Drew's African Odyssey - Mwange Refugee Camp, Zambia

Day 2 of my basketball training today. We had about 30 participants and it seemed everybody learned a lot. My driver, Peter, who is also a wicked basketball player, has been helping out and giving some lessons. The guys attending it are from the secondary school, as well as some teachers in charge of coaching at their schools, and they're really cool and laid back. One guy I've become especially close to, who goes by the name of San-dick, is 19 years old and is in grade 10. Most of the people are between the ages of 15-20.

A bizarre event happened today as I gave a lesson on basketball rules. A man with about 30 kids behind him came marching down the street, chanting and singing and stomping. One of the students informed me that the man was leading a protest about the food rations and the protest was directed at me. After some time, the man marched right out into the middle of the court and stood between me and the players. He started babbling about Masaka (the Swahili name for sorghum, the cereal that they have been getting in place of maize) and pointing to the kids saying they were all starving. I smell that the man was very drunk and obnoxious and we tried to usher him off of the court, but he kept interrupting us. He didn't go away until I went over and personally talked to him and told him I would meet with him afterwards. Fortunately, he didn't come back! I hope that doesn't happen again!

Later on that day, we hosted a meeting for coaches to help us organize a party to congratulate them for the work they have been doing in the community. Two of the previous RIGHT to Play PC's came before me, a Belgian couple named Sarah and Hannes, sent us over money to finance the party. We plan to have a big event with food, drinking and dancing.

It was really great to hear our Satellite phone ring tonight and to hear Claire, my roommate from Geneva on the other side. We talked for a while and she updated me on all my friends in Geneva, who she still has close contact with. Claire is doing her masters in Human Rights Law and working for an organization called the International Commission of Jurists. She also heads a committee of NGO's that is fighting for an Optional Protocol (OP) to the International Covenant for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This OP would give the right to individuals to present cases before an international tribunal if they feel their ESC rights have been violated. GOOD LUCK CLAIRE!!

Posted by: Drew Gardiner / 12:00 PM