Project 2014

Retrospect Herman Bouma

Living together
Putting four men who have seen and spoken to each other only a few times in a house for six weeks, a house with very little privacy and comfort. Is that okay? Yes, the atmosphere at home was excellent again this year!

Building
Building in Zambia is just like in the Netherlands, there are ups and downs. After six weeks of hard work, we were able to return home with a very satisfied feeling. The classrooms are not completely finished yet, but we are convinced that the Zambian builders, like every year, will get the job done.

People
This year we built in “Real Africa”. Leaving aside the large main road Lusaka-Mongu, you will find yourself deep in the African jungle. It was a fantastic environment to work with people who literally contributed to make the construction a success. The people have closed us in their hearts. We were allowed further and further into their lives, they figuratively exposed themselves completely. I was allowed to look around in their huts to see how they live. I was allowed to photograph there. A strange feeling overpowers one at such a moment: I see the miserable poverty, they see their property, their wealth. They are so proud of their possessions.

Dear people in Mwandasengo, I will forever hold you in my heart.

Retrospect Jan Koenders
The first time helping to build a school of 8 x 24 meters, 2 classrooms and an office, now a school of 8 x 30 meters, 3 classrooms and an office. The people are very friendly and grateful. The dusty roads are still there, not much has changed. They do recover but it takes a long time. It may happen that the substrate of a new stretch of road is asphalted a year later. On the market you will find many stalls with tomatoes, onions, small and large fish, chickens and eggs. There is little vegetable for sale. Poverty can also be clearly seen here. You can notice that the container with clothing is a welcome addition to people, especially shoes and blankets. Reading glasses are also very welcome, although they have to pay a little for this. A container full, it’s a lot, but still not enough for the number of people in and around Kaoma, but better than nothing. I’m glad I was there again. The reunion with Father John and other acquaintances was great. Our group was pleasant, worked well and had nice conversations, problems raised and discussed. BmB, thanks for this opportunity and good luck with this charity. The closing was great too. We went to the Victoria Falls for our own account. The nature park, a boat trip at sunset and dinner was a nice end to our stay in Zambia. When looking at the photos, everything comes to mind again.

Retrospect Piet Mous
On May 31, on a plane for six weeks in Zambia. You imagine how things will go, what it looks like, but the reality is different. Arriving in Zambia, you step into a completely different world than we are used to here in the Netherlands. Colorful, friendly, hospitable, cheerful, the music, but also the great poverty and the smell of Africa. During these 6 weeks we have been supportive in building three classrooms in Mwandansengo. Work was also expected from the local population, such as preparing everything for construction, making stones, collecting sand, etc. This self-motivation really appealed to me. The people have a lot of respect and appreciation for what “BmB” is doing in Zambia. The projects of recent years give a very good picture of what is being built up here. You can also clearly see the progress. The Zambian construction companies are knowledgeable and hard-working. During our stay, the population was regularly asked to participate in projects for the next year. It is important that the BmB board in Zambia thinks along with the organization in the Netherlands. But also that a growth process is put into effect that promotes self-reliance. Education for the children is therefore very important for the future of Zambia. For myself I can look back on very nice weeks that I would not have liked to miss.

Retrospect Antoon Haagen
On July 13, 2014 the four of us were back in the Netherlands healthy and well. We had been in Zambia for 6 weeks, where the living conditions are very different from mine in Twello / the Netherlands. The first week at home was relaxed, stories were told of how we had fared there and we had the souvenirs admired. In the first place, I have a great admiration for the Zambian builders. They are highly motivated and when they have work, they work in all that warmth from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Everything is done by hand and manpower, there is no electricity and the water had to be pumped up and rolled to the construction site in tons. We and our group were, for the Zambian builders, a nice addition to the work, which we always carried out in consultation with them. The board of the Zambian St. BmB regularly came to see the progress, which I could see with all satisfaction. Herman’s brother Father John visited the building during a weekend and he thought it was fantastic. For John, Mwandasengo was the furthest village from Kaoma from his previous mission post (45km). The children sang a very special welcome song for him. It was enjoyment from all sides.
I myself started this venture with a good feeling, also because the contacts with Herman and Lies and the talking about what was to come, were well discussed in advance. The home front helped in everything and cared for me. Also because before that the campaign “Food for Zambia”, the collections in the church and the contribution of our grandchildren had already raised the wonderful amount of more than € 7,000.00. For me, BmB is a foundation that adds something to the life of the Zambian, by building schools, thereby promoting education, which makes parents and children happy. The four of us were allowed to contribute to this, in all gratitude to me. It was and remains a special experience.