Livingstone, Zambia, June 6, 2006—
IFC’s Africa team took a hands-on approach to improving lives during a recent visit to Zambia in early June. Nearly 200 participants in IFC’s regional team workshop in Livingstone took on the challenging task of refurbishing the Zambezi Basic School in Livingstone.
The community service was one part of a three day workshop at which regional and other staff from around IFC came together to discuss key issues facing the Africa region. In partnership with Sun International-Zambia, the delegation contributed to improving facilities at the school.
Executive Vice President Lars Thunell and Vice President Dorothy Berry joined the many teams that did heavy lifting and other manual work. While Mr. Thunell laid bricks as a member of one team, other teams painted classrooms, cleaned and restored lavatories, assembled bookshelves for a library and rebuilt a football pitch.
“IFC encourages clients to be active in the communities where they work. This retreat-related service has allowed us to contribute to the Livingstone community while offering a strong sense of the contribution that our clients make to Livingstone and many other communities,.” said Associate Director Thierry Tanoh.
Staff were grouped into teams with a leader charged with ensuring that the tasks were completed on time. By the end of the day many who finished their own tasks early pitched in to help other teams. The work contributed to IFC’s own business objectives by helping staff work with each other in a new capacity and gain insights into how teams can work more effectively toward a common goal.
“Work with the surrounding communities in Livingstone was a key objective of the workshop, and we chose Zambesi Basic School from amongst several CSI projects that Sun Internaional is currently involved in.,” explained Manager of Environment and Social Development Merunisha Ahmid, who helped select the community activity. ,. Each participant was asked to bring childrens books for contribution to the new library, and this will hopefully remain an ongoing opportunity for IFC staff in the region to stay involved. In addition, participants decided to raise funds for badly needed desks and chairs for the new classroom block that has just been completed by Sun International.
Sun International-Zambia adopted the school a few years ago because it found it in a dilapidated condition and in need of refurbishing that it could contribute to on an ongoing basis.
Highlights of the day included seeing the perimeter wall completed; the goals on the football pitch hoisted anew; and finally the school library painted with new bookshelves and books in place. Several staff used free time later in the retreat to return and play a game of football with the students.
Those who participated in the community work felt the day had a positive impact on the school children attending Zambezi Basic School. David Toto, IFC’s Johannesburg-based security coordinator, was among those who contributed. “Getting involved in the school project made me feel good because I was able to contribute to the community. I had a great sense of achievement when our tasks had been completed,” he said.
