Back to the Future
on Mark Stephens (Zambia), 16/Sep/2010 22:50, 34 days ago
Victoria Falls, 2000In early January 2000, I had the good fortune to cap off a memorable visit to southern Africa with a stop at the spectacularVictoria Fallsfor a couple of days. Though staying on theZimbabweside of theZambeziRiver, walking over the bridge intoZambiawas a relatively easy matter. Thus moved by curiosity and a whim, I was able to spend a few hours in theRepublicofZambia, gain a different perspective of the river and falls, and enjoy a very brief taste of another country.Little did I suspect that more than a decade later, life’s course would include a return to Zambia, this time as a volunteer through CUSO-VSO. CUSO-VSO isa non-profit organization thatsends skilled professionals to share their knowledge and experience with people trying to improve their lives andbuild better futures for their communities in more than 40 countries around the globe.Entering Zambia, 2000Beginning in October 2010, I will be working as a Town Planner with the Petauke District Council, the local governing body for a portion ofZambia’sEasternProvince. Petauke is a town of about 20,000 located some 400 kilometers east ofLusaka,Zambia’s capital and largest city. The Petauke Districtprovides public services to an area with a population reported to exceed 200,000.I will share my training and experience as a Planner with the District Council to assist preparation of a locally generated Integrated Development Plan. The process aims to integrate economic, public service and land use planning efforts, with active participation by those affected.Welcome to Zambia, 2000This site is intended to provide a personal record of the experience ahead, and a means of sharing thoughts and ideas. So again, thanks for visiting. Please feel free to pose questions or make comments.