Tenth week in Zambia 🔆🇿🇲

02/06 - A cake, a blackout and a special birthday

Today was a very busy day, between meetings and various organisations. We went into town and, after lunch and sorting out some chores, in the late afternoon we moved to Chipulukusu to celebrate the birthday of Bukarah, one of the MAPSA Academy boys.

People here are not used to celebrating birthdays, so it is something very special for them. We bought him a cake and a candle. Too bad that while we were at Shoprite, the best-stocked supermarket in town, the power went out just as we were about to pay... they shut everything down and all the things we had chosen just sat there at the counter! All at 2pm!!!

Eventually, we found another supermarket that was still working despite the fact that the power had gone out. Here we at least managed to get cake. It wasn't bad! We then ate it all together at Jamoca's house, a good time indeed.

For my birthday I want to do something similar with the whole football team!

03/06 - New project leader and some breathing space

Back at NHQ today for a meeting and some planning. Finally for the first time we saw a budget! And maybe, just maybe, work will really start on something. We also got a new project leader: he seemed willing and made a good impression on us... at least for now, haha!

After the meeting we went into town, to a place where we could continue to use WiFi and work. We ate there and spent our evening in between chatting.

In general, these last few weeks have stressed me out a bit, they have been pretty intense. I need to take a few days to recharge my batteries!

04/06 - Finally, it's time to really work!

Another day at NHQ! This morning I even started working out a bit again as I'm feeling better. Between colds and food poisoning, they sometimes test me here....

We spent the whole day there between breakfast, lunch, various actions and even some sport. We spent the morning planning our months here. After two months, we are finally really starting to work! Everything seems to be under control - or so it seems.

In the late afternoon, we went into town to look for WiFi and electricity, we went to Steers, a kind of fast food place. Then, back home, shower and bed.

After the meeting we also dropped by Jamoca in Chipulukusu to talk a little about the football team. We ate in a typical little restaurant, nshima for everyone. We spent 150 kwacha for seven of us... about 5 euro in total! Then we returned home on our usual motorbike and with Gift, one of the under-19 boys who has now become our official driver!

05/06 - Budget, new meetings and Nigerian chats

Third day at NHQ. Today we finally looked at budgets and I can say that we are really starting to plan! A bit of what we wanted to do from the beginning, but haven't been able to do so far. For lunch this time I opted for rice, you will see in the photo the typical Zambian lunch!

In the afternoon I stayed a little longer to work on the other projects: the blog, the food security project, some fundraising ideas and also a job I am doing with my dad. I am helping him to keep some data on crops in order!

Back home, I took a shower and then talked a bit with another girl who is staying with us for a few days. She is part of another project, she is Nigerian but lives in Germany. We talked a lot about food - she told me about Nigerian staple food!

Here is the list, so if you ever go to Nigeria you know what to taste:

• Rice

• Cassava

• Yams (a kind of potato, but not a potato!)

• Plantains (tropical fruit from the banana family, but eaten as a vegetable!)

• Many soups with meat or fish

• Jollof rice, which is a very popular spicy rice

• Nigerian stew, a sauce-like condiment they use to accompany meat or other dishes

Typical Zambian lunch at DAPP's Nhq!

06/06 - Last day of meeting... and some time for me

Today was the last day of the meeting. A much quieter meeting than the others, and luckily I also had some time to myself.

In the afternoon we dropped by the camp to say hello to the MAPSA guys, who were training. We watched some training, talked to Jamoca about planning new activities and then had dinner there. Then off again on our bikes towards home!

DAPP Headquarter

07/06 - Between football, church and sunset at the camp

Busy day today! This morning we went to the camp to talk to the guys from the We Football Academy - we'll probably be working with them in July with an Italian women's football team.

In the afternoon, games! First the under-13s (they just started the league), then the girls. Between games we also went to church to meet some of the boys from the clubs.

Then we went back to the camp and stayed there until sunset - and afterwards! For me it was the highlight of the day: I played a bit of football, a bit of volleyball, even did some kick-boxing/karate moves with one of the boys and showed the kids some yoga postures.

We always came back on the motorbike, and to our surprise it was still light! Quick shower, dinner with delicious soya and off to bed... tomorrow we wake up early, off to Chifubu for more games!

MAPSA Girls

08/06 - Matches....wins!!!

Today the day started early: we went to Chifubu to watch the under-15 and under-19 matches. After lunch (based on a local fruit and a kind of typical fried qua flan), in the afternoon we moved to Chipulukusu to watch the Mapalo All Black game. It was a decisive match for promotion to the next category... and they won!

Unfortunately there were some tense moments: in the first overtime a penalty was awarded to Mapalo and the other team reacted very badly. They started chasing the referee to punish him... they wanted to beat him up! In the end the other team refused to continue playing, so the game was declared won by Mapalo.

After the game we went to eat with Jamoca, Bukara and the other boys who live with him, then we rode home.