Fish farming has started- sort of

After two months of working side by side with my following of 14 year olds the dam which we had been working on was finished. I figured people would come and help during the process, but usually they simply stood around looking skeptical and laughing at the white man yielding a hoe and burning in the sun. Luckily, in part because of my Peace Corps boss in Lusaka and the district Dept. of Fisheries, I received some help to jumpstart fish farming. We transported 10 villagers in a Land Cruiser about 45km down the road so they could chat and see the ponds of a village that has benefitted greatly from aquaculture development. This exchange visit proved to be somewhat succesful and generated some enthusiasm in the eyes of my village. So in addition to my army of adolescent followers, I now have about 5 full grown men helping to improve the dam and increase its size. Not exactly the numbers I was hoping for, but all I need is a few people to lead by example (since it didn't work so great with me).

The day before leaving for Christmas vacation the work was completed. The morning I left the dam was nearly two meters tall in the middle and looking fairly strong (just a few stress fractures...). Who knows what the last month of rain has done or whether the dam has broken and washed away the village and my hut. I should find out in a couple days when I return.

Clinic work has also been going quite well and I've put in orders for bedframes, windows, and doors with a carpenter in Mwinilunga. Hopefully I'll be able to find some cement and paint as well. I'm looking into getting a VCT (voluntary counseling and testing) for the official opening- sometime in the next month or two. Yes, things work very slowly. Many thanks to everybody who has helped contribute to the clinic project. The difference it will make in the village will be invaluable. Happy New Year!