This blog is to answer the "so what are you doing there?!" question... So far, things at the University of Zambia (UNZA) have been going really well as I have begun orienting myself to the activities of the AIDS Response Unit (where I spend most of my time). I'll describe the highlights of my past week and some of the projects...
This past week was mainly spent preparing for a visiting U of T biochemistry professor and getting a lot of signatures/paperwork done for a major grant U of T/UNZA had to submit on Friday (what a headache!). Much of the professor preparation was pretty fun, as I arranged meetings for him with various department heads and tried to figure out how to keep him busy on the weekend (safari!), but the more random part was preparing for him to stay at my apartment with me (haha that will be weird, but he’s a pretty nice older man, so I think it should be fine!).
Okay, so the more exciting part of the week was spent touring the University’s AIDS clinic and getting to know the students and research assistants involved with the HIV/AIDS Response Unit. The students here are great! They are so dedicated to the welfare of their country, so knowledgeable about AIDS and so sincere in their involvement with AIDS activities. In particular, one of the research assistants, Remmi, has been explaining to me his ideas about gender equity & AIDS in Zambia (I’ve been interested in gender issues for a while so getting the Zambian perspective is great). He was explaining that great health achievements can’t be made until men and women are more equal in Zambia (particularly in relationships), but, unlike many other organizations the outreach he has been doing has focused on boys and men (vs. women). I think this great because, while empowerment of women (via microfinancing, confidence boosting, education, etc) is excellent, I don’t think it’s enough – you need the men to also change their attitudes. Okay, I could go on forever (but I won’t), if you want to hear more let me know!
Bottom line is that I am hoping to get the go ahead (from my Toronto boss) to work with this RA on expanding (and getting funding for) his current education program (with young men in urban and rural areas). This is the sort of thing I really want to be doing here, so I really hope it goes through! The other project I’m proposing (and almost certainly will get to do) is a review of the confidentiality process at the University’s AIDS clinic (right now the confidentiality aspect is pretty weak and deters a lot of students from using the services). Aside from these projects, I will keep facilitating exchanges between Zambian and Canadian students/professors, I am helping start up an intramural sports program at the university, and am going to begin laying the groundwork for a grant we just received (that will be used to improve data collection/analysis at the AIDS clinic)… So, in a (large) nutshell, that’s what I’m doing here! I hope that all made sense :)
More photos @: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2158772&l=0a815&id=13613119
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1 comment:
Great you see you are doing some wonderful work that will not only benefit yourself and your experience but also do great things for people that really need our help.
Love the culture, feel the culture, and don't be afraid of getting sick - it will happen at least once no matter WHAT you do! You're stomach will grow accustomed over time.
Good luck and don't forget to have tons of fun :).
Evan.
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