For the past three months I have been traveling to and from Meheba…but this past week I got to go to the other refugee camp that we work in Mayukwayukaw (please say that 10 times fast). Mayukwayukwa is beautiful. Green with a river running through it. Mayukwayukwa is located in the western province- about 7 hours away from Lusaka. The most exciting part of the drive is a 2 hour stint through Kafwe National Park, on the way there we briefly saw an impala basking in the shade of a tree, and on the way home we saw two mangy foxes. More grey than red they looked like miniature coyotes, sleek and sly. It was so nice to see nature, trees that spiral, and the bush for miles or I guess I should say kilometers. A feeling of isolation yet complete calm overwhelmed me.
I tagged along on the trip to Mayukwayukwa. It is officially the last trip in this project to be made to the camps and a hushed sorrow hovered over the trip. When you know you are leaving, perspective colors events in a sentimental manner. Almost like a movie in slow motion. I felt like a soundtrack was playing all week long, with meaningful tracks that were touching and celebratory all at the same time. On Friday we graduated youth from all over the camp (significantly smaller than Meheba). Two coaches, Dominic and Beauty, graduated about 30 kids from a Basic School in a formal ceremony underneath an immense, central tree in the school yard. Songs were sung and poems recited. “Don’t forget about your youth.” “Prevention is better than a cure.” Voices ringing out. Powerful voices of youth. And a touching speech from the Head Teacher requesting GRS’ continued presence. How do you accept that request with grace and at the same time feel a deep sense of shame for knowing that you are abandoning the community?
In reality the termination of this project is purely political. The Zambian government is poor and caught up in the politics of an election year. They cannot afford to sustain the refugees that have arrived from Angola, Congo, a few from Rwanda and Burundi. But they cannot force them to leave. Stuck in a stalemate. It is an impossible situation…
On the last day there we had an awards ceremony for the Football and Netball Leagues. Handing out trophies and receiving medals is not something unfamiliar in my life. But to these kids the table adored with footballs, boots, sneakers, and netballs was epic and unparalleled. All teeth, faces proudly accepted medals from the Refugee Officer and the entire Lusaka based staff in a rapid ceremony that barely outran the rain.
The trip ended with a bittersweet evaluation meeting and a feast. Max and I took a run in the evening- a run that turned into a pack of 8 to 10 year old children awkwardly ran behind us for about 10 minutes. Some panting heavily, some trying to make of the way we spoke English, and others simply along for the ride. Who knows what they expected us to do, unfortunately I do not think that we were as entertaining as they anticipated, but they ran along with us. The pack.
What I failed to mention is that Lazarous, our Programme Coordinator, brought along his family. His wife Daisy is sweet and a strong mother. Dalisol, a four year old, who is shy but very observant. And baby Lazi, 6 months old, with a smile that will make you melt and wish you were as happy as him all the time.
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