A dozen of Transaid’s corporate partners from the haulage industry have returned from a self-funded visit to Zambia, where they visited two of the charity’s health and road safety projects.
The visit included a 500-mile round trip by road into rural parts of Serenje and Chitambo Districts to meet with local partners and see Transaid’s maternal health and malaria projects, as well as a day at the Industrial Training Centre (ITC) in the capital, Lusaka, where Transaid has been helping to deliver professional driver training for 16 years.
On the same day, the group had a round-table meeting with the Minister of Science and Technology, Felix Mutati.
Some members of the group used the visit to deliver training themselves, with Matthew Kibble, MD and former owner of Matthew Kibble Transport, providing a series of lectures to students at the ITC – similar to those he gave at the National Institute of Transport in Tanzania last year.
Chris Slater, RHA finance director worked with the ITC’s finance team to further understand and explore the scope to improve financial processes and controls.
Slater said: “It was truly a remarkable and overwhelming visit to Zambia to see the great work that Transaid and its partners are doing to help communities fight malaria and improve access to healthcare, as well as to support with professional driver training.
”We have a responsibility to spread the message on the great work being done by Transaid and highlight how our partners can support this great cause.”
Jim Haldane, Malcolm Group logistics MD, says: “The experience overall was emotional, humbling and eye-opening and I am grateful for the opportunity. There is no substitute for having seen first-hand the challenging and impactful work of Transaid and its UK partners.
”I know that my lasting memories will certainly drive me to continue our support and promote awareness for a very worthy cause.”
Other industry participants included Lee Carnighan, Wincanton network communications manager for its Screwfix contract; Peter Squire, Brigade Electronics UK MD; Fritz Becker, MD of Brigade Electronics South Africa; Raymond van der Berg, Brigade Electronics distributor in Zambia; Richard Bezzant, Michelin marketing director; James Hunter, Dawsongroup truck and trailer sales head; Mike Daly, Transaid Ambassador; and journalist Steve Banner.
Caroline Barber, Transaid chief executive, who hosted the visit along with head of fundraising Maddy Matheson, said: “This was a special opportunity for a mixture of new and long-standing supporters to see the work we’re involved with at first-hand.
”It presented opportunities for our partners in the UK to sit with our Zambian partners and understand the context and the issues. Insights could be shared and solutions explored together. It was wonderful to see this taking place and I am very grateful to all those who joined us.”
