ACE2Zambia Updates!

Following the arrival of Group 2 landing in Zambia the ACE2Zambia team hit the ground running, find out how the team are getting on as they give us some updates of their time so far.

On our first day, the ACE2Zambia team visited various hub-sites around Lusaka which are run by Sport In Action, here we saw the amazing work that the local volunteer coaches complete. We also got an insight into the structures of hub sites, which are central to Sport In Action’s sustainable model for sport development. These hub-sites are a place where children from the local area can attend free coaching sessions where they can learn life skills and keep active.

Following the tour, we visited Chinika Secondary School which is the hub-site we will be refurbishing this year. At the site we met with our staff member from the University of Bath, Alex Copping, and representatives from McCoys Building Solutions, the chosen contractors for this year’s project. We discussed our plans for the site with the contractors, which involves extending and renovating an existing concrete slab to make separate basketball and netball courts for the hub-site. This renovation will strengthen the lively community centre hosting activities, training and competitions at Chinika Secondary School.

The next day, we visited the University of Zambia, where we met with the six Zambian students that we will be working with throughout the project. These students will be key to the project by providing valuable local knowledge, whilst also receiving on-site experience which helps in their own studies. We also have the incredible chance to attend weekly lectures at the University with them, which will provide an opportunity to learn about the challenges and solutions in a different environment like Zambia.

After discussing with the contractors, we undertook a survey of the site which provides the information needed to produce drawings, designs, and calculate the volume of material required for the project. Given the information provided through the survey, we decided that it was more suitable to extend the court in a staggered fashion, to preserve an existing fruit tree and save material. Furthermore, drainage channels were added to provide a solution for the court during periods of heavy rainfall.

Following these design choices, the team began writing the contract including the technical specifications and drawings for the works to be completed. After consultation with Sport In Action and contractors the contract was reviewed and signed by both parties. Shortly after the signing, payment was made to the contractor and work started the next day!

On arrival to the site, we found the workers busy with excavating the trenches required for the court extension, removing the worn basketball hoops and degraded parts of the concrete slab. It has been great to see the contractors take the work in their stride. We look forward to working collaboratively with them further over the next few weeks.