MARGARET CHISANGA
Siavonga
LOCATED approximately 18.5 kilometres from the central business district (CBD) of Siavonga, Zambia’s renowned tourism town, LIBERI School recently came alive with vibrant activity.
Home to over 230 learners from Kamimbi and surrounding villages, the school played host to a unique and inspiring event that brought together young minds for a day of skillbuilding and self-discovery.
While Liberi School is the location for the day’s activities, the learners are not the only beneficiaries, as others from Siavonga Secondary and Primary schools have also been invited.
On this particular Saturday, the pupils adorned their uniforms as though it were a normal school day, and gathered for a special occasion.
It is a day reserved for their interaction with a team referred to as YESS, who have come under the auspices of Girl Guides Association of Zambia (GGAZ), a voluntary, nonprofit, value-based organisation for girls and young women.
YESS refers to the Youth Exchange South to South (YESS) Girls’ Movement, which is an international exchange programme by World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) for young women (18-35 years old).
It is funded by NOREC (Norwegian Agency for Exchange Co-operation) and offers Girl Guides and Girl Scouts a chance to live and volunteer in another country for six months to a year.
Management at Liberi School has been anticipating the visit, and have prepared an area with enough desks and tables to enable a comfortable afternoon of interactions between the learners and their guests.
Soon preliminary introductions are done, and the learners dive straight into the first items on the list of activities, under the guidance of the GGAZ national leadership headed by chief commissioner Getrude Jere.
“Through this programme, we are enabling the learners to be responsible citizens who will contribute to the development of the country through their different talents,” Dr Jere says in an interview as she observes groups going through different simulations designed to help the girls understand their different characters, personalities and talents.
“The overall theme for today’s interaction is ‘survival skills’. This is very important because if these young girls are able to appreciate themselves, to understand their own bodies, their own talents and skills, then no-one is going to lie to them on how they should live.
This is what we refer to as ‘free being me’ and here they develop the confidence that they need,” Dr Jere says.
While these activities are going on, another team ensures that food is being prepared, and soon enough, under the guidance of Titamenji
Chakalashi,
YESS programmes country coordinator, a sumptuous lunch is served, offering the learners from the different schools an opportunity to interact in a more relaxed manner, as well as get to know more about the YESS girls who are coming from different countries such as Bangaladesh, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.
As lunch draws to a close, another team quickly takes up the task of washing the dishes, while another team dries.
Everything is planned and well executed, with every activity a lesson in team work, time management and collaboration for all in attendance.
Dishes cleared, everyone re-assembles, and this time the lesson is entrepreneurship.
For this task, membership commissioner Maureen
Nachamba and programmes commissioner Mary Joan Nkwemu roll up their sleeves and start cutting up pieces of chitenge cloth, as the girls distribute packs containing needles, cotton and beads.
“In this activity, the girls are learning how to make small bags, beads and craft work. This will instil in them the spirit of entrepreneurship and enable them to be less vulnerable to the vices that come with teenage life. Added to this session are lessons on financial literacy, so that they understand how to earn, budget and save money for the future,” Dr Jere shares.
The lessons are intense, but after attempts, trials and errors, finished products begin to emerge from different groups.
Bags, neckpieces and bracelets have been crafted, and the designers beam with pride as they display them.
Soon the afternoon begins to give way to evening and with itan excitement among the girls.
“According to Girl Guide custom, as activities come to an end, a bonfire must be lit to confirm that indeed an event took place,” Dr Jere leads the team as the girls scout around for pieces of firewood in excitement.
Head teacher Brenda Mashakalati soon comes with a brazier filled with red-hot charcoal, and up the camp fire goes.
In unison the learners circle the fire, songs start from somewhere, dance erupts and for half an hour, the most fun is had through dance and music.
But as dusk gives way to night, the party must come to an end, and in true Girl
Guide fashion, the traditional ‘campfire is burning’, song is sung for a couple of times.
‘Campfires burning Campfires burning, Draw nearer Draw nearer, in the glowing in the glowing, Come sing and be merry,’ the song echos around the school grounds and can be heard by parents, who are waiting for the return of their children.
“The campfire song is a staple in scouting activities. It brings warmth, laughter, and unity to every camp night and it always sparks memories and smiles,” Dr Jere says as she closes the meeting.
As the team boards the bus in preparation for the journey back to Siavonga CBD, parents wave goodbye, their shouts of thanks confirming that the principle objective of the team – to provide non-formal educational programmes that teach life skills – has been instilled in the learners.
“With that interaction, the biggest achievement will be to have a crop of young women with a changed perspective on life – young women who appreciate themselves, look out for one another and empower each other,” commissioner Jere sums up the activity as the last embers of the campfire fizzle off.
Girl Guides Association of Zambia (GGAZ) has been a pioneer in the issues of girls and young women in Zambia since its establishment in 1924 by an Act of Parliament – CAP 141 of the Laws of Zambia, which enables girls from the age of five years to young women of up to thirty-five years to receive out-of-class academic and vocational training, which equips them with life-long skills.