Some reflections on the Zambian Immersion Experience from the students of the Abbey Grammar School, Newry who were there in March, 2005.

It is difficult to describe how we felt as we eventually arrived in Lusaka airport. After all the preparations: the fund-raising; the meetings; the injections it had finally come to pass. Here we were arriving in another culture. Before we went we had thought we knew about culture shock, but the experience is quite different. As the plane landed some of us thought: “What the hell are we doing here?” When we got to our destination in Livingstone that sentiment increased.

After settling in we then got our assignments. The eight of us were going, in pairs, to four different schools. Some of the schools were very well organised with a set curriculum and strict discipline. The others were different. While we were there a feeding programme was initiated and the memory of those children enjoying a little red mug of porridge will stay with us forever.

We visited an orphanage and that made a lasting impression on all of us. One little girl stands out. Her name was Catherine, she is four. We played simple games with her and the other children. We had brought them nothing but ourselves and our time. We now realize that these are the most important gifts of all.

With the help of the Franciscan Sisters we were privileged to accompany the home-based care workers as they went to the various villages to distribute medicines. On one visit a lady was complaining of pains in her body. She was given some tablets and on enquiry we discovered that she was close to death. We could see that the care workers were very used to this situation, but it was a shock for us to see it first hand.

Our visit to the hospital was both informative and disturbing. The hospital chaplain met us and escorted us around the wards. We saw the new born babies and we also saw those who were close to death. He explained to us that very often relatives spend the little money they have caring for sick relatives. When, and if, the patient is discharged there is often very little money for food or transport - a frightening thought.

We also experienced the beauty of Zambia . In Livingstone we were only 10 kilometres away from the Victoria Falls. It is truly amazing. We visited a very luxurious hotel and marvelled at the contrast between the standards there and those in the compounds where the ordinary people live. We could see that the local people relied heavily on the influx of tourists to purchase curios and we did our best to boost their economy in this regard!

Our visit to Zambia coincided with Holy Week. On Palm Sunday Mass lasted four hours. The singing of ten local people who sang their hearts out was something we had never experienced before. It made the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It was Mass with a difference. It would make you want to go every week!

Two people stand out: Sister Sheila Rice and Brother Mick Doyle. Sister Sheila has just celebrated her 80th birthday in April 2005. “A legend” some of the boys described her as. She has spent 56 years in different African countries. She greets you with the enthusiasm of an 18 year old, and works like a Trojan. Some of us were barely able to keep up with her on the home –based care visits. She visits the bedridden and tries to make what is left of their lives as easy and comfortable as possible. She is a straight-talking woman. Inspiration would be her middle name. Truly unbelievable.

We would also like to introduce you to Brother Mick Doyle. He has been working in Zambia for the past 23 years. He helped to co-ordinate most of our daily visits and without his help the project would not have been possible. One thing which we noticed was that he appreciated the enthusiasm for learning that his pupils in St. Raphael’s have.

During our preparations for Zambia there were many questions both within the team and indeed in the wider school community. We were often asked: “Is the project worthwhile? Would we not be better to send the money out?” After our experience we have only one answer: “Yes, it is worthwhile”.

To see the satisfaction on the people’s faces, to see the delight and gratitude when they realised that we had come the whole way from Ireland to be with them and to help them was great. It certainly makes you think twice about what we have here at home. It gives you a different perspective on lots of things.

Kevin Dyas, Kevin McKernan, Kevin McManus, Darren Rowland, Richard Gilmore, Mark McGuigan, Aodhan Rafferty, Michael O’Hare, Anne Lyng, Mark Grogan, Hugh Markey

Abbey pupils have returned home from their incredible journey to Africa telling The Abbey Way that life would never be the same again. Judging by these wonderful images you begin to understand just a little of how they might be feeling. The school Immersion had both a practical and a spiritual dimension and each Abbey student believes that everyone should at some time in their life have the opportunity to be nourished by such a never-to-be-forgotten experience. Below are links to articles detailing the experiences the Zambian Immersion Team gained.