The Journey Ahead. . . .

I will be in Namwianga, Zambia, for six weeks during my summer vacation this coming May 16 through June 25, 2010. During this time, I will be working with the children at The Haven, an orphanage for infants to 2-year-olds, conducting language enrichment activities. I will also be looking to identify any areas of speech-language deficit by providing hearing, speech, and language screenings for school-age children in area schools. Additionally, I will help with the feeding of newborns infected with AIDS, which causes difficulty in swallowing. There is a significant need in Zambia in the area of communication sciences disorders, and there are too many marginalized Zambian citizens who are not being served in speech- language pathology.

Project HIZ-Path (Harding in Zambia- Speech Pathology) is a non-profit organization founded by students concerned about services delivered to children and adults with communication disorders both locally and globally. The purpose of HIZ-Path is, first and foremost, to provide speech-language therapy services to people in need, and secondly to provide graduate students like myself the opportunity to experience the rewards of humanitarian efforts firsthand. The message that Project HIZ-Path wants to proclaim is one that is filled with love and service through honest and sincere passion for humanity.

This blog is not only a required assignment for my studies in Zambia, but also a way to provide my friends and family with my experiences and thoughts while I am overseas.

A little more information about Zambia, Africa:

Location:
Southern Africa, east of Angola and north of Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Population:
Just over 11 million people live in Zambia. Life expectancy is around 39 years. Birth rate is on average 5.47 per woman. 16.5% of the population is believed to have HIV/AIDS. Literacy rate is at 80%.

Languages:
English (official); major vernaculars include Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages.

Ethnic Groups:
African 98.7% (major tribes - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, Chewa), European 1.1%, and other 0.2%.

Religion:
Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%.

I CANNOT WAIT!! May 16th cannot get here soon enough! I am anxious to see what God has planned for our team. Here is our tentative schedule! (I will keep you updated of any changes)

SCHEDULE:

May 16 Depart from Searcy, Arrive in DC at 9:52 to collect luggage and go to hotel

May 17 Depart DC 9:30 am

May 18 Arrive Addis Ababa 8:30 am, Depart Addis Ababa 9:30 am, Arrive Lusaka 2:35 pm

May 19 Travel to Kolomo

May 26 Drive to Livingstone for full moon, spend night at Protea Hotel

May 27 Return to Namwianga by noon

June 19 Drive to Livingstone, High Tea at Royal Livingstone Hotel

June 20 Safari in Chobe National Park, Botswana. Evening worship at Protea Hotel

June 21 Victoria Fall and shopping, Sunset Cruise

June 23 Return to Namwianga

June 23 Drive to Lusaka, Check into Protea Hotel

June 24 Depart Lusaka 3:25 pm, Arrive Addia Ababa 8:25 pm

June 25 Arrive DC 7:35 am, Depart DC 2:30 pm, Arrive Atlanta 4:25 pm, Depart Atlanta 5:05

pm, Arrive Memphis 5:30 pm