Fiona McGlade - Experiences in Zambia

Formerly a pupil at the Johnston School here in Durham, Fiona is now studying medicine at university after taking time out to carry out voluntary work in Zambia and Tanzania.  Her time in Africa was funded by the International Citizen Service - a UK government-funded programme for 18-25 year olds and is coordinated by the respected Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) organization.

The following notes are from Fiona's "Just Giving" page on the internet that she set up to attract donations to VSO (not to fund her time in Africa).
"I'm going to Zambia for 3 months to volunteer on an HIV/AIDS programme, because many African communities are devastated by the consequences of AIDS and even someone who has just left school can help.
The impact of the HIV&AIDS pandemic continues to be alarming in Zambia. It is a major contributor of ill-health and death among the young and middle-aged adults depriving Zambia of a critical human resource base. There has been a sharp decline in life expectancy between the 1991 and the 2001 census from 52 to 37 years only, and has had a pervasive impact on all aspects of development and society in Zambia.
In Zambia, VSO volunteers raise awareness of how to prevent HIV and AIDS, how to get treatment and how to live with AIDS. Volunteers are also involved with helping local communities support vulnerable children who are affected and sometimes orphaned by AIDS."

While in Africa, Fiona became acutely aware of the problems of gender inequality and is now determined to return to Zambia on completion of her studies.  She will then work with another VSO volunteer to tackle what seems to be an immense cultural challenge - achieving greater equality between men and women.