Join us on Saturday, November 8, from 11 am to 2 pm for our Chili Cook-Off for Chililabombwe. For more information, download our entry packet. You can also complete an entry form below.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Chili Cook-Off for Chililabombwe Online Entry Form
Join us on Saturday, November 8, from 11 am to 2 pm for our Chili Cook-Off for Chililabombwe. For more information, download our entry packet. You can also complete an entry form below.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Round Rock Leader Article
From here:
After a six day visit to the city of Chililabombwe<, Zambia, Kyle Sears found Hutto and its sister city have much more in common than just the hippopotamus.
The pastor at Resonate Community Church - along with Hutto City Manager Ed Broussard and Will Guerin from the city's Community Development Department - recently returned from a trip to initiate the sister relationship with the African city with ideas how the two can build a mutually beneficial relationship and an appreciation for the similarities between people half a world away.
"I thought it was going to be a lot different in terms of landscape and culture and everything else, but it was actually a lot closer to this area of Texas than I thought it was going to be," Sears said of the city bordered to the north by the war torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. "The fact that Zambians are known for their hospitality reminded me a lot of Texas as well.
"My favorite moments were just sharing meals with the leaders over there and getting to know them and hear how remarkably similar our backgrounds are even though we're half a world away from one another. They still have very similar values as far as education and their family and really trying to make world a better place."
Initiated by Sears and former mayor Mike Fowler, a sister city relationship is a long-term commitment to a specific area in an effort to increase global cooperation at the municipal level, promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic development.
The first thing Sears said the cities are looking at doing is implementing a pen pal program - English is the official language of Zambia - during the upcoming school year to promote education and cultural awareness.
"Chililabombwe also just built a new library like we have," Sears said, "so were hoping to foster a book exchange where we'll get books on hippos and things like that and we'll send them stuff on cowboys and bluebonnets."
While Sears said the program is still in the early planning stages, one of Hutto's main focuses will most likely be helping the city finish building its Kokosko Medical Center. Though the center is able to provide a certain amount of care, because construction is not complete it is not recognized by the Zambian government and funding is minimal.
"If they can finish the building, which will cost about $100,000, then they'll actually be able to retain some employees and have proper testing equipment and supplies and things like that," Sears said. "We're hoping to fund that primarily through grants but are also talking about having some sort of community awareness/fundraising event as well."
Both cities are also at the point of developing a sustainable business community that can serve as a driving force for their economies, and while Chililabombwe lacks the collateral needed for loans, Hutto is in the position to help.
"Basically we can have investors here providing small, short-term loans that would help someone buy, for example, a water pump to pump water up from the ground for irrigation to get a farm started," Sears said.
Sears said the city plans to compile a team of individuals from the communities to begin researching and developing ideas, and those wishing to get involved in the program can learn more at huttozambia.com.
"Anybody in the city that has an interest in this, there's a way they can be a help to the project," he said.
After a six day visit to the city of Chililabombwe<, Zambia, Kyle Sears found Hutto and its sister city have much more in common than just the hippopotamus.
The pastor at Resonate Community Church - along with Hutto City Manager Ed Broussard and Will Guerin from the city's Community Development Department - recently returned from a trip to initiate the sister relationship with the African city with ideas how the two can build a mutually beneficial relationship and an appreciation for the similarities between people half a world away.
"I thought it was going to be a lot different in terms of landscape and culture and everything else, but it was actually a lot closer to this area of Texas than I thought it was going to be," Sears said of the city bordered to the north by the war torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. "The fact that Zambians are known for their hospitality reminded me a lot of Texas as well.
"My favorite moments were just sharing meals with the leaders over there and getting to know them and hear how remarkably similar our backgrounds are even though we're half a world away from one another. They still have very similar values as far as education and their family and really trying to make world a better place."
Initiated by Sears and former mayor Mike Fowler, a sister city relationship is a long-term commitment to a specific area in an effort to increase global cooperation at the municipal level, promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic development.
The first thing Sears said the cities are looking at doing is implementing a pen pal program - English is the official language of Zambia - during the upcoming school year to promote education and cultural awareness.
"Chililabombwe also just built a new library like we have," Sears said, "so were hoping to foster a book exchange where we'll get books on hippos and things like that and we'll send them stuff on cowboys and bluebonnets."
While Sears said the program is still in the early planning stages, one of Hutto's main focuses will most likely be helping the city finish building its Kokosko Medical Center. Though the center is able to provide a certain amount of care, because construction is not complete it is not recognized by the Zambian government and funding is minimal.
"If they can finish the building, which will cost about $100,000, then they'll actually be able to retain some employees and have proper testing equipment and supplies and things like that," Sears said. "We're hoping to fund that primarily through grants but are also talking about having some sort of community awareness/fundraising event as well."
Both cities are also at the point of developing a sustainable business community that can serve as a driving force for their economies, and while Chililabombwe lacks the collateral needed for loans, Hutto is in the position to help.
"Basically we can have investors here providing small, short-term loans that would help someone buy, for example, a water pump to pump water up from the ground for irrigation to get a farm started," Sears said.
Sears said the city plans to compile a team of individuals from the communities to begin researching and developing ideas, and those wishing to get involved in the program can learn more at huttozambia.com.
"Anybody in the city that has an interest in this, there's a way they can be a help to the project," he said.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Photos Updated
Just wanted to let you know that I was finally able to post the pictures we took throughout our journey.
We arrived safely home. Now begins the real work of determining how we can make the most of the opportunities presented. Will and I will be presenting our thoughts at a city council meeting in June. In the meantime, we hope to gather a group of community volunteers who will help make our dreams a reality.
We arrived safely home. Now begins the real work of determining how we can make the most of the opportunities presented. Will and I will be presenting our thoughts at a city council meeting in June. In the meantime, we hope to gather a group of community volunteers who will help make our dreams a reality.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Ubunandi
We met many new friends (ubunandi) during our time in Chililabombwe. Today we said our farewells to the council and city leadership. Before we left, we had an opportunity to meet with the member of parliament for Chililabombwe. She discussed the problems they have with the outlying areas of the township, where many people are unable to have access to basic healthcare and education.
She said the number one concern for her office is seeing the hospital (Kokosko) finished with its construction. This will allow those in outlying areas to have a place to stay and eat while they are treated. Otherwise, they have to stay with relatives nearby, if they have any. Either way, it's a burden for the community, and many people who could survive with basic care end up dying.
Schools are available through 7th grade, but after that, students must either move in with relatives in Chililabombwe, or not go to school. Those who don't go often marry at age 14, and oftentimes the girls are forced to marry against their will.
She shared with us how many of these areas also lack water resources, and are forced to travel to the Kafue River and haul their water. This water is not safe for drinking. However, if more community wells are built, there is hope for the community to be able to survive. A new well costs about $4,000 and can serve up to 2,500 people. All told, they need almost 100 wells to adequately supply water to these areas.
Additionally, they would like to create dams along the river, which can then be used for irrigation of new farms and orchards. By creating new resources for employment and capital, the residents of these areas could find themselves having better resources from the government (education, healthcare, environmental safety).
We finished the day with a ceremony officially declaring ourselves as Sister Cities. We presented the mayor and council with gifts from our community, and they presented us with gifts as well. My favorite gift was a ceremonial scarf with the Zambian flag colors. We also received copper wall clocks, which we will keep on Zambian time.
Tomorrow, we will visit Kitwe, who has a robust market on the weekends. There are opportunities for Chililabombweans to bring their goods to this market in the future.
She said the number one concern for her office is seeing the hospital (Kokosko) finished with its construction. This will allow those in outlying areas to have a place to stay and eat while they are treated. Otherwise, they have to stay with relatives nearby, if they have any. Either way, it's a burden for the community, and many people who could survive with basic care end up dying.
Schools are available through 7th grade, but after that, students must either move in with relatives in Chililabombwe, or not go to school. Those who don't go often marry at age 14, and oftentimes the girls are forced to marry against their will.
She shared with us how many of these areas also lack water resources, and are forced to travel to the Kafue River and haul their water. This water is not safe for drinking. However, if more community wells are built, there is hope for the community to be able to survive. A new well costs about $4,000 and can serve up to 2,500 people. All told, they need almost 100 wells to adequately supply water to these areas.
Additionally, they would like to create dams along the river, which can then be used for irrigation of new farms and orchards. By creating new resources for employment and capital, the residents of these areas could find themselves having better resources from the government (education, healthcare, environmental safety).
We finished the day with a ceremony officially declaring ourselves as Sister Cities. We presented the mayor and council with gifts from our community, and they presented us with gifts as well. My favorite gift was a ceremonial scarf with the Zambian flag colors. We also received copper wall clocks, which we will keep on Zambian time.
Tomorrow, we will visit Kitwe, who has a robust market on the weekends. There are opportunities for Chililabombweans to bring their goods to this market in the future.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Kokosko Medical Center and Chimfunsi Orphanage
Today we visited Kokosko Medical Center, another healthcare provider in Chililabombwe. Unlike the previous hospital we visited, this one is made available to the general public. It is funded by the central government, as are all centers like this in Zambia. Unfortunately, there are not enough resources to adequately meet the demands in Chililabombwe.
Because it is not an official hospital, Kokosko doesn't receive provision for providing food to patients, even those that are required to stay overnight for treatment. Local churches have volunteers that come in to cook. We saw ten women in a small kitchen cooking for over 50 people. The space and equipment is inadequate to meet these needs.
Most patients receive one meal, usually porridge made from ground peanuts and corn meal. Today they were getting chicken and vegetables (pumpkin leaves and something similar to broccoli), thanks to the ladies from the church.
Overall, there is inadequate space, meaning that a lot of the medication sits unopened in the hallways. There is one treatment area where wounds are dressed, patients are evaluated, and minor procedures performed. The laboratory facilities (hematology, microbiology, pathology, etc.) are fit in one room, and staffed by two committed doctors. They must do all of the testing and investigation for the hospital. This creates a backlog often, which only prolongs treatment opportunities.
Patients who are too seriously injured or ill are transfered to a hospital in Chingola. Because of this, approximately $8,000 per month earmarked for Chililabombwe goes to the hospital in Chingola to cover these costs. This money goes there regardless of how many patients are referred. Additionally, Chililabombwe has no ambulance, which makes travel difficult. The hospital receives about $1,200 per month to provide all cleaning, tests, and basic services.
(Chililabombwe is the size of a typical county in Texas, with the majority of people in the township, but many small villages scattered about. Again, without an ambulance service, many of these people are forced to walk or ride a bicycle to receive care.)
They also perform testing for tuberculosis and HIV. However, they are limited in how many tests they can perform per week, creating more backlog and delays in treatment. There is only one doctor in this office, who does all of the testing and counseling with the patients.
They have three wards (men, women, and children) where patients stay for observation. Each ward has been adopted by a church, who helps to clean and provide linens for the ward. Beds are limited as well.
The good news is that the town raised money to build a new laboratory, radiology department, and operating room. However, they still lack about $120,000 to finish. For now, the rooms are used for additional storage, and educational classes. We saw a class where nurses were teaching new mothers how to make porridge, because their children were malnourished.
Healthcare still costs about $2 per day, a stretch for many of those living in Chililabombwe. However, the town council is committed to providing as many people with healthcare as they can, using their own funds to help provide new facilities and equipment. If they can finish this building project, they will be recognized as a hospital, and the money that is being routed to Chingola will be kept in the community.
I have tried to stay as objective as possible in my reporting of conditions in Chililabombwe, but today was tough. I saw children my daughter's age who were ill and hungry, and the only comfort they have is a tiny bed surrounded by other sick children. I saw poor mothers trying to learn how to cook cheaply in order to provide basic nutrition for their children. The only ray of hope was the commitment of the community to do whatever it takes to provide for those who are unable to provide for themselves.
After our visit, we took the afternoon to visit the Chimfunsi Chimpanzee Orphanage. There are over 120 chimpanzees that have been rescued from mistreatment or poachers. We got to feed them bananas and learn some of their backgrounds. One chimp was taught to drink beer and smoke cigarettes before they arrived at the orphanage. They have a detox program (cold turkey) for these. They are training the chimps to reintegrate into their natural society, and are doing a great job.
There were some native monkeys roaming in the open, and one that has been tamed that took a liking to Will. He soon became a good friend, climbing on all of us, inspecting our shirt sleeves, and swinging on our arms.
Our tour finished with our visit to Billy the Hippo, raised at the orphanage since she was five weeks old. She's now over 16 years old. We caught her sleeping, and weren't able to get too close to her, but she was a marvel to behold.
I look forward to sharing thoughts with the community regarding our opportunities in Chililabombwe. I think there are ways where both of our towns can find mutual benefits through our relationship. I hope that you are proud of the vision of the city to see opportunities beyond our front yard (so to speak). I know I am.
Because it is not an official hospital, Kokosko doesn't receive provision for providing food to patients, even those that are required to stay overnight for treatment. Local churches have volunteers that come in to cook. We saw ten women in a small kitchen cooking for over 50 people. The space and equipment is inadequate to meet these needs.
Most patients receive one meal, usually porridge made from ground peanuts and corn meal. Today they were getting chicken and vegetables (pumpkin leaves and something similar to broccoli), thanks to the ladies from the church.
Overall, there is inadequate space, meaning that a lot of the medication sits unopened in the hallways. There is one treatment area where wounds are dressed, patients are evaluated, and minor procedures performed. The laboratory facilities (hematology, microbiology, pathology, etc.) are fit in one room, and staffed by two committed doctors. They must do all of the testing and investigation for the hospital. This creates a backlog often, which only prolongs treatment opportunities.
Patients who are too seriously injured or ill are transfered to a hospital in Chingola. Because of this, approximately $8,000 per month earmarked for Chililabombwe goes to the hospital in Chingola to cover these costs. This money goes there regardless of how many patients are referred. Additionally, Chililabombwe has no ambulance, which makes travel difficult. The hospital receives about $1,200 per month to provide all cleaning, tests, and basic services.
(Chililabombwe is the size of a typical county in Texas, with the majority of people in the township, but many small villages scattered about. Again, without an ambulance service, many of these people are forced to walk or ride a bicycle to receive care.)
They also perform testing for tuberculosis and HIV. However, they are limited in how many tests they can perform per week, creating more backlog and delays in treatment. There is only one doctor in this office, who does all of the testing and counseling with the patients.
They have three wards (men, women, and children) where patients stay for observation. Each ward has been adopted by a church, who helps to clean and provide linens for the ward. Beds are limited as well.
The good news is that the town raised money to build a new laboratory, radiology department, and operating room. However, they still lack about $120,000 to finish. For now, the rooms are used for additional storage, and educational classes. We saw a class where nurses were teaching new mothers how to make porridge, because their children were malnourished.
Healthcare still costs about $2 per day, a stretch for many of those living in Chililabombwe. However, the town council is committed to providing as many people with healthcare as they can, using their own funds to help provide new facilities and equipment. If they can finish this building project, they will be recognized as a hospital, and the money that is being routed to Chingola will be kept in the community.
I have tried to stay as objective as possible in my reporting of conditions in Chililabombwe, but today was tough. I saw children my daughter's age who were ill and hungry, and the only comfort they have is a tiny bed surrounded by other sick children. I saw poor mothers trying to learn how to cook cheaply in order to provide basic nutrition for their children. The only ray of hope was the commitment of the community to do whatever it takes to provide for those who are unable to provide for themselves.
After our visit, we took the afternoon to visit the Chimfunsi Chimpanzee Orphanage. There are over 120 chimpanzees that have been rescued from mistreatment or poachers. We got to feed them bananas and learn some of their backgrounds. One chimp was taught to drink beer and smoke cigarettes before they arrived at the orphanage. They have a detox program (cold turkey) for these. They are training the chimps to reintegrate into their natural society, and are doing a great job.
There were some native monkeys roaming in the open, and one that has been tamed that took a liking to Will. He soon became a good friend, climbing on all of us, inspecting our shirt sleeves, and swinging on our arms.
Our tour finished with our visit to Billy the Hippo, raised at the orphanage since she was five weeks old. She's now over 16 years old. We caught her sleeping, and weren't able to get too close to her, but she was a marvel to behold.
I look forward to sharing thoughts with the community regarding our opportunities in Chililabombwe. I think there are ways where both of our towns can find mutual benefits through our relationship. I hope that you are proud of the vision of the city to see opportunities beyond our front yard (so to speak). I know I am.
The Hutto News Article
From The Hutto News, our local paper:
The City of Hutto sent a three-person delegation to the Southern African nation of Zambia Saturday as part of a campaign to create a sister-city relationship with the Zambian city of Chililabombwe.
Hutto City Manager Ed Broussard, City Planner Will Guerin and Kyle Sears, pastor of Resonate Community Church in Hutto, left for a nine-day trip and will return on Memorial Day. Sears said nearly three full days will be spent traveling, allowing the group to spend about six days in Chililabombwe.
The City of Hutto has allocated $10,000 to cover expenses for the trip.
The group will meet with representatives of the federal government of Zambia, including the Minister of the Interior, Sears said. They will also meet with local representatives of the city government, schools and the business community in Chililabombwe.
The idea to form a sister-city relationship with a city in Africa came from Sears.
The City of Hutto sent a three-person delegation to the Southern African nation of Zambia Saturday as part of a campaign to create a sister-city relationship with the Zambian city of Chililabombwe.
Hutto City Manager Ed Broussard, City Planner Will Guerin and Kyle Sears, pastor of Resonate Community Church in Hutto, left for a nine-day trip and will return on Memorial Day. Sears said nearly three full days will be spent traveling, allowing the group to spend about six days in Chililabombwe.
The City of Hutto has allocated $10,000 to cover expenses for the trip.
The group will meet with representatives of the federal government of Zambia, including the Minister of the Interior, Sears said. They will also meet with local representatives of the city government, schools and the business community in Chililabombwe.
The idea to form a sister-city relationship with a city in Africa came from Sears.
“I’d had the idea that we as a community could somehow partner with a community in Africa to have a means of investing in them and helping out with the global concerns of malaria and AIDS, stuff like that,” he said.
Sears said he began developing his idea last year.
“I’d heard about communities doing something similar,” he said. “It sparked my interest.”
The city’s name means “place of the croaking frog,” but it was another native animal that got the attention of Sears and Hutto City officials.
“I thought it would be fun for Hutto to find a place in Africa with a hippo population,” Sears said. “Chililabombwe is known for its hippo pools.”
Though the hippos of Chililabombwe are what first got Sears’ attention, he said there is more to the trip than promoting Hutto’s mascot.
“The hippos caught my eye,” he said. “There are lots of opportunities for business development on Hutto’s behalf.”
The African city was formerly named Bancroft. Its population is approximately 93,000. The main economic activity there is copper mining.
Sears said he hopes the trip will initiate an official relationship with Sister Cities International, a nonprofit organization that seeks to “build global cooperation at the municipal level, promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic development” by connecting U.S. and international communities, according to the organization’s Web site.
Sears said the city is paying for a third of the cost of his ticket, while his church will cover most of his other costs, though he said spreading religion is not the aim of his trip.
The partnership is “just a means of helping people,” he said. “I can do that without proselytizing.”
Both Broussard and Guerin are using money in the city budget to cover their expenses, but not everyone in Hutto is convinced the trip is worth the money.
“I think the whole idea is foolish right now,” said Marion Wallace, retiree and resident of Hutto. “I fail to comprehend how this is going to benefit Hutto monetarily.
“The focus with Hutto needs to be with the citizens, the homeowners, and the people of Hutto, not in Africa,” she said. “To me it’s charity. It’s just not benefiting Hutto.”
Broussard said the trip is worth the expense because it will give the Hutto name wider recognition outside the Austin area.
Sears said it might have another positive effect on the community as well.
“By building a sense of community around this project, people will get more involved,” he said.
The community can follow the delegation’s trip at www.huttozambia.com, a running Web log of the trip.
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