C U S O - CUSOZAM


Canadian University Service Overseas

Zambian Dancer Hear the Zambian Anthem

    CUSO was started in 1961 in Ottawa by a group of dedicated workers.

    I went through their selection process in Hamilton, Ontario at McMaster University in 1973. I had originally applied for a posting in Malaysia on the island of Borneo, but thankfully, was sent instead to Zambia, in Eastern Africa! The weather in Mbala where I was posted can only be described as marvelous, compared with the heat and humidity of the island Borneo

    My first school was in Ndola, assisting the Norwegian volunteers at an Adult Education School. What a wonderful example their government offered. They sent qualified teachers along with the complete makings of a small store, right down to empty tin cans, scales, cash registers, etc to teach their students how to set up a complete store, and then taught them how to operate it—cleaning, stocking, selling product, bookkeeping.

Map of Africa

    I then moved to Mbala in the Northern Province to set up an Adult Education School teaching the students to become office workers. It was located in a former boarding school run by the White Fathers. I never did find out why the school was vacant. Some unhappiness many years previous was the only reason I ever heard.

    My most frustrating experience was to find a room full of brand new Olympia typewriters still in the cartons, but no tables or desks on which to place them. In the next closest town, Kasama, there was a room full of desks that was earmarked for our school. When I approached the various officials, I was told the real problem was that no one could figure out whose budget was to pay for the diesel fuel for the truck to go and get the desks! A little chat with the Northern Province Governor soon straightened that out (after I threatened to quit this project!). The desks were delivered and set up the next morning!

   Here are some of my favorite photos taken while in Zambia:
     Hope you enjoy them!

Links To:
  • CUSO, Ottawa
  • Zambia
  • Adams Home Page

    Dennis Adams
    Winnipeg, Manitoba
    Mail to:
    dra 'at' mts 'dot' net"

    Updated: Mar 16, 2003