Second week

I know these entries are slightly retrospective but hopefully give you an update on my second week in Zambia.

Overall work has been generally successful this week.  I have made progress with one of my main projects – trying to produce an organisation wide budget for 2011/12 – and have organised a meeting for all key staff at Bwafwano for tomorrow.  Will let you know how it goes.  At the moment the organisation only has a budget for specific projects which received funding from international donors.  They don’t have a budget for any income or expenditure for the community clinic or the skills training programmes, and therefore are not monitoring these.  This means that the organisational cannot plan for the future as they are unable to determine how financially viable they are as an organisation, and as a community project which is providing life giving services to a wide number of people it is vital they start becoming in proactive in financial management.  Hopefully I can contribute to making some small changes within my 4 weeks. I have also been updating the fixed asset schedule – I will never be able to escape capital accounting!  I have been impressed and motivated with sharing ideas with Patricia (the accountant) who appears to have sound accounting knowledge and is keen to put many of the policies Bwafwano have into practice. ‘’ Lack of time ‘’ appears to be her major obstacle in this and wants me to do this for her.  I am very aware to make any changes sustainable I need to involve the finance team as much as possible and let them take ownership for these.  This is probably the biggest challenge so far !

This week I have had the pleasure of trying kapleta!  Very small fish which you eat whole.  Liked them more than I thought but they were very salty.

This week I have enjoyed spending a number of nights drinking wine and talking with Mrs Chikto during power cuts.  She is a lovely, friendly host who is always giggling and now insists me calling her mama. 

This weekend has been quite quiet – I have been swimming / sunbathing at the Olympic Swimming Pool for the day, eaten an amazing banoffee pie style pancake, and learnt to wash clothes African Stylee!  I have been impressed with how friendly all taxi drivers are and not being ripped off due to the fact I am a white person.  I seem to have very interesting conversations with them all ranging from British Monarchy and why Prince Charles actually is not Welsh (Prince of Wales is a confusing title) to differences in forms of government in both countries.  They are providing interesting insight into the country.

Anyway thats all for now.  Take Care CCx