Fourteenth Week in Zambia 🔆🇿🇲

June 30th – July 6th

Most Special Moment

“Tina, how are you?” – and other evening adventures

During the week, as I was walking to the football field in Chipulukusu, I experienced one of the sweetest and funniest scenes:

The kids saw me from afar and started calling me one after another, all with the same excitement:

“Tina! How are you?”And I’d answer each time, “I’m fine, how are you?” — it felt like an endless chain, and I couldn’t stop laughing!Some of them were in school uniforms, others were just hanging around, but all of them had this contagious energy that gave me the perfect boost for the day!

Later that evening, I went to the hospital with Jo, a friend from the academy, to visit his brother, who had been admitted for a heart issue. The road was pitch black, and between almost twisting my ankle (luckily didn’t happen!) and endless conversations with Jo, we finally got there.We arrived after visiting hours, but no one stopped us. Inside, there was a strange calm: everyone was awake and welcomed us with smiles and curiosity.I greeted everyone as best I could, with my clumsy Bemba, and we started chatting.We laughed a little — as if even in those rooms, a bit of lightness was needed.We finally went back home and had dinner together. A fully active day, right to the last second.

“It’s a Small World” Moment

Unbelievable encounters and familiar faces… in Zambia!

We saw again the guy we helped push a car some time ago — Ndola is huge, but fate works in mysterious ways.And then — plot twist — we met the new DIs who had just arrived from Lindersvold, and one of them is from Turin, same age as me, and lives really close to my home!It took a trip to Zambia to meet, unbelievable.All the new volunteers have arrived, and in the next few days, they’ll be off to their projects. A mix of worlds crossing paths!

The Most WOW Moment with Company

Trade Fair and our rise to the stage

On Sunday, we went to the famous Ndola Trade Fair, one of the biggest events of the year.Stalls everywhere, people everywhere, food everywhere: sausages, fries, ice cream, dances and colors.

And then… the stage!First, we watched incredible performances, then they called us up… and yep, we climbed up too!Karola raised her arms, the crowd noticed us, and bam: they called all of us onto the stage.A mix of embarrassment and laughter: they gave us a T-shirt and a yogurt each!And as if that wasn’t enough, we looked like VIPs — people around us acted like bodyguards to protect us from pushing, curious hands, and unsolicited selfies. In Zambia, life is… never boring!

An Image That Stays

A sunrise and sports that never stop

Some mornings… I woke up early to head to the field: the sunrise was red, breathtakingly red, and the streets were already full of people.

Here, the day starts at 6 AM, and you already find people working, singing, walking.I also took photos of the Academy players during training, then checked the printed shirts, walked endlessly, and ended the day working on the computer: CVs and documents for MAPSA.

Here, every day is full. No training with them this week… maybe next week!

Word of the Week

Iwe!!!

In Bemba, it means “You!”It’s super common: sometimes people don’t even call each other by name — they just shout “Iwe!” and someone turns around.

It may sound harsh, but here it’s totally normal, and even affectionate.We use it all the time now — with friends, on the field, on the streets… and somehow, it always works!

Picture of the week

See you next week for more updates!

Marti