Livingstone Baby

A day out at Chobe National Park in Botswana

A week of two halves as this past week included the infamous Livingstone Trip as well as time spent on placement following the Wallace Tournament. One key highlight of my week was on Wednesday when I chose to visit Fountain of Hope with Nicole and Fiona to assist the kitchen with cooking nshima for all of the boys there, which is about 90 of them. Despite being very different to our normal day to day routine I welcomed the chance to gain an insight into another key part of one of our placement sites. The staff and volunteers at Fountain of Hope do a fantastic job daily to support, provide and look after nearly 100 children and often we don’t see all sides of this. Arriving at Fountain before 9am we were shown to the kitchen where the large pot of water was boiling and the nshima was ready to begin. Little did we know that this whole process takes about 3 hours, and required a lot of physical strength, arm action and effort. Once the nshima was cooking, we took the time to chat to the children who were around and soon found ourselves assisting with the Year 2 and 3 End of Term exams that were taking place in the dining hall. The space at Fountain is limited and therefore these children have to sit these exams whilst being distracted by the noise coming from the kitchen. It was a fantastic morning as we not only gained an insight into a behind the scenes aspect of Fountain of Hope but got to see how differently examinations are conducted in Zambia. The difference between the education systems here in Zambia and in the UK is vast but the importance is equally as great.

The Group 2 Girls

Then the time for Livingstone arrived! Having already visited this amazing place three times previously, I was so excited to witness Group 2 experience this place but also to spend some quality time together away from the house having already had some intense and busy weeks previously. The bus journey epitomised how incredible the team spirit is in this house and how we have genuinely become a family and group. The 7/8 hour journey flew by and the excitement for Livingstone was clear for all to see. Everyone just couldn’t wait to experience Victoria Falls and to treat themselves to a few different activities. The journey to Livingstone reminded me that this adventure in Zambia is made twice as special by the people I get to share it with and I am very grateful to be part of this group as we all live the dream together.

Sunset Cruise with my ZamFam

The weekend was full of different activities as everyone treated themselves to some much needed time off. The sunset cruise will always be a favourite night of mine, as the sunset itself is one of most incredible views I have ever witnessed in my life. To stand there, side by side, with Group 2 taking a moment to embrace what was in front of us was amazing... In that silence we all shared an appreciation of the view we could see and the photos themselves don’t quite do the view justice. Another highlight of the weekend for me was definitely treating myself to a day’s safari in Botswana at Chobe National Park. The idea of a safari has always been high on my agenda but I had always imagined going for a week somewhere, however after hearing the students from Group 1 rave about how amazing it was I just couldn’t say no. Chobe itself is stunningly beautiful, and I loved the chance to explore it. On the river safari we travelled down the water that separates Botswana and Namibia, and saw crocodiles, giraffes, hippos, warthogs,

Nearly within touching distance

gazelles, impala, baboons, water buffalo, fish gulls and the most amazing elephants. Yes you can always visit most of these animals in a zoo but to sit on a boat and watch a herd of elephants make their way across the river, with the older elephants protecting the young was captivating. It was nature in its finest and I was able to sit back and enjoy. On the land safari we also came ridiculously close to these amazing animals as we parked nearby a massive herd. We were all of about 5 metres away from them and the temptation to get out and stroke them was high but I just loved seeing them in their natural environment.

Livingstone Weekend was a fantastic way to not only enjoy so time off with Group 2 but to enjoy and explore another incredible part of Zambia.  The past few days have acted as a much needed time out to relax, spend some quality time together and experience one of the most phenomenal wonders of the world.

Victoria Falls 

Conference, Wallace Tournament and the British High Commission...

I think I echo many of Group 2’s thoughts when I say the week of the Zambia National Sport Development Conference was without a doubt the busiest week we have experienced in Zambia so far but also one of the best. Having been here for two months now, the week of the conference was a little different, but I have welcomed the change and the opportunity to be part of what was a significant occasion for all those involved in sport both within Zambia and the UK. On Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th July we were all part of Zambia’s first ever National Sport Development Conference hosted at the OYDC. Prior to Zambia I had heard snippets of the programme and the people involved, but it wasn’t until the conference started that the magnitude and importance of this occasion became evident. It was amazing to see so many individuals present, with representatives from all 10 provinces across Zambia there as well as a number from the UK, all of who were there due to their shared love for sport for development in Zambia. Having sat through a number of presentations and panel discussions, the conference only re-affirmed my desire to carve myself a career within the international sport for development field and I met a number of individuals who have further inspired me on this career path. I am excited to hopefully one day play a part, no matter how big or small, in ensuring the recommendations from the conference that were proposed to the Minister of Youth and Sport, are implemented over the next 10 years.

The Conference underway

The rest of my week was split between assisting with planning for Group 2’s Wallace Tournament and hosting the UK delegates who were visiting Zambia. A moment that stood out for me during these few days was when we had the privilege of showing the UK delegates around the placement sites. Many of them had heard of Zambia, and were aware of IDEALS, but only a handful of them had ever seen the essence of IDEALS in action out in the heart of the community. This encounter, as we walked a group of them through Mtendere market and onto the netball court was mind-blowing. That moment when we walked around the corner to see the students leading a group of 50 children in Zambian songs, highlighted not only the value of IDEALS to each of the UK students who are out here volunteering, but the influence and impact the project is having to the children, the staff members and coaches and ultimately to the wider community. Sometimes you have to feel it first hand to ever truly understand it, and that was a moment when many of the UK delegates first fell in love with this incredible country and people.

Visiting the placement sites with the UK delegates

On Saturday the students delivered their Wallace Tournament and it was a fantastic end to what a been a more than memorable week for all. The students’ organisation and planning was evident to see as the fixtures and scheduling had all been done prior to the conference. Despite a venue change to Munali, the day was amazing and I loved the chance to walk around and see all the sports taking place to see the children really enjoying what they were part of. Yes it was competitive, very competitive at times but every child I spoke to, every team I watched demonstrated the value of the tournament and why it means so much to these children to be part of this, part of the ‘muzungos’ and their projects.

I can’t believe that not only is it half way through Group 2’s time in Zambia but I am now at the halfway mark of my time as a Team Leader. When applying for the project I had my preconceptions of what I would be doing and what I would be experiencing, and despite the ups and downs, I can honestly sit here hand on heart and say I absolutely love everything about being part of IDEALS. Every day is different, but every day I am creating new memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I am growing and developing into my role and it honestly is a privilege to be part of Group 2 and to help shape their IDEALS experience. The stories they share and the memories they already hold will always make me smile knowing that I played some sort of role in creating that. A privilege I don’t take for granted!

 

Evening drinks reception at the British High Commission with my ZamFam

Miss and Mr Tionge

The pageant underway

Time is flying by but every day, every week provides a variation of experiences and I am creating new memories daily. One unique experience that happened a few weeks ago was attending my first ever beauty pageant and it just happened to be in Zambia! I never expected myself to be attending a beauty pageant, let alone one in Zambia but I love every single moment of it. One of the students Nicole had previously held the role of Miss Newcastle and news of this soon spread through the Sport in Action office and was a hot talking point. Therefore she was personally invited by Nalu, one of the Sport in Action members of staff, to be a special guest judge and offer her expertise. I attended simply to support Nicole, plus this would probably be the only time ever I will be at a beauty pageant in Zambia, but on arrival I soon found myself on the panel of judges.

One of the contestants

The day was full of dancing, catwalks, eating competitions and talent competitions which was something Nicole and I both absolutely loved. The day gave us a very unique insight into another aspect of Zambian culture and loved the way each of the contestants put their all towards trying to gain the title of Miss and Mr Tionge. I loved the way that Zambian culture embraces singing and dancing and that all the children just wanted to get up and involved. Every time a song played, the audience got up dancing and just embraced everything about the day. However the moment I got dragged onto the stage it front of about 250 children was scary, especially when they expected me to dance. I done my best to bust a few moves, but for those who know me dancing isn’t my strongest point and I have to admit as nervous as I was I just got on with it and they seemed to love it!

Zambia teaches me things daily and as they say every day is a school day. Something I really want to take away from Zambia and my time is here is to be less worried about what other people think of me and to enjoy the moment I am in. I, for one, am shocking at dancing but getting up on stage in front of the audience was nerve wracking but I loved every moment. I love the variation of my weeks and that despite being here nearly two months, no one day has been the say. Zambia continues to deliver the unexpected, at placement and in our free time, and I couldn’t be happier.

The 2015 Miss Tionge benig crowned