What is the value of travel to your country of focus?

I pose this question as we are about to welcome back to Elon two ’17’s that just spent about two weeks in Namibia and as the ’19’s are in the preliminary stages of sending part of their Class to Sri Lanka.

First, what are the costs of this travel?

• Environmental:  The carbon footprint of air transportation and surface travel is not inconsequential.
• Financial:  The cost of this travel is considerable and includes air and surface transportation, hotels, meals and snacks, airport and other taxes, stipends for tour guides, tips, laundry, equipment, facilities rental, excursions, faculty and staff salaries.
• Time:  Countless person hours have been put into the planing of this travel, many more will be expended during our time abroad and yet more when when come back home.
• Personal:  We are all be away from our families, loved ones and in general people that we will be missed by.  In many cases friends, roommates, and spouses will have to carry an extra burden while we are gone.

So, if the cost is so high, what is the value of this travel to your country of focus that offsets all of the above costs?

• What is the value to you and to your Elon education?  How do you think you will grow as a person?  How will this make you a different/better student and global citizen?
• How will this move the goals of your Class forward?
• How with this travel move forward partnerships?
• What is the value to your Class?  Will it make you a better, more cohesive and outcome-oriented Class?
• What is the value to the Periclean Scholars program in general?
• What is that value to Elon University?

Above all, any travel by Pericleans must be and be seen as adhering to the highest possible ethical standards in terms of cultural contact and relations with any partners.  Full transparency of motivations must exist and be communicated both to Classmates and to all partners either pre-established or developed as the travel proceeds.

The Periclean Pledge (revised and posted here soon) and the Core Humanitarian Standards  must guide and inform all actions and decisions.

 

This is the first in a short series of posts providing updates about our partners around the world.

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Schools for Chiapas, Class of 2008 partner

Working with the global indigenous rights community in support of Standing Rock

Sue Beattie and Peter Brown partnered with the Class of 2008 as they worked in Chiapas, Mexico with the indigenous Mayans.  One product of that partnership was the documentary film Painting Without Permission highlighting the work that the Class of 2008 did with the Zapatistas and Schools for Chiapas.
Recently Peter and Susan traveled to Bismarck, ND and became part of the movement in support of the Standing Rock Souix Tribe against the Dakota Access Pipeline

Here is Susan’s Facebook post describing their experience:

“Wow! What an amazing week it’s been! Arrived Bismarck, ND and outfitted ourselves with necessary things for staying warm and sleeping tight. We threw our supplies in the back of a U-Haul truck and headed for camp. 

The snow of the previous week was melting and the sun was out. Our first glimpse was quite emotional. We enter camp down “Flag Road” with the banners of 220 tribes snapping in the air. Teepees, tents and trailers as far as the eye could see. First day spent just wandering around trying to take it all in. 

Camp is a very busy place. The Sacred Fire burns continually and is encircled by the tents of the seven tribes. There is frenzy of construction. Everywhere there are pallets stacked with wood frames that will soon be floors and walls of warm permanent structures. The kitchens (there are 5) are serving up huge portions of food to all comers. The medics (all sporting a red cross) and security (in yellow vests) are patrolling the camp making sure everyone is safe and well. A big, white geodesic dome is the largest structure and there we find the daily schedule of posted activities. Orientation is at 9am and is mandatory for all new arrivals. Signs read “Absolutely No weapons. No Drugs or Alcohol in You or On You.”

A short walk down the road we drove in on, takes us to the bridge where we can see the burnt out shell of a truck still blocking the road. We have heard that the police have technology that will wreak havoc with cell phones and, indeed, both Peter and I find that our cameras cut out. I have managed a single picture of the bridge and my battery is drained despite being fully charged when I started. 

We set up our “camp”, duct taping U-Haul packing blankets to the walls and covering the floor of our U-Haul truck to give us a bit of insulation against the cold which descends as soon as the sun goes down. We are welcomed to the “Mess Tent” (the largest of the kitchens) where we find food and a fire and spend the evening meeting new friends who are called “relatives”. We are welcomed as family and can feel the community open to include us.

We have come at a unique moment in the camps’ life cycle. The Corps has said that as of Dec. 5th anyone still in camp will be “trespassing”. The Morton County sheriff has threatened to use all means necessary to clear the camp. The Vets are trickling in and rumor has it that there will be at least 2,500 arriving in camp in the next few days. 

We can see about a kilometer down the road leading into camp and there is a line of cars stretching as far as the eye can see. People are streaming into camp to make their stand here with the Dakota/Lakota water protectors. 

The orientation meeting is about more than how to find your way around camp and speaks strongly to the “allies” in camp about how to deport oneself in an “Indigenous Centered” movement. White privilege and decolonization are addressed head on. For the next few days, allies will outnumber the Indigenous but it is the Indigenous who lead this movement with their insistence that this be a peaceful and prayerful gathering. 

This land on which we camp was originally reservation land that the US government later decided they wanted to repossess. The Lakota people have never ceded their right to this land to America. They will not do so now.

We attend a “Direct Action” training. There are no weapons in camp and all participants are schooled in non-violent confrontation. The legal team is well organized and everyone who intends to risk arrest through Direct Action is to fill out a “jail form” so the legal team knows how to proceed should there be arrests. We write the telephone number for the legal team on our arm with a “sharpie” and find change to carry in our pockets so that we can get a hold of them on pay phones if we find ourselves jailed for our action. 

Rory Wakemup has brought a truckload of “mirror shields” that will reflect back to the attackers their own image in hopes that they might be ashamed to see themselves perpetrating such extreme violence on peaceful Water Protectors. When raised to the sky, reflecting the sky, the shields look like the flowing river. We plan to make the river flow from where it runs to the camp. 

Despite the fact that the FAA has ruled the camp a “no fly” zone, the tribe has several drones and drone pilots. This is unceded treaty land and the FAA has no jurisdiction here. The drones are extremely important as they provide the footage that clearly shows the Water Protectors to be unarmed and peaceful and the militarized police as the aggressors. The drones fly up and down the line of Water Protectors as they learn to navigate their mirror shields. Rory will upload this footage.

And then, unexpectedly, there is the announcement that the Corps will not grant the easement. Peter and I had been walking from the Sacred Fire to our truck. Peter had stopped to play baby games with a small child being towed in a sled. From the microphone at the Sacred Fire I hear there will be an announcement. I wander back toward the fire to listen. Peter wanders back toward the truck. 

“I have no details” says the Indigenous leader on the mic, “but I can tell you that the Corps has announced that they will not grant the easement.” There is stunned silence and then wild cheers as the impact of this amazing reversal sinks in. 

The camp is huge. Only those of us at the fire have heard the news. As I go to find Peter, I tell the people I meet along the way what I have just heard. There is shock, followed by great joy. Hugs and whoops. We are all family and we are all celebrating! The rumor is that the following day we will walk to the drilling platform. Peter wants to dance on the drill site.

People are still streaming into camp. Thousands of Vets are here. Dozens of new tents have sprung up literally overnight. A conservative estimate puts about 12,000 people in camp on December 4th. Everyone is fed. Everyone has a place to sleep. Everyone has access to warm clothes and bedding. 

The arrival of the Vets has made the camp a bit less tranquil. They have come to “protect” but, to my eyes, they seem to want to take control. They march and carry the flag. There are some fights. I think they are also completely caught off guard by the Corps announcement. Perhaps their arrival was the final nail that caused the Corps to relent. 

This is an Indigenous victory and the Indigenous graciously, profusely and sincerely thank the Veterans for their support. We hear from the Sacred Fire that with this decision they will “forgive” the US Army for the murder of Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. They will “forgive but not forget”. In return, the US Army will give the Lakota a White Horse, a symbol of lasting peace and goodwill. I have no idea if this will come to pass but the Veterans in camp, the 7th Cavalry, kneel to the Dakota/Lakota and apologize for genocide. We dance the “Round House” dance late into the night.

There is press conference the next day. Energy Transfer Partners has said that the decision of the Corps changes nothing. They will not stop drilling. We do not walk to the drilling platform. It is not clear how this will play out. The head of the Tribal Council says we should all go home and be warm with our families. Trust the system. At the same time, he says we may all need to return in January. When has the system ever worked for the Native American? There are other voices, strong and determined, that say they will remain until the drill is gone and the project is stopped. We will wait and see. The weather has turned. We are in the throes of a full-on blizzard by the time the press conference has ended. The temperature has plummeted. The wind is gusting. The snow is swirling.

People are still arriving. Other people are leaving. The Vets are leaving. We are thankful for our U-Haul truck which will protect us from the wind and weather. It is very cold as we crawl into our sleeping bags but we have a small propane heater and sufficient bedding to stay warm, even toasty. We listen to the wind as it howls through the cracks and snaps the banners on Flag Road. We will wake to another day of extreme cold and wind. This is the day we are to leave but the roads are closed. Our U-Haul truck is good protection from the weather but it is not safe on the road. With rear wheel drive and no chains, it will not even manage to climb even a small hill. So we have missed our flight and spend another night in our trusty U-Haul, thankful for the protection. Sleeping warm and dry.

The next day (our last in camp) dawns clear and cold. There is a trace of blue in the sky but the temperature is at -7 and the wind chill is 40 below. I grew up in Wisconsin. I lived in Montana and Upstate New York. I know cold… but I have forgotten. I have never tried to live outdoors in this weather. It is extreme but, once again, the camp functions. Security goes tent to tent to ensure that the occupants are safe and warm (enough). There is always coffee and hot food. The supply tents have racks of warm clothes and sleeping bags. The fires are stoked and people come and go warming hands and drying mittens. The wind dies down a bit and we decide to try to drive the truck “around the block” just to see what that feels like. 

It feels like this might be the moment to try the 40-mile drive back to Bismarck. It takes a half dozen tries to get up the hill that takes us from camp to the plowed road but we gain the road and creep back to Bismarck. The 40-mile journey takes us 2 ½ hours. There a few tense, slippery moments but we arrive, whole and unscathed… but not unchanged.”

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Many thanks to Susan for this insider’s glimpse of life at Standing Rock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I am suggesting that you do some ‘homework’ related to your responsibility as a Periclean Scholar.  Your time is very valuable, but I promise that what I am asking you to do will be useful to you.

Your assignments
I hope that this coming week will be filled with rest, relaxation and time for reflection for all Pericleans.  I can safely assume that many of you will reunite with family and friends at a Thanksgiving meal and have the opportunity to have conversations with relatives, neighbors and those that you left behind when you came to Elon.

Assignment #1
You will be asked “how are your classes going?” and that will lead you into talking about your work as a Periclean Scholar.  Like many, I have found TED talks to be a great source of both information and inspiration. This one featuring Bennington College President Liz Coleman will deepen your elevator speech both about Periclean Scholars specifically but more generally on the purpose and value of a liberal arts education.  She does this talk just after President Obama’s 2009 inauguration, and some of what she says should resonate with you and also help you to understand what our nation -and our world- needs from us as members of a civil society and as global citizens.  She gives great, timely advice; this video is well worth the 18 minutes you’ll spend watching.

 

Assignment #2
The current election results will most certainly be a topic of conversation around the dinner table and in other contexts.  As Pericleans we have made a statement on our Facebook page reaffirming our commitment to each other, those who are marginalized and to our partners.  That we are a nation divided on some fundamental levels seems acutely obvious. Our response must be to make every effort to understand ourselves and all those with whom we share this nation and this planet.  This next TED talk was done after the recent election and speaks to the divisions in our nation with measured, proactive reasoning and solid research.  The final minutes include good, sound and very timely advice for  you as you head out for break.

 

Our charge
One of my favorite quotations is from Mahmood Mamdani in his book Saviours and Survivors.  On page 5 he writes, “In contrast to those who suggest that we act the minute the whistle blows, I suggest that, even before thew whistle blows, we ceaselessly try to know the world in which we live -and act.  Even if we must act on our imperfect knowledge, we must never act as if knowing is no longer relevant.”  Indeed.  Let’s all have a great break filled with learning, listening, sharing and a thirst to join with others in our common goal of creating a more just world for all.

 

Periclean statement in light of 11/8

As Periclean Scholars, we believe that our nation is both strong and beautiful because of our diversity. We believe in supporting individuals of all races, genders, nationalities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic classes, backgrounds, religions, and cultures.

We, the Periclean Classes of Elon University, are striving to become civically engaged students who fight for justice and equality.

We are here to listen, to encourage, to support, and to grow. As Periclean Scholars, we will combat any and all acts of discrimination and marginalization with our own empathetic actions of kindness, love, and service.  

We remain deeply committed to our global partners, past and present, and will redouble our efforts to work together for a world where everyone has access to safe and effective pathways to dignity.

Periclean Scholars Steering Committee Meeting: September 15, 2016

In attendance:  Sam Lubliner (‘17), Will Wetter (‘18), Camille Kelly (’19), Dr. Mat Gendle, Associate Director and Mentor for Class of 2019, and Dr. Tom Arcaro, Director

Class Updates

Class of 2017 (Sam Lubliner)

• Morale Update: Morale of the class is high, despite setbacks. The class is currently divided into four committees that work together to accomplish four main deliverables.
• Deliverables: Currently, the class has four main goals, which are listed below.

1. The class hopes to successfully hold a conference, called Voices of Sustainability: Addressing Food Insecurity in Namibia, from January 26th to January 27th, 2017. They have raised about $8000-9000, and are still trying to raise more money. They are currently hoping to win the Kind grant of $10,000 (link to vote: https://causes.kindsnacks.com/cause/voices-of-sustainability-3/ ). Thirteen students from the class are travelling to Namibia for the conference, which will include completed and ongoing research regarding food insecurity in Namibia.
2. Kendra and Madi are working on Cookies To-Go-Go to continue fundraising. While this is a labor-intensive fundraiser, it is a bonding experience for the class, and any extra money raised will help the cause. The scholars are hoping to have Cookies To-Go-Go four times throughout this semester.
3. The class is hoping to hold a conference in May at Elon. This conference will discuss agricultural sustainability in this community. The 10 scholars not travelling to Namibia in January will work to organize this conference during that month. The scholars plan to allocate SGA funds toward this conference. Dr. Arcaro suggests looking into presenting this research on Student Undergraduate Research Forum, in addition to holding this conference.
4. Kayla Yates reached out to the Burlington Housing Authority in hopes of creating a local partnership. The class has committed to send three or four people to BHA each Tuesday to create lesson plans regarding agriculture and sustainability in this community.

• Other News:

• The scholars are working to make a booklet about travels / conference in Namibia
• Oiy and Kelsey are also working on creating a documentary about the work done by the class.
• The class is selling Pura Vida bracelets around campus to continue to raise money for the Voices of Sustainability conference. These are being sold by individual scholars.

Class of 2018 (Will Wetter)

• A few scholars travelled to Zambia early this summer. These students are reporting back to the rest of the class about what they saw in Zambia, and what projects the community would actually benefit from. The class is vetting potential partners, including Habitat for Humanity, ZDF, and Samaritan Strategies, and is determining a plan to move forward with these partners.
• Dr. Arcaro suggests that the class use a log frame to prioritize tasks that need to be done to move forward with their work.
• The class has talked about the idea of returning to Chipulusku to hold a conference to bring together several (potential) partners to discuss how to best work together etc.
• The class has about 100 bags made of scraps from a textile factory by women in Zambia. The class will sell these bags for $20 each, and the $8-$10 profit will be invested in the Zambian community where the bags are made. It has not been determined where or when the bags will be sold, but the scholars are hoping to start selling the bags around Holidays.

Class of 2019 (Camille Kelley)

• The class is currently researching Sri Lanka culture to become more familiar with the complex social issues that the country is facing.
• The class has divided into 11 committees, including budget, travel organization, and social media committees, and has identified general short-term and long-term goals.
• The class hopes to raise $8,000 by the end of the year to relieve future travel costs. The class has discussed potentially selling t-shirts to start fundraising and to raise awareness of the Periclean program around campus.
• The class hopes to choose seven to ten social issues that could potentially be addressed by the scholars in the next three years. The class will research these issues this semester and discuss what issues the people of Sri Lanka would actually like to be addressed.
• The class hopes to have most decisions regarding projects and potential partners made before the end of this year, to avoid making these important decisions when many students are abroad next fall.
• The class librarian, Teresa Lepore, has created an extensive web-based resource guide for the class to use when researching social issues in Sri Lanka. The guide can be found here: http://elon.libguides.com/Periclean_2019
• The class is debating the importance of creating an elevator speech this early into their work. Some scholars feel as though the class should not waste time right now creating a vague elevator speech that will need updating, but rather, the class should create the speech when more exact future goals have been determined. Others feel that it is important to have at least some form of an elevator speech, so scholars can articulate to community members and potential donors what exactly Periclean is, and why the class is seeking donations.
• Sam Lubliner (Class of 2017 representative) suggests arranging for a junior/senior in the program to come speak to the Class of 2019 to discuss how they initiated their work during their sophomore year.

Sophomore Year Elevator Speeches

• The sophomore class has expressed concern about the need for an elevator speech this early into their work.
• Historically, the sophomore year elevator speech is used to explain what the Periclean Scholars Programs, and to identify broad goals for future action. The sophomore year elevator speeches are generally vague, but as the class identifies exact goals throughout the year, the speech is updated to be more informative.
• Dr. Arcaro explains that drafting the speech is not meant to be onerous, or extremely time consuming. It is not the entire class giving much valuable time to the speech, but rather a few people (Elevator Speech Committee) drafting outside of class. The speech should be, if possible, woven into a class assignment.
• Previous classes argue that creating an elevator speech during their sophomore fall was a unifying experience. The speech is the first thing the class works on together, and becomes the class’s first deliverable
• A video of each class’s elevator speech should be completed by October 12^th so that they may be screened at the Celebrating Periclean event.

Celebrating Periclean Scholars

• Celebrating Periclean Scholars will be held on October 19, 2016 from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
• At this event, each class will present visual displays to represent their work and the country in which they work.
• Dr. Arcaro is hoping there will be a presence from the school administration at the event. If given enough advance warning, hopefully Dr. Lambert will attend the event.

Update Regarding Advisory Council

• The function of this committee, which will include two mentors and two Periclean alumni, is to advise the class and the directors about how the program is functioning and how to improve its functionality. The council could possibly give a final word on certain aspects of the program, like class syllabi and Periclean in Residence.
• This council will provide the current and future classes an extra body of people to help vet potential partners.
• Classes will meet with the council twice a year to provide an update about class plans, and the council will give current scholars advice about future steps and potential partners.
• Dr. Gendle (Class of 2019 mentor) hopes that the meeting in front of the council and defending their decisions about future plans will lead classes to think more critically and deeply about partnerships and projects. The sense of being a Periclean Scholar will rise because the classes must now explain and defend their choices in front of the council.

Update regarding recruitment of Class of 2020

• Dr. Arcaro hopes to boost the appearance of Periclean around campus, in hopes that more people will learn about the program and apply to be a part of future classes.
• This fall, the program will be giving Periclean bandanas to current scholars, as well as distributing phone wallets and car magnets to Elon students and alumni. The hope is that these will promote the program around campus and this community.
• The digital poster shown below will be screened in Mosley and around campus to help recruit more freshmen to apply to be a part of the Class of 2020.

 

Other News

• The Periclean Programs is hoping to partner with the Student Professional Development Center to plan a session at which scholars will learn how to market themselves as Periclean Scholars while still at Elon and after graduation. These sessions could potentially occur once or twice a semester.
• Dr. Arcaro would like to hold a workshop to look over his summary of the overall mission of the Periclean Programs and the core humanitarian that the program highlights. Dr. Arcaro hopes to modify the Periclean pledge to clarify exactly what is meant by everything mentioned in the core.
• Starting this fall, Barnes and Nobles has assembled a bookshelf with books recommended by the Periclean Program. Books to be sold will include books used by current Periclean Classes.
• Barnes and Nobles is also donating all profits made from selling a particular t-shirt to the Periclean Program.

 

Car Magnet:                                                                                    Digital Poster:

Welcome back Periclean Sholars

Scholars,

As I write this the world is celebrating World Humanitarian Day and many global citizens are (re) taking a pledge to do their part in making the world a safer place where health, hope and dignity are available to all.  Most of you know that right now we are facing the biggest refugee crisis since World War II, with lives in Syria and all over the Middle East in turmoil.  This story tells one tale, and this another, both stark reminders of the complex issues we face as a global community and as humanitarians.

That our program is a positive force is beyond question.  Each of the eleven alumni Classes made a huge difference both locally and globally.  The accomplishments of these past Classes are many:  international conferences organized, documentary films produced and screened, articles written and books written, Pericleans-in-Residence hosted,  programming of speakers and fora organized, countless partnerships with people and organizations resulting in health clinics and homes being built.  The list goes on.

Though the program has always aspired to function at the highest possible ethical standards (avoiding paternalistic or “toxic charity” kinds of activities), recent Classes has demanded even more from themselves.  Close adherence to our Periclean Pledge and now the Core Humanitarian Standards are now rigorous expectations within the program.

Our charge as Mentors and Directors is to facilitate Class and program activities  insuring that each Scholar has the opportunity to grow academically and personally in ways that would be difficult or impossible outside of our multi-year, interdisciplinary and cohort based model.  Your charge as Pericleans is to push yourselves and your Classmates to fully exploit the synergistic potential of your Class and partnerships you forge by making use of rigorous academic research, skillful use of communication modes, and by employing a passion and work ethic worthy of the mission that you have set out for yourselves.

This year will bring some enhancements to the program with perhaps the most dramatic addition being an Advisory Board made up of past and current Mentors and partners, alumni, and representatives from current Classes.  One function of this body will be to act as a vetting entity for Classes as they consider major budget expenditures, explore partnerships, and other major decisions.  This Board will also provide counsel to the Director and Associate Director with regard to major decisions such as country of focus, choice of new Mentors, and wise allocation of program funds.

Last spring we recruited a team of work-study students who will work on tasks such as a regular newsletter for alumni, parents and friends of the program, social media presence, and other pan-Periclean activities.  One (work-study) Periclean will be responsible to help organize the Steering Committee meetings and will circulate agenda and record (and disseminate) minutes for these meetings.

I will be working closely with Dr. Brian Nienhaus as he begins his role as Mentor for the Class of 2020, recruiting students to work with him and the program as we turn our focus to a new Periclean country of focus, Cuba.  You are all encouraged to help Dr. Nienhaus recruit his Class by talking about the program with any first year students you happen to know.

My door will always be open so please stop by GC 210.  I hope to visit all three Classes in the first couple weeks of the semester just to say hello and answer any questions you might have.

All the best for a great semester.

Tom Arcaro, Director

Post script

In the first pages of his book That the World May Know: Bearing Witness to Atrocity (2007) James Dawes asks, “What is the line that separates those who are merely moved from those who are moved to act?”  At Elon the answer to that question is that some choose to become Periclean Scholars.

FROM THE ZAMBIAN DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOUNDATION BOARD       

It is always inspiring to start the New Year with a deep sense of reflection on the achievements and challenges of the previous year and always looking forward to the new chapter of the 10 months ahead of us.

Zambian Development Support Foundation would like to take this moment to thank all the supporters that have continued to see that our operations are a success and to thank the volunteers on the ground who continue to work tirelessly, and to thank the beneficiaries of our loans who have decided to be part of this developmental initiative. We commit to continue providing you with the support that will see the economic transformation of your communities and subsequently households.

To all stakeholders, it is important to know that our work and efforts will transform the communities, as can be seen already from our success stories, and we hope that we will continue working together in this year 2016 and beyond and hoping to see more of the donor visits so that we all share experiences and ideas as we progress.

LOAN DISBURSEMENT

As indicated in the previous report of 31^st December 2014, the foundation had at that stage approved disbursement of medium loans payable in 24 weeks and these loan amounts range from ZK1, 500.00 to ZK2, 500.00. These loans were only made available to paid-up clients graduating from small loans of ZK450.00 and ZK1, 000.00 which had a repayment period of 13 weeks.  Medium loans were disbursed to 5 clients with a total amount of ZK8, 500.00 in August 2014.

Of the 5 clients that obtained medium loans, 3 have fully paid back the ZK1,500.00 each obtained at an interest rate of 10% and the two other loans are still struggling to repay back.

[For the benefit of our overseas supporters, ZK1,000.00 was approximately $153.00 US Dollars or €131.00 Euro in January 2015, but by December 2015 (due to currency devaluation) was only worth approximately $90.00 US Dollars or €82.00 Euro.]

A total amount of ZK19,450.00 Kwacha was given out during the year 2015 as small loans of ZK450.00 and ZK1,000.00 Kwacha and of this ZK12,600.00 has been paid back leaving ZK6,850.00 still on the loans books and everyone is on track, except two which obtained medium loans in August 2014.

Further progress was made in the year 2015 to get into partnership with a local pastor (Pastor Francis) in a bid to access a loan from ZDSF so as to increase food production for the community which he serves and his local community school through acquiring of a new water tank that will see more water being pumped into his garden. At the moment, Pastor Francis is running a school for orphans and other impoverished children in Chipulukusu and as part of this scheme he is also feeding many of the children who come to school. With a new water tank, Pastor Francis hopes to greatly increase the number of children he can support. ZDSF would like to assist Pastor Francis to fund this endeavor.

Pastor Francis in his community garden with the crops used to feed his schoolchildren

SUCCESSES

The 32 clients of ZDSF who had benefitted from loans since the start of 2014 have included some the following businesses;

1. As reported in the 2014 Annual Report, Rose Mulenga had a very small scale business making cement blocks, but due to lack of capital she could not make sufficient blocks to meet demand from some of her customers. She had three children and three grandchildren depending on her, and she was struggling to survive. With a loan of ZK1,000.00 from ZDSF in February 2014 she was able to buy more raw materials and to expand her production. By September 2015, she was employing four young men to make the blocks and her business had expanded four fold. In August 2015 she obtained another loan amounting to ZK2,500.00 which she used together with some profits coming from her business to buy cement and sand and expand her business to another location. As she had hoped, she has now graduated from the ZDSF loan scheme and is able to continue making and selling blocks from her own resources and she is providing employment in the community.

2. The story of Caroline Kadawele cannot be told without the intervention of ZDSF in uplifting her business and economic life. In 2014 Caroline Kadawele applied to ZDSF for a loan to grow her Chicken business, but the loan was not granted because she was in a group which was at that time defaulting. After those other members of her group (Enya Chama and Mary Bwalya as reported in the previous report) came back on track and completed paying back their loans, ZDFS approved her loan of ZK1,000.00 in May 2015. From keeping 30 chickens, Caroline was able to grow her business to now keeping 50 chickens which she is now able to sell in the community. As a result of her increased prosperity, she can now send her two young siblings, Moses Kadawele age 13 and Andrew Kadawele age 9, to school. By the end of 2015, Caroline had paid her loan in full and she has now applied to have bigger loan of at least ZK3,000.00 so as enable her to be able to buy blocks and build a chicken house which would be able to accommodate more chickens.

CHALLENGES

Defaulting loans

In the Annual Report of December 2014, it was reported that due to difficult personal circumstances, two loans had during that year gone into default, being those made to Mary Bwalya and to Enaya Chama. We reported at that time that revised terms had been agreed with them and that it was anticipated that the loans would be paid back in full over an extended period of time. We are pleased to report that during 2015 both loans were indeed paid back in full. As a result, all loans which had been made by the Foundation up until the end of 2014 have at this stage been paid back in full. We therefore have a 100% repayment record up to that time.

In 2015, two further loans went into default, but both are now back on track with revised repayment terms, and both borrowers are now financially stable. The two loans concerned are the following:

1. In May 2013 Jedo Chibale, a married man with 5 children and 2 grandchildren to support, received a loan of ZK450 from ZDSF in order to expand his hardware business which was struggling and in danger of closing down. This loan enabled him to keep his business afloat and was paid back in full. He later went on to obtain another loan of ZK1,000.00 which saw his business expand and it became profitable. Jedo was also able to pay back that loan fully. Due to the increasing demand for bicycle spare parts, which is the biggest mode of transport in the community, Jedo further applied for and received the third loan of ZK2,500.00 in August 2014 which subsequently went into default. Due to unfortunate family circumstances and the loss of his mother, Jedo found himself with additional financial responsibilities and he was not able to pay back his loan within the agreed time. ZDSF engaged with Jedo on the importance of paying back the loan and agreed a revised way forward. An agreement was drafted which clearly stipulated a revised repayment plan and the timelines for repayment. This loan, which had been in default, is now being repaid in accordance with the revised terms and will shortly be paid in full. Jedo’s business is now stable and profitable and with the assistance of the Foundation he has been able to overcome both business difficulties and personal misfortune.
2. Paul Mwansa had also received a loan of ZK2,500.00 in August 2014 in order to finance his shop which is in the mealie meal (corn meal) business. In October 2014 his loan fell into arrears after Paul had to start taking care of his brother’s medical bills when his ill brother came to live with Paul. Paul’s business also suffered as the currency crisis caused a sharp increase in the wholesale price of the mealie meal which Paul sells, making it difficult for him to continue. Again, after active engagement by members of the Foundation a revised repayment schedule was agreed in September 2015 and Paul’s loan is now being paid back faithfully in accordance with that revised schedule. This was done through a signing of the new contract which clearly states the obligations to complete paying back the loan.

Administration

ZDSF is run on a voluntary basis by the board of Directors and when it was formed two of the board members were stationed in Ndola where the loans are being made. During the course of 2015, both of these board members relocated to other towns far away from Ndola and this left the administration of the project to be coordinated by one board member, Voster Tembo, from Lusaka, which is about 380 kilometres away from Ndola. As a result, and despite periodic visits by Voster Tembo to Ndola during the year, administration was difficult and slow for much of 2015 and this led to a reduction in the amount of work which could be done on the ground compared with 2014. However, in January 2016, one of the board members who had been relocated away from Ndola, (Waveson Hamuchankwi) will be moving back to Ndola and he will take up much of the administration in Ndola again. It is anticipated that the administration of the project in the year 2016 will be much improved as a result and we are looking forward to substantially increasing our lending activities (funding permitting) in the coming year.

Office space

ZDSF has been operating without office space. All local administration is carried out from the home of a volunteer in the community in Chipulukusu, Ndola or, at board level, from the homes of the board members. Whereas this was preferred by the Foundation in order to save incurring administration expenses, it did present other difficulties. Government and official bodies in Zambia frequently require that any foundation/ NGO should have an official physical office address for the purposes of accessing services or obtaining benefits. With an official office, it would improve the profile and ability of the Foundation to expand its activities and in particular it would facilitate;

1. Easier inspection by government bodies.
2. Easier to obtain tax incentives and rebates from the Government – especially for the purposes of importations and receipt of donations from outside the country.
3. Easier to enter into partnerships with other community based initiatives.
4. Making the administration of the project, and collection of loan repayments easier.

In order to resolve this difficulty, a forty foot steel shipping container has been donated by Irish supporters and friends of the ZDSF and is underway for delivery to Chipulukusu, Ndola in the spring of 2016, for the purpose of being used as an official office. In partnership with Graceland School in Pamodzi, this container will also serve as a community library to increase literacy in the community. Office furniture and books for the library have also been donated by the Irish supporters and will arrive in the container.

It is hoped that by the end of April, the container will be in Zambia and sited in the community where ZDSF operates, to be opened as an office for ZDSF and also a community library.

Currency Devaluation in Zambia

With the increasing loss in value of Copper on the international market, Zambia has seen its currency, the Kwacha, losing more than a third of its value to major international currencies. This has been coupled with internal financial turmoil, increasing electricity and fuel tariffs, continued power outages and increasing inflation. All of this has resulted in an increased cost of doing business due to increased prices for commodities.

ZDSF has not been spared from the national problems and its reserves in Kwacha and the value of loan repayments have lost significant value in the past year. The loans of medium value (2,500.00 ZK) which were worth €327.00 Euro or $382.00 US Dollars in January 2015, were only worth €205.00 Euro or $225.00 US Dollars in December 2015. As a result, even with 100% repayment of loans made, the Foundation’s funds are seriously depleted in value. While international currency fluctuations do not have a direct effect in the local economy, inflation is high and the Kwacha is steadily losing its purchasing power. In the coming months, it is anticipated that the Foundation’s funds will continue to devalue. Further external funding is therefore urgently required.

ZDSF, with the support of its partners, has decided to retain donations which are raised overseas in a Euro account in Ireland which will only be transferred to ZDSF once the funds are ready to be disbursed to borrowers. This will reduce the rate at which the money in the bank will lose value before it is given out. This will be piloted in the coming months and will be periodically reviewed to ensure that this is the best way to go in preserving our resources.

Finances

Pericles Alumni Association of Elon University, North Carolina of the United States of America and donors from the Republic of Ireland continued providing finances to the foundation and during the calendar of 2015 a target to raise $30,000.00 by the end of August 2015 was set. However, this target was not met and so we continue to appeal to our donors and supporters for more funds.

As reported in the 2014 Annual Report, the Foundation is prohibited by Zambian law from taking deposits and so future growth in the size of the fund available for lending will depend entirely on the generosity of our supporters and friends and this is critical for the sustainability of the foundation.

In addition to financial donations, the Foundation is to receive a donation of bicycles and sewing machines from the Irish supporters who are supplying the shipping container in 2016. These items will also be allocated to people who are seeking to establish or grow businesses and will be used for income generating activities to be designed and approved by the board in a similar manner as money loans.

GOALS FOR 2016

The past year has again shown that the ZDSF method of advancing small micro-finance loans is effective in empowering people to start their own businesses, to work for themselves and to lift them and their families out of poverty. The Foundation has lifted 32 individuals and their families out of poverty. It is the immediate goal of ZDSF to now expand its operations to include;

1. Having its own office space in the shipping container.
2. Getting into partnerships with similar or complimentary organisations and NGOs with a shared vision.
3. Open and run a community library.
4. Make loans to more families – so as to bring relief from poverty to a greater number of people.
5. Make greater loan amounts – so as to enable the fund to support medium sized businesses which require greater start-up capital than the small business ventures which have been so far supported.
6. Expand the project to other communities
7. Provide training in financial management to potential and beneficiary clients to encourage proper financial planning of businesses, structured book-keeping and an appreciation of the core economics of a successful business.
8. Provide training in skills development and entrepreneurship for youths and women.
9. To achieve a more robust and efficient management system in order to accelerate the lending and recovery process so as to make better use of the funds available.
10. Most importantly, more finances are needed with the support of our external donors.

VISION

The Foundation envisions being among the major micro-finance institutions within and outside Ndola in the Copperbelt region of Zambia in the provision of financial services to low income groups within three years. The Foundation is committed to recovering loans in full from its clients. The Foundation is also committed to meeting its obligations to its lifeline donors of continuing to report on the progress of the project.

GOVERNANCE

The retention rate of Board of Directors is at 100%. The continuity of leadership ensures institutional stability, thereby decreasing staff needed to manage the project and reducing on administrative costs. The organization has operated at all times within the laws of Zambia.

In September 2015, the organization received a donation of a mini laptop and a camera from Irish donors for administrative use. Pericles Alumni Association of Elon University, North Carolina of the United States of America, has committed to provide funding to ZDSF for operational costs.

CONCLUSION

ZDSF would like to grow both institutionally and financially and continue to be accountable to its donors. The board of directors believes that the immediate measures that have been decided upon in realigning the management and administration system will be of great help to the foundation. Also, a commitment has been made to issue a detailed report twice a year on the project.

There is great need for access to financial capital for business purposes in Zambia, which in the very short term reduces poverty and permanently improves the lives of target groups. Through concerted effort of ourselves, the community and our donors, we hope to see more communities in Zambia come out of economic poverty. We still urgently require additional funds to increase our financial sustainability and expand our operations and access to these funds will largely determine the rate of success in the coming year.

Thank you for your support and looking forward to working with you in the coming year.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and ZDSF,

Voster Tembo

vostertembo@gmail.com

As we begin spring semester:  updates from the director

First, welcome back all of you who traveled during January term.  Snowpocalypse 2016 was a minor inconvenience back here at Elon but I know many of you had major delays in your return to the US, and I am glad to hear that everyone is home safely.

Back on campus and near campus there was a great deal going on, so here are some quick updates:

• The Class of 2016 set a new mark for our program by being the first cohort to take advantage of COR 445 “Global Partnership thru Service.”  All Elon students are required to take a COR capstone class and from now forward that university requirement can be filled through Periclean.  Click here to see a late draft of the syllabus. The entire cohort was active and enrolled in this capstone class, with three of their members traveling to Honduras for a good portion of the term then reporting back to the class on campus in the last week.
• You will be hearing more about this is the coming weeks and months, but ’16’s are putting together a book that will provide a detailed description of their three-year journey and provide useful and critical advice for all future Classes as well as non-Periclans that want to know more about the many complexities of international partnering and development work.
• Using as a guide the work the ’16s did, associate director Mat Gendle has developed a template syllabus for COR 445 that can be used next year and beyond.
• Registration for “People, Planet, Profit,” another initiative of the ’16’s is in full swing right now.  In partnership with the Love School of Business the ’16’s have organized a on day summit focusing on the question “We believe that making ethical decisions and making a profit are not mutually exclusive. Do you agree?”  Go here or here to learn more and to register.
• The Mentor’s for both the ’17’s and ’18’s were leading study abroad classes, Steve Braye to Ireland and Carol Smith to New Zealand.  I did work with Professor Moore and Susan Reynolds from the ’17’s and we did move forward with contacts in Namibia in the American Cultural Center, the Ministries of Education and Agriculture and administration and faculty from the University of Namibia and the Polytechnic of Namibia.  The ’17’s will have much on which to work preparing for travel to Namibia this June and again in January 2017.
• Plans for travel to Zambia will begin to ramp up just after the start of the semester.  Braye, Gendle and a good number of the ’18s will spend time in Zambia in May-June building with Habitat for Humanity-International and laying the groundwork for future partnerships there.
• In addition to spending a good deal of time visiting the ’16’s classroom (conveniently in Global Commons 200) I continued work on my research on the humanitarian aid and development world.  Look here for some blog posts that will be helpful to you as you explore questions about the “humanitarian aid system.”  As part of my research I have become more familiar with the aid work nomenclature and methodology.  I encourage all Classes to read about and perhaps begin using the “log frame” technique that has been the sector standard for decades.
• On January 25th I did a presentation to the Elon admissions staff about Periclean Scholars and how to communicate this opportunity to prospective students.  They has many great questions, but summarizing this remains a challenge.
• Megan, ’16 and Chase, ’18 continued work on the Periclean Foundation and on getting alumni updates.  Check on this post by Chase featuring Kelly Parshall from the Class of 2010.  This work will continue throughout the spring as well.

Our program remains ever evolving and I look forward to working with all of you even more closely this spring.

Tom Arcaro, director

Keep up with Periclean through Facebook.

 

 

 

As part of the release of the new newsletter to alumni, partners and current Periclean Scholars, we would like to announce that the Periclean Foundation (PF) website is up and running. This website is for alumni, parents and friends to stay informed at how Periclean Scholars’ projects have been progressing since the graduation of each Class. Will Lyle,  Class of 2011 and PF webmaster will be updating the site as new information comes in on new projects and developments from our partners and hosts abroad.

But to do this we need your help! There are more than 218 Periclean Scholar alumni, and as this is a student run organization, most the information known about our partners lies with you! The Periclean Foundation can only succeed with active participation by our alumni and to help us stay informed with the work you and our partners are doing. Do you have any new information, photos of our project site or stories to tell? Send it in to us, so that we can make sure everyone knows about the great work you have done!

Furthermore, take note of the Alumni Giving Challenge created by the graduating class of 2016. They are challenging the other Alumni classes to keep our partnership thriving. Without donations from Alumni, our ability to support your projects long-term is diminished. Just $10 a month from every Alumni would give us the means to support and expand upon all of the Periclean Scholars projects.

If you are interested in learning more about the Periclean Foundation, or donating, check out the website at: http://www.pericleanfoundation.org/.

Here is a message from Amber Camp King from the Class of 2006 urging you to give.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZalpPyjl5YY