We are invited to go with Rik into the field. We know Rik and Dinie from Ghana, where we both worked and lived. Since that time we visit them regularly and enjoy their work enviroment in Africa. Today, Rik will give some information about “Water for Zambia” project. For this he brought four men, all Zambians: Pious, Rik’s right hand, who leads the meeting and explains everything in the local language and two welders and one driller, men from the field. They are trained by Jacana and have already drilled several boreholes and made and installed pumps, ready to answer the questions from the villagers with their expertise and experience.
The Chief from the area first wants to talk to us. One of his headmen leads us the way to his house. The most important man from the area sits on a small veranda in front of his house. We sit down at his feet on a mat. He is a very nice amiable man. After the necessary greeting rituals Rik explains that Jacana will partly sponsor 10 pumps. Who are eligible for this? These ones with the best business plan. The plan that is successful and feasible. The villagers will be invited to present their business plans after one week. The chief tells us that he is also a gardener, but unfortunately he cannot be present to discuss his business plan. With a joke and a crush, he knows to reserve a pump for himself.
We say goodbye to the Chief. The meeting can start. We come back at the mango tree. In addition to the 4 chairs, 2 stools are placed. The full Jacana team can take place. There are some men under the mango tree. A tree further down seems to be the women tree, some women have gathered there. The chickens are nowhere to be seen.Jacana has taken an example pump. The pump is in a large bin with water. Later everybody gets the opportunity to try the pump.
