World Malaria Day - Events in Kanona

After weeks of preparation between Lizzy and the Neighborhood Health Committee members, World Malaria Day events finally took place today in Kanona. The crowd was much larger than expected, with around 400 people showing up. The events began with an introduction by the guest of honor (local councilman) and was followed by a small skit, in which much to the audience's delight Lizzy played a witch doctor. After the skit, another health talk was given by the clinic nurse advising people on ways to prevent malaria, which ended in passing out mosquito nets to participants who could correctly answer malaria related questions. In keeping with the global theme of 'Stomping Out Malaria' children left their stomp marks on the malaria day banner to help wrap up a very successful day.

Every Child Deserves a 5th Birthday.

April 25th is World Malaria Day.  Currently Malaria is the #1 killer in Africa and specifically, Zambia.  We have seen so many cases of Malaria since being in country.  Unfortunately too many that have lead to death especially children under five.  The biggest problem here in Zambia is the lack of education on using a mosquito net, both how and why.  There are many theories here on what exactly causes Malaria, whether it be walking in the rain or eating sugar cane, people often don't know that it comes from the Anopheles mosquito.  Together with 3,000 other Peace Corps Volunteers throughout Africa we are trying to help eradicate Malaria altogether!  Keep posted- we will be blogging later this month on the event we are putting on for World Malaria Day in our village.  How will you Stomp Out Malaria in 2012?

Jim and Debbie Visit the Village

Jim and Deb were real troopers and stayed over a week in our mudhut. We were able to take them to a fish farmers meeting, the health clinic, and to help teach at the school. We finished the week with a trip to Kundalila Falls.



Teaching at the School




Village Elders




Fish Farmers



Kundalila Falls



Working in the Garden



African Vacation

 This past month Jim and Debbie came to visit, in which we spent the last week vacationing in Livingstone, Zambia (home of Victoria Falls) and Chobe, Botswana (home of Chobe National park). The trip was absolutely amazing, and it was tough for both of us to see Jim and Debbie go.



Victoria Falls




Victoria Falls





Hippo - Chobe, Botswana





Cape Buffalo - Chobe, Botswana




Baby Elephant - Chobe, Botswana





Pride of Lions - Chobe, Botswana





Ben, Lizzy, Debbie, Jim - Chobe, Botswana




Leopard - Chobe, Botswana





One of the last wild dogs left in Africa - Chobe, Botswana




Baboon - Chobe, Botswana





Giraffe - Chobe, Botswana




Elephant Riding - Mosi O Tunya National Park, Zambia





Zambezi River







Visit to see the Chief

His Royal Highness with his wife

This past Thursday we took a 62 kilometer round trip bike ride to visit Chief Muchinka.  We met up with a villager in Kanona (whom we were introduced to the evening before) first thing in the morning, who acted as our day long guide.  Once we arrived at the palace we waited outside before it was our turn to see the chief while being instructed by his retainer on how to interact with the Chief.  About 20 minutes later we were lead into the palace, where we got down on one knee and clapped in a certain way to greet his royal highness.  We discussed what we were doing in his kingdom, what are goals were as volunteers and what life was like in America.  It ended up being a wonderfully successful two hour conversation.

After meeting with the Chief, our guide took us to Chitambo Village where we saw one of the churches that David Livingstone built as well as a one hundred year old hospital.  We ended up making it back exhausted but safe, despite the fact Lizzy stopped her bike just three feet from a five foot long spitting cobra.