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Meheba History

Meheba was opened in 1971 for refugees who fled Angola during the Angolan revolution against the Portuguese. In the 1990's, Meheba started receiving refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Burundi. Meheba was projected to close down after thousands of Angolan refugees voluntarily repatriated, but repatriation ended after the Angolan war flared up again in 1998. Although nearly 64,000 Angolan refugees were successfully repatriated, efforts to repatriate Rwandan refugees have proven unsuccessful. At its greatest capacity, Meheba Settlement provided refuge for ~120,000 refugees from Congo, Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Sudan.

Where is it

The Meheba Refugee settlement is situated 75 km west of Solwezi, in North-Western Zambia. It is 75 km from Solwezi up to the entrance of the camp. From there it is another 18 km from the entrance to the UNHCR offices. There is a good tarmac road from Solwezi to the entrance of Meheba.

What is it like?

Meheba Refugee Settlement covers a vast area of 720 sq km. It is divided into 8 blocks from A to H with 125 roads and numerous villages.
The average household plot is 25 x 30 meters, the average family size is 6 persons.
The average agriculture farming plot per household is 2.5 hectares.
he population of the camp is 15,756 of which 5,128 are children. Some of them attend school while others do not.
There are 3 types of schools in Meheba; 1 high school, 5 basic schools (that is, receive some government funding) and 9 community schools (i.e. set up by a village with no government funding at all).
Agriculture is the main source of income, but farmers struggle with degenerating soil fertility and expensive fertilizer. There are very few job opportunities that offer minimal pay. Farming, small business and limited agency jobs are the sole alternatives. Men are generally employed in greater numbers than women and have usually received more schooling than women.

What makes a good session

A guaranteed “winner” is to have some songs up your sleeve. Primary schools in the UK have a portfolio of songs that the kids love to sing. If you can learn a couple of simple ones before you go, it works really well to write the lyrics out and run through the tune a couple of times, and you will be amazed at the natural harmonies African kids will come up with; spontaneously and naturally.

One thing to remember is that there is no one “right” way to conduct a session. As long as the children are getting access to the books, the materials and your time then let your imagination run free. Do whatever you feel most comfortable with but remember to have fun and to encourage the children to participate and enjoy this unique opportunity.

Art and craft

Glitter is a big hit! Using art and craft to illustrate or dramatise the story is a great way to associate the book with a fun activity.
Liz (a volunteer in 2010) read Kipper’s Kite by Mick Inkpen (A short tale of Kipper the dog, his friends and a kite!)
We all read the book together – acting out some of the words the children thought were fun or didn’t understand. As the book was based around friendship we spoke about who our friends were and why we liked them. The children thought this was very funny indeed!
We then proceeded to make kites from the art materials which were aboard the bus. The children didn’t finish making the kites, so they were put away until the following week.
The kites were finished at the start of the next session which gave time for the children and I to talk about Kipper again!

Which books work well

Big books are great for large groups We have book guidelines which you will recieve once your placement is confirmed. This document includes information on what not to bring such as Christmas books or books about witches.

Topics that work well

• Animals
• Monsters/magic
• Rockets/stars/space
• Travelling
• School
• Adventures
• African story books
 

Volunteer blog

In 2011 three French students from Kent University incorporated the project as a part of their University course (International Relations & Politics). They were fully committed to the experience and organised and carried out adult lessons in the afternoons as well. 

Visit their blog to find out more about some of the people they met and about their experience.

www.actzambia.wordpress.com

Solwezi

We'll let you make up your own mind!

Solwezi is the capital of the North Western Province of Zambia and has approximately 65,000 inhabitants at an elevation of 1235 m above sea level. Kaonde is the largest tribe represented in Solwezi,but you can also find large numbers of Lunda and Luvale speaking people.

The main industry of Solwezi is copper mining at Kansanshi Mine (located about 10 km north) and Lumwana Mine (located about 65 km West), out of the town centre. Kansanshi Mine exploits copper-gold ore from Kansanshi Anticlinal. The mining site has been running since the 19th century. Lumwana on the other hand was discovered in 1961 with no serious work was carried out there until 1999.

Three miles from city centre you can find the "Kifubwa Rock Stream Shelter" located next to the Kifubwa River. There are inscriptions to be found from the Stone Age.

Camp Conditions

Our tents

While staying in Meheba, accommodation will all be in shared tents, which we erect ourselves. We stay in the compound of an American based NGO in Zone C of Meheba settlement.
Tents are all big enough to stand up in, and there will be either 2 or 3 people sharing each tent. The tents are designed to accommodate 4 – 5 people, depending on the model, so there is plenty of room.

You will have access to a shared locker on the Book Bus to store any of your more valuable items. We have access to fresh water that we pump from a well and carry to the campsite.  We will build a very rustic "shower cubicle" near to the pump and hey presto, you have a "bush shower" It's usually a bit too chilly to shower in the mornings, but there is plenty of time in the afternoon when it is warmer to have a shower.

We do not have any access to electricity while staying in camp. Previous Meheba volunteers brought solar chargers with them to charge their ipods and cameras and it is possible to charge your electricals at the weekends in Solwezi.

We work as a team to make our camp life a success. This means taking you turn cooking, cleaning, fetching water, washing up etc. If you don?t feel comfortable doing a particular role, you can usually swap duty with another crew member.

Communications

Yes even here!

There are several internet cafes in Solwezi but please have patience. Connections can be slow and very frustrating. Or just entirely non-existent at times.

Mobile phones are widely used in Zambia. There is even coverage on certain networks at places in Meheba. You can buy a pay as you go SIM card on arrival very cheaply which will enable you to text and call locally and internationally. A text to the UK will then cost just 7p as opposed to roaming charges which can be as much as 40p.

Fundraising Case Study

“I ran an African themed party to raise money for my placement. I provided alcoholic drinks and food in return for donations. I managed to persuade work to let me have one of their large rooms for free as a venue, and a day trip to France provided the drinks. Decorations, themed food and some African music provided the atmosphere. In return I simply left donation buckets by the bar and on each table. It was a fantastic night, a lot of fun and I managed to raise just over 500 pounds. With hindsight, I think I could have raised much more than that with a bit more planning and including other elements of fundraising at the same time.” Helen - Total Raised £532!!!

Remember: A party can be a great time to advertise other events and obtain sponsorship. A raffle can double your donations. Also sponsors are encouraged by witnessing the generosity of others!

Facebook

Join the Book Bus group on Facebook for the latest news from the UK office and everything going on overseas. Browse through volunteer photos and recieve the latest offers. Book Bus group

Weather

Jun - Min 10 Max 23
Jul - Min 09 Max 23
Aug - Min 12 Max 25

From June to July you will have an average of 9 hours sunlight each day but it does gets cold in the evenings and it is still cool when we go to schools so during these months a warm sleeping bag, a hat, coat and fleeces are necessary. As soon as the sun is up, it becomes warm, so t-shirts etc are required. Basically at this time of year you need to pack for 2 different seasons! Yes flip-flops and a scarf!

Don't be tempted to think that because this is Africa it is always t-shirt weather!!

What to pack

» Light cotton tops and cotton trousers/shorts, hat/ cap and light shoes
» Long-sleeved blouses/shirts which will protect you from mosquitoes and the sun
» Safari trousers, jeans or casual pants for evenings and cooler days. A fleece or sweater is required for those cool winter evening and mornings
» A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen (a tanning lotion and a high factor sunscreen for your face, neck, feet and hands
» Sandals, open shoes
» Comfortable walking shoes, sandals for when swimming in the Victoria Falls
» Extra memory cards and batteries, these are difficult to find in Zambia outside of city centre's and should they be available they will cost you a arm and a leg.

It is considered bad manners to show knees or thighs, and trousers that reveal "builders bums" are very rude in Zambia so please be respectful of this when you are out and about. Remember many of our lessons are conducted sitting on the floor, so think about this when choosing your clothes!
Keeping your shoulders fairly covered is also a good idea.
 

A full detailed packing list is provided in your field manual - available upon booking.

Visas

Most nationalities require a visa to visit Zambia.

British passport holder
Single entry - $50 - Obtainable on arrival
Double entry - $80 - Obtainable on arrival
Multiple entry - $80 - Obtain before departure
(Last updated Sep 2011)

Please contact us for details on other nationalities and up to date advice.

Stephanie's experience

“You’re going to spend a month in a refugee camp? Why?” asked the lady at Zambian Passport Control, with wide, questioning eyes.

“Because it’s different to anything I’ve ever done before....

I’d never been to Africa, and prior to the trip I was filled with nervous anticipation. Being a trainee teacher, I knew I could handle spreading a love of books and reading to children, but I worried about what the people of Meheba Refugee Settlement would think of our group of western do-gooders.

Entering Zambia, I watched the country roll by, children running and waving, colourful clothing and the dusty shades of orange and yellow. Meheba defied all my expectations. A vast scrubland, dotted with towering termite hills, it was divided into spacious plots for the refugee families. Although we felt every bit the white strangers, everyone was incredibly friendly, curious and welcoming. They came from all over Africa, and though they possessed little, they did not complain. Each had a story to tell. One man, who taught himself English from a dictionary he carried under his arm, had lived in the camp for 25 years, and hoped to write a book about his experiences. A thirteen year-old girl shared her story of pain and violence with me, but ended with her eyes glistening with hope.

During the day, we worked with groups of children in classroom corners or outside in the sun. We shared our favourite childhood books and created hats, masks, stories and drawings. I’ve never met children more eager to learn. Together we chased the Gingerbread Man, invited the Tiger to tea, and bounced my inflatable globe. Even the teenage boys gathered around to hear the children’s stories.

Camp life took some adjustment, with its tents, long-drop toilet, and bucket shower in the trees. We spent the evenings playing games, star-gazing on top of termite hills, watching the local football match, and occasionally battling vast armies of ants. In our spare time we helped build a school kitchen as most of the locals stood by watching. Apparently, TIA (This is Africa).

Working with The Book Bus team proved an incredibly emotional experience. It hurt to leave, and someday I hope to return. Not for the sunsets or the landscapes, but for the people. Meheba was different to anything I’ve ever experienced, but it strengthened my feeling that we are all essentially the same. I recommend the experience to everyone."

Stephanie McCullough - Trainee Teacher

Charlotte's experience

"Meheba was an amazing experience and my only regret is not having stayed for longer. I couldn't have imagined a better way of going to Africa for the first time and discover what it's all really about: the people. Years of conflict and colonisation and an array of cultures came across as we spent these 3 weeks alongside refugees in Meheba. On a daily basis, I put all of my energy and efforts into what we came to do: promote literacy. It's crazy how much you can forget about yourself and focus on others for a period of time, it's crazier still how good and right it feels.

We all had almost no working experience and yet what we did have is a love for books and reading. This in turn is such a valuable part of education, I felt like our work there was important to get kids and young adults eager to learn and learn through books. Sometimes it was just about sharing, sometimes it was an encouragement, and even little things could bring someone more confidence or happiness.

We were warmly welcomed in the refugee settlement. It was overwhelming at first being stared at and having so many come over and talking to us, but I never felt uncomfortable.

Charlotte Lelong - Edinburgh University - International Relations Student