Third week in Zambia 🇿🇲🔆
- Martina Cervetti
- Jul 4, 2025
- 8 min read
DAY 12: Avocado, moringa, and steps galore
â—ŹMonday, April 14thâ—Ź
Today we had a meeting at Nkwasi School to prepare the project on tree planting and the nutritional garden. We also presented our ideas to the project leader and the club volunteers, including a few proposals related to future projects.
The school was closed today because the children are on holiday — here, they have a month off in April, August, and December. They’ll return on May 12th.Despite the break, some students were still there helping to clean the school and the surrounding area — all hard at work, tireless!
Temperatures have dropped a bit… today a teacher asked if we weren’t cold: it was 25°C! For us, it felt perfect, but here it’s considered chilly. I guess it’s all about what you’re used to!
In the meantime… we planted 44 avocado trees and 42 moringa trees! It was a great team effort and a real step forward in our green project.
In the afternoon we had a meeting scheduled… but no one showed up. Sometimes communication is a bit uncertain — it happens!So we walked home after a long walk. One thing’s for sure: we’ll never lack physical activity here! Might as well enjoy the walk, take in the scenery, and experience the place step by step.
DAY 13: Reflections, encounters… and parmesan on cereal
â—ŹTuesday, April 15thâ—Ź
A day full of thoughts!
So far, everything we’re doing is moving forward… but with a bit of chaos. This morning, Karo and I took some time to reflect and regroup: we need more organization if we really want our activities to make an impact. So, we came up with a plan to restructure everything more clearly and usefully.
Later in the morning, we met another group of young people, but the meeting left us a bit disappointed… there wasn’t much human connection — the kind that allows us to really build something together. So, we decided that for the next meetings, we’ll include more engaging activities to help build real bonds.
At lunch, we enjoyed a meal we cooked ourselves while sitting outside one of the school classrooms… you can see the school in the photo.
Unfortunately, my food had gone moldy — probably due to poor storage, since the fridge stays off all night when there’s no electricity… I tried to salvage part of it.While we were eating, we met a few children, including a young autistic girl who stayed with us the whole time, talking to herself. A teacher told us she’s learning how to communicate.
That same teacher had a foot malformation and walks with a wooden stick, but he’s super active. He teaches “Social Studies,” which here includes geography, history, and civics. We even peeked at some ungraded assignments nearby… and then he explained them to us!
In the afternoon, we went to Kwama to meet other clubs: one for poetry, one for agriculture, one for young mothers, and another one focused on poultry farming and making bags from recycled fabrics. It was wonderful to see so many diverse and creative groups!
Then… we got home to find: no water, no electricity. But by now, we know the drill: quick bucket shower using the reserve water we keep in the bathrooms (luckily, there’s one bucket per bathroom!).
As for dinner — no energy to cook… so I improvised: cereal with parmesan. I know, it makes no sense… but it was the only doable option today! Tomorrow’s another day!
DAY 14: A day of rest and planning
â—ŹWednesday, April 16thâ—Ź
No specific appointments today, so… a day off!
In the morning, we went to the NHQ to plan some upcoming activities and had the usual local dish for lunch! You’ll see it again in the photos!
Our afternoon plans were canceled, so we took advantage of the free time to go grocery shopping — by now we have our trusted taxi driver who always recognizes us and brings us home without us even needing to explain much!It’s nice to see how even the small daily things, like a taxi ride, are starting to come with familiar faces.
Once home, we got to work on different projects and started planning the next few weeks: the idea is to make them more structured, more effective… and maybe a bit lighter too!
Sometimes, a day like this is just what you need: slowing down a bit, organizing your thoughts, and taking a deep breath.
DAY 15: Popcorn, sanitary pads, and everyday life
â—ŹThursday, April 17thâ—Ź
Today was all about the sanitary pad and hygiene workshop.When we arrived at the meeting point… no one was there. So we went looking for one of the district volunteers. He took us to another volunteer’s home — she was busy polishing the entrance to her house with a special product that makes the floor super shiny. Apparently, they do it once a week… and there’s even a bit of a “competition” in the neighborhood for who has the nicest entrance!
We sat in her yard, where we made popcorn. Here, popcorn is made in small outdoor stoves fueled with charcoal. Everyone has one, and it was lovely to learn about this part of daily life too.
While we waited, we enjoyed the sweetest scene: the volunteer’s grandson was playing with a car handmade by his dad using cardboard, bottles, plastic caps, lollipop sticks, and a wooden stick to steer it. Pure creativity and ingenuity!
The afternoon workshop was led by Chichi: many of the youth prefer Bemba, but starting next week we’ll also organize activities in English with those who understand it better — so we can start building our own connections and leave a little mark, too.
We went back home with some of the volunteers who walked with us part of the way.Quick dinner — just in time before the power cut… although strangely, the water had already gone out earlier!
It may have been a “soft” day, but I’m starting to get used to this slower rhythm — and I realize it’s actually good for me, now and then… so I’m trying to enjoy it!
DAY 16: Football, sunshine, and dreams in a jersey
â—ŹFriday, April 18thâ—Ź
Today we spent the whole day on the football field, under a blazing sun and a sudden downpour... the result? Sunburnt! But it was totally worth it: we handed out the jerseys we had brought from Denmark — kindly donated to us.
Some of them were gifted with great joy to the women’s football team, so they can wear them during their matches.
It was incredibly moving to see their happiness — though, while watching the games, we also realized just how much is still missing: some girls played barefoot, others wore shoes that were at least four sizes too big.
After the field, we enjoyed a delicious lunch: tomato pasta, eggs, and sausage… the perfect comfort food! And while we ate, we spoke with the two coaches from the football academy (MAPSA: Mapalo's Pride Soccer Academy) about an idea that’s very close to our hearts: organizing a fundraising campaign to collect the sports equipment they truly need.
We really hope we’ll be able to create something good, concrete, and above all, useful. Because sometimes, even just a ball or a pair of shoes can make a real difference.Step by step, we’re working on it...
DAY 17: Football, piping hot nshima, and tropical pizza
â—ŹSaturday, April 19thâ—Ź
A day fully dedicated to football and laughter! This morning, we got in the car with our friends to go watch a match. At one point, the car overtook on the right and Karo and I looked at each other confused like, “What the heck is he doing?”... until we realized here the slow lane is on the left and the passing lane is on the right. All normal!
We watched the Ndola women's derby: Zesco vs Indeni (or something like that… the names are an adventure!). Zesco won 1-0.
While taking some photos, a group of kids watched us curiously, convinced we were taking pictures of them. So sweet!
Everyone here is super passionate about football, and the Serie A matches are free, but in the afternoon, we went to the real stadium for an under-17 Zambia women’s national team game against Benin: entrance fee was 20 kwacha, less than 70 cents!
Before the match, we had lunch at a small local restaurant that felt like someone’s living room. We ate traditional dishes with our hands, as the tradition goes… though I pretty much burned myself with the nshima and everyone teased me about it.
When I asked how much we had to pay, the answer was 120 kwacha total. And I said, “Per person?” Nope… for four of us! We spent about 1 euro each. Including my embarrassing moment.
The atmosphere at the stadium was fantastic: live music, a band playing the whole time, super excited fans.
There was even a “star moment”: a dad stopped us asking for a photo with his son, maybe thinking we were famous football players from Italy. Impossible not to laugh! Many people here stop you to chat or ask for photos… you have to get used to it!
In the evening, dinner was pizza: we got a “almost” classic margherita and a vegetarian one that actually had pineapple and mushrooms… real veggies nowhere to be found, but still good!
Here you can choose small (€3), medium (€5), or large, like our Italian one (€7), and almost all pizzas come with chicken or meat.
Since our friends drove us everywhere today, we decided to treat them: lunch, stadium entrance, and dinner. Total spent, all included? About 28 euros for four people. Crazy but true.
And now… relaxing at home. The water is still out, but the electricity has stayed on for two nights in a row. Maybe thanks to the rain!
DAY 18: A rainy Easter, church, and… rice at 5:30 PM
â—ŹSunday, April 20thâ—Ź
Today we went to church for Easter in the Chipulukusu district. Actually, we weren’t there so much for the celebration itself, but to meet young people and help create new clubs at the end of the service. As soon as we left the house, it started raining... We arrived at 9:30 AM and didn’t leave church until 2:30 PM! Here, Easter Mass lasts 3 and a half hours. And as soon as we got out, it started raining again... our usual luck!
A little wet and hungry, we decided to grab something quickly at the market and then went to James/Jamoca’s house (the guy in charge of the football school — I’m starting to give you some names!). In the end, we bought some rice, but with everything going on, we only ate it at 5:30 PM! Early dinner? No, actually a very late lunch.
James’ niece and her godson prepared the rice. The coolest part? The niece is 15 years old and plays for the Zambia U17 women’s national football team!
Along with the rice, they served us an egg... simple but really delicious.
After this “lunch-dinner,” we went home tired but satisfied. Definitely an unusual Easter… but we’re happy and hoping to rest a bit tomorrow since it’s still a holiday!
Quick recap:
To keep track of all these names, here are the 3 districts/communities where we’ll be working:
Nkwasi (40 minutes on foot)
Chipulukusu (40 minutes on foot)
Kwama (1 hour 30 minutes on foot)
In each district, there are volunteers working with the youth clubs, and they’re the people we’ll be collaborating with. Their names are:
Isacc, Mary, and Bridget for Nkwasi
Jamoca for Chipulukusu (the same guy who runs the MAPSA football academy)
Gift and Winny for Kwama
See you next time!!
Marti
