Through our eyes - Katondwe

Wiktor, TME Projekt Katondwe

"As always, life has quite rapidly and accurately verified my idea about this place. The hospital is big, hires lots of medical and technical staff and every single day helps over two hundred patients including children, pregnant women, victims of traffic accidents or people bit by wild animals. Can you imagine that the entity got connected to the electricity grid only two years ago? Honestly, I can't. I enormously respect the work of the hospital's management, their unconditional devotion and sacrifice. I am glad I could have the experience of working there and that I could help. Now, being back in Poland, I can better understand the hospital's reality so I can tailor our actions accordingly to what the institution needs."

Karolina, TME Projekt Katondwe

"Katondwe gets into your bloodstream. You experience your stay here with your entire body. First of all – physically, as climate in this part of Zambia requires exceptional endurance. Secondly –emotionally, often balancing on the extreme poles of feelings. Here, tears of happiness flow together with those of despair. You may depart from Katondwe in the corporeal sense, however, it’s hardly possible to leave such a place and just stop thinking about it. Once you get to know the everyday life of the hospital, you can’t help but be amazed at the devotion and resourcefulness of the entire staff, who are relentless in their efforts to develop the facility. This potential mustn’t be wasted!"

Dorota, TME Projekt Katondwe

"My stay at Katondwe was one of the most important experiences in my life. I had the unique opportunity to not only see first-hand how the hospital is run on a daily basis and to directly support its work. Everything I experienced here, every single encounter, conversation and story will stay with me for a long time. I’ve brought a piece of this place back here, in my heart, and I’m glad that I could leave some part of me there in exchange."

Filip Styrzyński, MD

"Coming to Katondwe proved to be one of the best decisions of my life. My time at the mission has been not only a test of my medical skills but has also brought many new friendships and challenges. That remote village, somewhere deep in the forest, on the other side of the equator, has stayed in my heart forever and has been motivating me to keep on acting… both there, in the Hospital, and in Poland – where I try to encourage others to give help".

Sister Mirosława Góra – a surgeon, Director of the Hospital

"I came to the mission in Katondwe in 1990. Since then, the hospital has developed a lot thanks to our hard work. We can now offer beds for more than 100 additional patients – it is a lot, but still not enough to meet the medical needs in our area. During this time, we have also launched a hospital daycare centre for children and a branch of the nursing school."

Luiza, volunteer

"When I decided to come to Zambia, I knew that it was going to be a big challenge. The work was hard, and so was the climate, for which I was not really prepared, as it turned out later. However, I do not regret my decision. Helping people at the hospital gives me immense satisfaction. It is definitely the adventure of my life!"

Jacek Karolak, TME employee

"My visit to the Katondwe Hospital, albeit short, has left its mark on me forever. I am delighted that, thanks to the support of the company I work for, I have been able to visit the place and install a new power generator at the hospital. I know it is a drop in the ocean of the Sacred Heart’s needs, but I am also aware of the joy that every piece of support, however small, brings to them".