Drew's African Odyssey - Mwange Refugee Camp, Zambia

I'm Starting to get a little bit worried as Peter and Sophie have not yet come back from Kasama. Could mean the vehicle has broken down somewhere or they are stranded. I'm hoping for their safety.

Went to the camp by myself again today and conducted the last day of our workshop that was supposed to take place last Friday. The workshop was on Equipment Management and Group Decision Making. It's pretty easy work to give the workshops as the subject matter is usually pretty light and we don't cover a lot of material as it takes the refugees a long time to copy all the notes and we usually do some group work and games. The sessions are held at the Skills Center where refugees can attend trade schools. The rooms and a series of one class enclosures are made of mud, sticks and bricks.

Today, as I was walking down to the market, I was again confused with the UNHCR field officer as this lady started yelling in my face about their dislike of the food distribution. I couldn't do anything but shrug and continue walking.

At lunch hour, as everything shuts down between 12 and 2, we go down to the river where the water pump station is located and hang out. It's one of the few places you can get away from the stares and the kids. I really like it down there, it's like my own little retreat and I've found a place to relax and read my book as the stream flows beside me.

I spent a long time talking to one of the coaches named Justin who is also a volunteer at the Red Cross Tracing Office. He spoke about his mother and father being killed in the DRC war and how he fled his village, leaving his brothers and sisters behind. I really got a sense of the desparation of some of the people here. The situation has to be so bad that you leave behind all that you have ever known for the safety of your wife and kids.

Posted by: Drew Gardiner / 2:29 PM