A group of 12 Transaid corporate partners have returned from a self-funded visit to Zambia, where they had the unique opportunity to visit two of the international development organisation’s projects, spanning access to health and road safety.
This 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, Managing Director 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, Finance Director of the RHA, worked with the ITC’s finance team to further understand and explore the scope to improve financial processes and controls.
Slater says: “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, the Malcolm Group’s Logistics Managing Director, 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, Network Communications Manager Screwfix Contract, Wincanton; Peter Squire, UK Managing Director, Brigade Electronics UK Ltd; Fritz Becker, Managing Director, Brigade Electronics South Africa; Raymond van der Berg, Brigade Electronics Distributor in Zambia; Richard Bezzant, Marketing Director, Michelin; James Hunter, Head of Sales, Dawsongroup truck and trailer; Mike Daly, Transaid Ambassador; and journalist Steve Banner.
Caroline Barber, Chief Executive of Transaid, who hosted the visit along with Maddy Matheson, Head of Fundraising, says: “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.”
For more information and to find out how you can support the organisation visit www.transaid.org.
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Note to Editor:
About Transaid
Transaid transforms lives through safe, available, and sustainable transport. Founded by Save the Children, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and its Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, the international development organisation works with communities, partners, and governments to solve transport challenges throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Transaid works in two core areas, road safety and access to health, to solve two of the biggest transport challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Transaid’s road safety work focuses on influencing safe driver behaviour with long term programmes in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, responding to local needs for improved training for drivers and riders of trucks, buses, motorcycles and forklift trucks. On the access to health side, Transaid is working with local partners and communities to strengthen access to health services, primarily in rural areas. They are also working to strengthen health supply chains in collaboration with local partners and governments.
Transaid enjoys strong backing from the transport and logistics industry and the active involvement of its patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
For further press information:
Maddy Matheson at Transaid: +44 (0)20 7387 8136 / maddy@transaid.org
Natalie Ganshert or James Keeler at Garnett Keeler PR: +44 (0)20 8647 4467, or by email to natalie.ganshert@garnettkeeler.com / james.keeler@garnettkeeler.com
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