It was a radio advert that I heard whilst driving through the Lake District that first got me interested in ICS. I have always been keen to help others, my job as a support worker and my application to do nursing studies at university reflects this. My close friend had volunteered in Ghana for three weeks and hearing her stories would make me want to get abroad and volunteer even more! After hearing the advert I decided that I would apply to ICS.
It is the first day going out in the field for the Progressio ICS volunteers in Mutare. Our partner organisation is Simukai, which means ‘stand-up’ in Shona, it is an organisation that supports orphans and vulnerable children living around the Mutare area. Mutare is a small city in the eastern border of Zimbabwe, with a population of about 300,000 people. It is Zimbabwe’s third largest city and is located amidst a long range of picturesque mountains which divides Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
On the 4th week of our Basilwizi volunteer’s placement we decided to hold two career guidance workshops on the 23rd and 24th of October, in two newly built schools in the rural areas of Binga. The bumpy off road two hour journeys led us to Senga and Sinansengwe secondary schools. Upon arrival the one building schools were a first for our international eyes, we received a further shock when entering the buildings to be greeted by 150 plus students staring eagerly back at us.
The Basilwizi volunteer team departed at Binga Basilwizi office at around 09.30am for the two hour drive to Lubu.The event was attended by village heads and the cultural dance group of Lubu 10.
Charlee Bennett reflects on the rationale behind her recent half marathon race and why the pain was worth it.
It’s amazing how immediately after you slow from a run to walking your legs are tired and a little bit wobbly, but sit down for just one minute and they immediately seize up and become agonisingly painful!
Arriving in Binga has been so different to what I felt the media has made Africa out to be.
In Binga the people are so friendly, everyone is so happy to meet and greet us in both Tonga and English.
During orientation week we first met the national volunteers, which was daunting at first as we didn’t know if the language barrier would cause any miscommunications. But we found the nationals to be so welcoming, greeting us with Mwapona Biyeni, meaning 'how’re you?'.
Appearing as if by magic from the cloud of dust that enthralled us, we pulled up in Mr and Mrs Siansali’s yard just as the sun was bobbing gently below the trees. We were met with frantic waves and toothy smiles by the cheery couple, who were quickly joined by their daughter Valencia to greet us. After generous introductions from all we were given a brief tour of the family home by Mr Siansali. It was a spacious enclosure, dotted with thatched huts made entirely from wood, mud and straw.
Newspapers, online media and popular entertainment have an influential role in shaping the imaginations of citizens in the global North and their understanding of the Global South.
News reporting and media coverage of Africa today plays an enormous role in shaping our perceptions of African events and issues. Watching news coverage of Africa there is a structural bias toward news reporting on Africa that dehumanises and portrays Africans as backward and incapable of developing the capacity to sustain their own livelihoods. This could not be further from the truth.
Our first experience of the BaTonga’s culture and history was on our tour of the BaTonga Museum situated in the centre of Binga town in Zimbabwe. We gained valuable knowledge of the BaTonga people and learnt much about their livelihoods based along the banks of the River Zambezi, now known as Lake Kariba, situated in the north west of the country.
It was our first week at the office following the orientation in Harare, it was exciting though as we were the new kids on the block. All ground introductions and welcome remarks were made and left us feeling comfortable for our placement.
All protocols were observed as we visited the police officer in charge, the officers at the president’s office, the D.E.O, the D.A and the D.A.C officer for introductions.
