Zambia’s Ambassador to Belgium-Mrs. Sheila Siwela at Ibis in Waterloo
We were warmly received by our host Mrs. Sybille du Park, who went out of her way to make our stay enjoyable. We had a meeting with the Zambian Ambassador to Belgium, she too received us warmly. Temba explained to the Ambassador about our mission to The Netherlands, after which a meeting was arranged for us to meet the members of the Zambian Mission at the Embassy. Temba explained to them the challenges of living with disability and cerebral palsy in particular. We briefed them on what MYCEPA have achieved to date and our dream for the future. They promised to fund raise towards the permanent Rehabilitation Centre and thought it was a good idea especially with people like Temba in the forefront.
On 12th November 2009 we met with the representatives of De la Croix Fondation. They were pleased with MYCEPAs achievements to date and pledged to work with us on the next phase of the project.
Warm welcome from the Executive members of De la Croix at Mrs. Sybille Bruno’s residence
We briefed them fully on the activities which had taken place including the official launch supported by some photographs as well as the International Symposium and what was discussed in The Netherlands.
In the evening of the same day, we were invited to attend an IDAY Meeting at the Brussels City Hall which lasted three days. This meeting was looking at how the European Union could address the plight of the African child’s Education, and in memory of Uegine and Kimote who died in transit while trying to deliver a letter addressed to the European Union, they stowed away in the aircraft’s undercarriage.
We met a lot of Parliamentarians including Mr. Jean Machelle, participants from different organizations working to change the plight of the African child. It happened that Temba was the only person in a wheelchair and he represented the disabled children well such that at the end of the meeting and at the Reception of Honors these children Temba was highly recommended by the organizers for his contributions and was given a standing ovation.
On 17th November 2009, we visited an equestrian who gives horse riding exercises to disabled children and young adults. This kind of therapy is not common here in Zambia, but Temba was conversant because he had gone through the same therapy while at St Giles in Harare. The therapist was happy meet us and is willing to come to Zambia when MYCEPA is ready to see how best such methods could be introduced for the cerebral palsy children at the centre.
Finally before coming back to Zambia we went to an Institution where they offer special equipment for exercises and again Temba was useful in telling us what equipment could be needed for which kind of disability. We managed to select and put aside a reasonable number for the cerebral palsy children in Kitwe.
On behalf of Temba and myself, may I take this opportunity to thank you all for the support given us throughout the past year, a big thank you to Archie and Barbara for making this trip possible.
MYCEPA 