Connor and Abigail , You did it!
Thank you for your hard work!
Thanks to you and your school project “Alleviating Hunger in Zambia”, having a “Boot Sale”, running a “Go Fund Me ” Campaign and all of your research we can now email between SEEDS in Mongu, Zambia and SEEDS in Toronto Canada, as much as we want.
Since I have returned to Toronto, from my last trip to Zambia in August 2015 we have sent many emails back & forth. I have been able to send them pictures, instructions, and communications via Facebook. Our assistant manager Matindo ( Jeff) has sent me the Contact information volunteers list and Internet time & work schedules.Communication has been our biggest obstacle as Internet is so expensive. Not any more. I converted the money you raised in USD and then converted it into $4927.52 Zambian Kwatcha which will pay for Internet for a whole year. We had to purchase modem and DataLink boxes which cost 800ZMK so it is highly unlikely that we will be able to cover any of the monthly electricity bills for SEEDS but we are very happy to have, hopefully, a years worth of Internet.
Through I Connect Zambia, that bought us 3GB day time, 7GB evening and weekends.
When I was there we hired 8 new volunteers.Details of Volunteers. I am waiting for an updated version of this list.
If you look at the list you will see that their addresses are their villages. They don’t get mail delivered like we do. You can actually send some one mail and it will be delivered by the local big bus companies who transport people long distances. The smaller vehicle with “Blessings” written in the back window is a local bus that will hold up to 18 people if need be. Not legally mind you, but it is hot outside and people need to get around so the bus drivers packs people in.
A lot of people have cell phones in Zambia as well. I found out that it only costs the person making the call airtime. The person receiving the call doesn’t have to pay. It is how they communicate and definitely the way of the future. If they are lucky enough to have a bank account, people can do their banking over the phone and even get direct deposits from their employers if they have a job. Some even have phone watches which are not really practical to text on as they are too small. That is one of the Chinese influences in Africa. They are bringing all of their latest technologies.
I say we hired volunteers, even though we are unable to pay them a salary, we are now able to provide access to a computer and the Internet. As a thank you for volunteering with us, our eight volunteers will get computer training with each shift worked. This includes a minimum of 1/2 hr Internet use to do research and communicate with SEEDS Canada and 1/2 hr personal use on the Internet to check their emails and Facebook.
Our volunteers range in age from 10 yrs old like you, to 60 years old and we are very happy to have them.
So from all of our new and old volunteers Thank you so much! Can you tell what we are spelling here?
