraged and down right grumpy about the eight inches we got early in the week, there were at least nine people in the state that enjoyed it. For many of the Zambian team members it was the first time that they had ever even seen snow, let alone danced and played in it. If it has to snow in April in Minnesota then the training team was surely glad that it snowed for the Zambians!

Zambian Team Gets Artistic

One important component of the training program the Zambian team is experiencing is to relate concepts and theories to real lives and real services. One aspect of the training program has been on inclusion and the importance of relationships and recreation in people's lives.

The Zambian team had many experiences during their first week of training to see how people with disabilities who are artists have opportunities to express and use their talents for fun, enjoyment and for paid work. Early in the week the team went to Dreamland Arts and learned about their inclusionary theater opportunities for children of all abilities.

One evening the group got to go to St. Stephens Parish and "do art" with a number of adults with disabilities. This is a program sponsored by St. Stephens and is open to people of all abilities. The Zambian team members enjoyed the opportunity to interact and to create art with the people they met there.

Another artistic experience for the Zambian team was to visit Interact theater and meet the artists during their training and work experiences. On Saturday they also got to attend an Interact theater production entitled, "Broken Brain Summit." After the production the Zambian team members had an opportunity to talk with the cast members about their performance and their lives as actors with disabilities.

Zambian Team Members Prepare for Minnesota Weather

After a day of recovering from jet lag, the Zambian team prepared for Minnesota's weather by doing a little shopping at Arc's Value Village. Many bought warm coats and winter boots. The Arc Greater Twin Cities donated gift certificates to each team member.

During the welcome on Friday night at Mary and Mike's River Dance Ranch, Sister Joyce mentioned that she had never been horseback riding. So, on Sunday afternoon the entire Zambian team got the opportunity to horseback ride. This is a photo of Sister Joyce on her horse. Everyone had a good time and enjoyed their new experience.

After horseback riding it was time to get some sleep and prepare for their two week intensive leadership training program on disability policy and practice. On Monday everyone would meet their host families and begin their training.

Zambia Priests Catch Up With Friend

Fathers Patrick and Deo, Brother Joseph and Billy Beddor had a chance to catch up with their friend and professor, Fr Jude Rochford who has been in Zambia for over 40 years! Fr Jude is recovering from health issues at St Gertrudes in Shokapee, MN. It was a wonderful time for them to see one another again and talk about familiar people and places.

Welcome Celebration

On Friday evening many of the host families, partner staff and the Zambian team members were welcomed at River Dance Ranch, hosted by Mary and Mike Meuwissen. It was a wonderful time to get to know one another and talk about the purpose and excitement around the project. The Zambian team shared about their work at home in Zambia and showed everyone a clip from a video about their country. Guests were treated to drumming and singing presented by the Zambian team. Music is clearly the universal language as the children who were at the event were totally focused and engaged in the music.

Thanks so much to Mary and Mike for hosting such a generous and fun evening.

The Zambian Team Arrived Safely

Welcome to Minnesota and the United States! Everyone on the training team is so pleased that you arrived safely. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow night and beginning our leadership training in disability services and policy on Monday. We have worked hard to bring together many people from many organizations to share and learn together with you while you are in Minnesota. Rest, recover from jet lag and get ready to enjoy your trip and all of the experiences we will have together. - Amy Hewitt

"The Zambian Team in MN"

Meet the Zambian Team

The Zambian team will be arriving in the United States the end of March. Their training program will begin March 31st and run through April 12th. We thought it would be great for you to begin to match faces with names and experiences. Here are your Zambian colleagues:

NAMA

1.When I come to the States I would like to be called by my original name Namangolwa or simply Nama.
2. I come from a family of 18 six girls and 12 boys and am 10th. Non of my brothers or sisters have Special needs but we do have one boy from my extended family who is deaf/dumb/mentally retarded.He is a son of my first cousin and his name is Hector..
3.The most difficult part of having him in the family is lack of proper communication skills with him within the family aswell as among the community.Sometimes one just feels helpless in trying to give him the best out of society so as to make him more independent and accepted since he is laughed at and teased so much by most people when they meet him alone.This has really been heart breaking.
4. The best thing about having Hector is that he has taught me and some other family members to be more patient in life childlike trust. He has also taught me never to take life for granted but always thank the Lord for making me whole thus thank him at all times.This implies that I should give the best service of my ability to the people I live with, work with and have committed my life service to.
5. My highest level of education is Diploma in Special Education at Zambia Institute of Special Education in Lusaka.
6. I have been outside Zambia and was Ireland for a month.
7. Am very open to this training we are coming to and have my attitude is to let God take charge or be in control of whatever is to come. As the saying goes "Let go and let God" At the same time I feel it will be a challenging training busy time of hard work and some fun of course. We will also build strong family bonds among ourselves and between our two countries.
8.While in MN I would like to learn; a) How the people there are able to make life easier for children with learning disabilities; b) Culture of the people, thus its effect towards children with special needs; c) What the country "government" is doing for these children with special education needs in short the support it renders to them.
9. I have no major fears about this journey but hope to meet friendly people and come
back safety home.

MIKALA
While in States I would like to be called Mikala.

I had my uncle who was blind and his daughter was both Hearing Impaired and Intellectually disabled.

The most difficult part is that here in Zambia service provisions of children with multiple disabilities and also with Intellectually disabled lack the necessary programmes and people don't seem to have a know how on the programmes and parental support services are not there.

The best thing is that you learn a lot while you are trying to help through try and error and you also learn to be patient.

I am a Special Education Teacher with a degree in Special Education obtained from the University of Zambia.

I have been outside Zambia to England and France for a week in each country.

I expect to observe and learn from what I will be exposed to at the same time I would also like to share what I know with the people there.

The three things I would like to learn about is advocacy concerning children with Special Needs. How to work with autistic children and the outreach programmes conducted but I would also be interested in whatever is there so that we adapt the programmes to our Zambian situation upon coming back.

I dont fear anything may be missing the terminals but i will be among other people so that is dealt with. The phota attachment will come later.

God bless,
Mikala

PATRICK

This is Fr. Patrick Chisanga, ofm conv.- better simply called Patrick.

We were born 11 in my family; we’ve since lost 5 and were now 6, that is one sister- a religious nun (Franciscan) and 5 guys. Lost dad almost 5 years now- he was 72. I can simply describe my family as a happy, united and religious one. We have an adopted sister, Gift (34), a single mother, living on her own with her kid. I’m not aware of any member of my family with special needs.

I was ordained priest in 1999 and served as parish priest for 2 years plus a year as formator (trainer of future priest) before going to Rome for specialised studies in clinical psychology (masters) at the Gregorian University. I returned home in August 2006 and have since returned to formation work and assistant pastor.

People with special needs are a reality we encounter regularly in our ministry in parishes as priests. My main expectations as I come to the training program is to learn more about this reality, especially with regard to the mentally challenged persons, and how such can be integrated in our parish communities. I hope to come back and share with the young men preparing to become priests and sensitise them about the pastoral care to person with special needs. I also look forward to meeting different people, the inter-cultural exchange and enrichment as well as the fun.

A bit worrying still after clearing the hurdle of visas: the looong trip, different time zone and weather? hope not too harsh. However, looking forward to the experience.

AGNES
Greetings!
1.The name to be used while there is Sr. Agnes.
2.We are three (3) in the family
- My mother of late had a stroke and is now finding it difficult to move about and she is undergoing physiotherapy.
3.Though it has been a month ago the most difficult thing is to go to the hospital for physiotherapy and also collecting drugs.
4.It has been very difficult but at the same time has made us close to her and want to find solutions to help her to be independent once more.
5. I am a grade 12 and a Zambia Enrolled Nurse.
6. I have been outside the country before
- Rome Asisi for one month
- Kenya for 6 weeks
-Malawi for 3 weeks
Swaziland for 2 weeks
-Tanzania for one week
7. Expectations-
To learn more about children with special needs and how to find ways of improving there lives and see them live better lives
8. (a) How to help the family be involved in the program of rehabilitation
(b)To find means and ways for the children who a growing and need a skill for there livelyhood
(c) How to get the community be involved to give their services freely and improve the lives of the Children with Special Needs.
9. My biggest fear is the weather how cold is it?

JOYCE
1. Sr. Joyce Phiri

2. in my family one niece and one of my religious sisters are with special needs

3. to misinterprete their needs

4. they keep me in check to see that I include them in my life. I have to make a decision and an effort to do this.

5. certificate in General Nursing at the Nursing School

6. I have been to Italy, Assisi for 4 weels and Kenya for 11 days

7.to learn how to go about people with special needs and how to influence change in their lives and influence the community to accommodate them.

8. a) how to advocate for people with special needs

b) how to influence policy makers
c) in case of change, (we religious are often on transfer) how to start in a new place
9. missing due to illness like malaria.
DEO










1. l want to be called Deo
2. no one in the family with special needs
3. not applicable but it is a sad experience. l witnessed that when l worked at Cheshire homes
4. you come to know the mystery of life. They are also human beings like us
5. Bachelor of arts at St. Dominics major seminaery affiliated to Urbanian University - Rome
6. no!
7. you come to know more about them better
8. a) the difficulties they go through
b)how can l help them
c)to change the mentality of people
9. the place and new people


GRACE
l have been to Japan for a short training and to the UK to visit my sisters. there are three sisters and five brothers in my family my daddy passed on but my mum is still alive.I have four children one girl and three boys married my husband is pursuing his Phd in Manchester. Two of my boys completed grade twelve daughter is doing her last grade and my last son is in grade
nine.their age range is 15 to 22.One of my sisters who is in the UK has a son who has speech and hearing problems it took time for her to accept but with my help she accepted and the child is in one of the special education schools in the UK. My mum lives on a farm.last year l lost my Grandma who was 79 years old.I like traveling, reading and writing.

ALICE

I would like to be called by my first name "Alice".I come from a big family of thirteen siblings.I have five children and my youngest Namposhya (known as poshya) is a special needs child.

The most difficult part of having a child with special needs is the lack of general information and advice on the best way to help my child achieve her full potential despite her disability.This has resulted in feelings of frustrations.

Having a child with disabilities has enriched my life through working with other children with special needs, which has helped me understand poshyas difficulties.

As for my education I did a three year diploma in Agriculture business management in Zambia and a diploma in business studies in the U.K.

Yes I have been out of Zambia.I have traveled to the U.K,Italy,U.S.A as well as most central and Southern African countries.

I hope to learn as much as possible from your experiences in working with special needs,so that we can also be empowered to advocate,take control and make life as rich and fulfilling as possible.

The three things I would like to learn while there are-

1.Advocacy-The best strategy to use in order to advocate for improved public as well as government awareness.To promote the implementation of all legal rights for persons with disabilities to ensure equal opportunities.
2.Empowering-the care unit and their children.
3.How to monitor and evaluate specific interventions.

Finally I have no fears but will put everything in Gods hands and pray for a safe journey and a fruitful stay.

JOSEPH

1. To be called Joseph
2. 6 (2 brothers and 4 step sisters)
3. I have an auntie with special needs. Taking care of her, seeing her going through pain, to find time to be with her.
4. It teaches patience, it reminds meof my own fragility as a person, it challenges me of how to handle my own needs and those of others
5. Grade 12. Doploma obtained at St Boniventure College in Lusaka
6. yes I have
England 1.5 years
Italy 2 weeks
Poland 2 weeks
Kenya 2 weeks
Tanzania 2 weeks
South Africa 2 weeks
Ireland 3 weeks

7. I expect to learn practical ways of dealing with people with special needs. I need the KNOW HOW
8. 1. Relationships with people in general, 2, Relationships with people who are with special needs and 3, How to be efficient in my work and how to plan and how to make my plans succeed.
9. My fear is I don't know how I will cope with my work for I am ignorant of your computer world! And how I shall cope with the people I will work with.