The end of the line – the test run

Yesterday was a wonderful day, the when the first Kit Yamoyos actually made it into the hands of mothers (and fathers) of young children in a remote village – Siachitema – in rural Zambia. This was the end of my week-long trip to the field, following the Kit Yamoyos through the distribution chain looking for the glitches in the systems before we go live next month.

Yesterday’s story is best told with pictures (and one video clip) so here we go.

08:15am
Hans meets Keepers Zambia Foundation staff in Kalomo Training in voucher activation
Hans Hesse from Zoona (aka Mobile Transactions Zambia Limited) meets with Keepers Zambia Foundation staff in Kalomo: Charlotte (Field Facilitator, Kalomo); Elias (Project Officer, Katete); Hans (Zoona) and Boyd Hakubeja (Project Officer, Kalomo). Training in voucher activation begins.

 09:45am
Siachitema

We arrive in Siachitema and meet up with the shop keepers, mothers and their children. Field facilitator Charlotte explains how the voucher works.
Women and babies at Siachitema Charlotte explains the Kit Yamoyo voucher system

10:00am
Mothers with Kit Yamoyo Vouchers Mothers with Kit Yamoyo Vouchers Kit Yamoyos on shop shelves Kit Yamoyos on shop shelves
Mothers are given vouchers, whilst our first Kit Yamoyos, bought by the shop keepers on Friday at the Choma Wholesaler, are lined up with all the other commodities in the shops. Note our Product Training Manual on the bottom RHS of picture 4!

10:30am
Father with child and Kit Yamoyo | Siachitema Siachitema trading
In the meantime a father passes with his daughter, hears the commotion around the Kit Yamoyo and buys one to keep at home for the next time his daughter gets diarrhoea (result!). Meanwhile, village life goes on around us.

11:00am
Women collecting Kit Yamoyos from Joy's shop

Mothers come forward to exchange their voucher for a Kit Yamoyo. There is lots of good hearted banter about who should be first and queue jumping!

11:00am
Kit Yamoyo Voucher with PIN number revealed Lisa (Joy's daughter) gets to grips with the voucher redemption process with help from Hans
Voucher PIN numbers are revealed as the voucher redemption training concludes. That’s the shop owner (Joy) in the red shirt watching her daughter get the hang of the Zoona system in no time at all. For those interested in the process, here’s video of Albert (Keepers Zambia Foundation) running through the process for the camera . . . . listen out for the buzz about Kit Yamoyo in the background!

Noon
Tonga woman reads the Kit Yamoyo leaflet
We are done and as I’m leaving I catch this woman reading the instructions written in Tonga on the Kit Yamoyo leaflet.

What a great day. I’ve been dreaming of this day for more than 20 years!

I am now confident that the distribution system works and is ready for the start of the trial next month. We came across a few glitches but nothing major. Most of these were sorted out ‘on the fly’ and the others can be fixed over the next two weeks.

Onwards and upwards.

For those of you still reading, here are a few more miscellaneous pictures from the day . . .

Albert trains in the Kit Yamoyo voucher redemption Taking up the Kit Yamoyo Special Offer
Albert trains in the Kit Yamoyo voucher redemption Taking up the Kit Yamoyo Special Offer
Child with Kit Yamoyo | Siachitema Child with Kit Yamoyo | Siachitema
Children seem to like the Kit Yamoyo as much as their mothers do
Simon with Siachitema mothers Simon with Siachitema mothers
The Muzungus on the team (Simon and Hans) with mothers
Mobile phone in hand in Africa Kit Yamoyo posters
Voucher remption works on any phone Advertising! We got one up on Airtel there!

 

Comments

  1. Via email says

    Hi Jane, Hi Simon,
     
    Just a quick email to say that I saw your latest post (https://www.colalife.org/2012/08/14/the-end-of-the-line/) and I’m thrilled to hear that the first kits have been distributed – it seems only yesterday that you were in our offices and starting out. I look forward to following how it progresses once you ‘go live’.
     
    Good luck and best wishes,
     
    E

  2. Hi Simon & Jane, and team!

    What a wonderfui moment in the ColaLife story so far. Two years ago Simon was pitching to TEDx Berlin asking people to spread the word, now it’s all action. I’m so pleased for you, as Dawn says gold to you all

  3. Via email says

    Well done!!

    That really is a milestone for you and the team!

    All the best

    N

  4. Via email says

    Amazing and a big congratulations to you, Jane and your entire team. It’s so surreal to see the product now in the hands of consumers!

    Thank you for your creativity and perseverance in making this happen, and we look forward to watching this idea scale to other regions and countries!

    Please let us know if we can help in any way.

    Warmly

    Y

  5. Jude Habib says

    Fantastic news and what a great journey you’ve taken us all on. All your hard work and dedication has paid off.
    Thanks for the update and fab pics
    Jude

  6. This is just so so good to read. Quite a journey from early interviews on PM and carrying the HUGE aidpod across London from Euston! So admire you both and all the team for the determination to continue and the difference it will clearly now make to save lives.
    Keep on believing!
    Paul

Trackbacks

  1. E. Amato says:

    The most significant day so far in the ColaLife story . . . https://t.co/qEAikFP0

  2. Fantastic stuff! RT @colalife: The end of the line #colalife https://t.co/53JqjGOa

  3. The most significant day so far in the ColaLife story . . . https://t.co/qEAikFP0

  4. RT @colalife: The end of the line #colalife https://t.co/gvbRIEH5 #fb

  5. The most significant day so far in the ColaLife story . . . https://t.co/qEAikFP0

  6. Simon Berry says:

    RT @TelDevane Fantastic stuff! RT @colalife: The end of the line #colalife https://t.co/hQ2U2l62 <– Thks Terance

  7. Dawn Varley says:

    Congrats all @colalife A truly wonderful achievement. Gold to Simon, team & partners! https://t.co/o1KbreD2

  8. @Colalife usa redes de distribucion de refrescos para distribuir kit revolucionario contra la diarrea en Zambia rural https://t.co/N8cLdiZB

  9. Things aren't supposed to be easy .. it would make our efforts seem futile !!
    CONGRATS all involved. https://t.co/Odahxx7V

  10. A good case, persistence rewarded .. https://t.co/P58yJZNY

  11. https://t.co/z0rXYu7K redeeming e-vouchers in rural Zambia!

  12. An amazing story to share. We are so inspired RT @colalife: The end of the line #colalife https://t.co/aKlcq3TA #socent

  13. Lucy Gower says:

    RT @sounddelivery: An amazing story to share. We are so inspired RT @colalife: The end of the line #colalife https://t.co/GUw6ank1 #socent

  14. Paul Webster says:

    MT @sounddelivery: An amazing story, we are so inspired RT @colalife: The end of the line #colalife https://t.co/y1vhXuyW <saving lives 🙂

  15. Simon Berry says:

    https://t.co/z0rXYu7K redeeming e-vouchers in rural Zambia!

  16. Mike Quinn says:

    Zoona launches innovative partnership with ColaLife to use eVouchers for ORT distribution: https://t.co/U925wRzj

  17. Zoona launches innovative partnership with ColaLife to use eVouchers for ORT distribution: https://t.co/U925wRzj

  18. Hans Hesse says:

    Zoona launches innovative partnership with ColaLife to use eVouchers for ORT distribution: https://t.co/U925wRzj

  19. Just read about the latest @colalife developments https://t.co/XcdfQ10L – @51m0n Berry, you are a superstar. An amazing story.

  20. Just read about the latest @colalife developments https://t.co/XcdfQ10L – @51m0n Berry, you are a superstar. An amazing story.

  21. Saving lives in rural Africa via crates of cola – a 20yr dream about to come true: #colalife https://t.co/zjJg715s