Development

"It's always gone without question in my mind that most aid was good or at least better than nothing. Now it just seems that aid is the biggest deterrent to progress driven by the receiving country's people. Aid breeds dependence in a people who have historically been independent and self-sufficient. Aid and westernization also breed corruption and greed. Instead of thinking for themselves and working hard, many aid recipients simply choose to take the free handouts that are all around and keep expecting more and more. And they'll do practically anything to keep picking from this money tree. Who can blame them? Free money? It's almost too good to be true! And it's just that. It seems most aid organizations are doing more long-term harm than good. When aid increases every year and the economy weakens, HIV/AIDS prevalence increases, malnutrition is rampant, the quality of life doesn't improve, and the gap between socioeconomic classes widens, something's not right."

http://www.xanga.com/danielleinzambia

I hope she doesn't mind me using this, but it is so true!

A view from Zambia

1) I have found through UNICEF a movie that was made mostly by Zambian women in the Northern part of the country. I think it is interesting whenever something comes out from the African point of view, rather than that of Westerners, so check out the trailer.

http://www.watermeetssky.com/

2) This is a piece (keep in mind it is youtube so I don't know how true it is) to think about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQM5g7JzSh0

3) An engineers without borders clip. Funny about the characters he meets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMfOIQz4cL8

4) Life in the Peace Corps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2F0oETt9x8&feature=channel_page

5) A hysterical Public Service Announcement/Ad for Clorin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrWoCa1Tx3g

Peace Corps Zambia Blogs

So I have been bumming around on blog sites...

"The way Peace Corps Zambia works is that there are 3 generations of volunteers at each site: the first one gets things started and introduces the community to what Peace Corps does, the 2nd one works on programs that were started by the first volunteer, and the 3rd one works to make the programs sustainable and turn them over to the community. So the type of work that we do will be really different depending on what generation of volunteer we are."

This is a good one: http://rachelabigailstevens.blogspot.com/

This girl is named Carrie, so OBVIOUSLY this blog is great http://carriezambia.blogspot.com/
and her photos: http://boldt.us/places/zambia/

Rural Education Development Zambia

I got my invitation yesterday!!! I am going to Zambia on February 28, 2009.

This is the jidst of what I will be doing:
If I work at the district level
working with counterparts to develop monitoring and evaluation plans
effective mentor trainings
creation of databases
plans for sensitizing communities to the nature and uses of non formal education
If I work at the zone level
collaborate with teachers and school heads to improve quality of education
teacher trainings
modeling learning-centered teaching methods
facilitating trainings
professional development for teachers and administrators

All of this includes working with local PTAs, community centers, and the Ministry of Education of Zambia.

The stuff I was sent also said that I will not have running water or electricity, and will probably live in a mud hut with a grass thatched roof.

Sounds like a blast!

Oh..and they totally have goats, pigs, cows, and chickens, so I win!

Invited!

So I got invited today! I am pretty sure that it is for HIV/AIDS nonformal education through radio. I will find out for sure on Monday or Tuesday!

Waiting

End of June...funny Carrie.

Should hear soon.