Thirteenth week in Zambia 🔆🇿🇲
- Martina Cervetti
- Jul 4, 2025
- 3 min read
Week from June 23 to June 29
Sweetest moment - "Kites, lemon, and sharing"
One day this week, while we were heading to Chipulukusu, we came across a scene that filled our hearts: groups of children running everywhere with their kites, shouting happily.
Simple kites, made from whatever materials they had — but they still flew, and really high!
Another very tender moment was on Saturday during the Under-13 match.
One boy had a lemon, and his teammates — those sitting on the bench — kept asking him:
“Pelaco here!”, “Pelaco there!” (“Give me!” in Bemba).
They passed the lemon around, shared it between their hands, and licked their fingers as if it were the best sweet in the world.
A simple moment, but full of sharing and sweetness in every way!
A picture that stays in the heart -"The red dawn and the energy of the morning"
One of the things that always strikes me is the rhythm with which the day starts here.
During one of the early morning walks to train with the Under-19 team, I saw the sun rise red — really red, fiery — coloring the whole sky and the houses around.
A fantastic sunrise!
And around me, already many people moving: here at 6 a.m. the streets are alive, busy, already active.
An energy that enters you and gives you strength for the whole day.
A Special Feeling - "A Baptism and a Victory"
Saturday was an important day: my friend, a player in the Under-19 team, was baptized.
The joy was doubled because just before, he had also played (and won!) the soccer match 2-1!
A day full of meaning and pride: sports, faith (which is very important to them), and friendship, all together.
A Moment for Myself - "Yoga, socks, and Italian sweets"
On Sunday, I took the morning just for me. Training, some yoga, various washes — it took an entire hour just to clean the dirt off my socks!
Shower, hair wash, and for once I even dried my hair because the electricity was on!!
For breakfast, the sweets Karola and I bought the night before after a romantic dinner at an Italian restaurant. (Because we really missed a good aperitif and the taste of Italy.)
In the afternoon? A MAPSA team match: life here never stops!!!
Work Time and Collaborations - "Between Chipulukusu, the foundation, and training"
The first days of the week started with various errands and shopping in Chipulukusu, while we continued working on the MAPSA Foundation projects.
Intense training sessions in the morning, including some killer running! Yes, I trained with the team early in the morning, running alongside them. They just left me behind—probably doubled me or more—but those are just details haha—they’re super fast!!!
Photo of the week
Word of the week:
"Pelaco!"
In Bemba, it means "Give me!"
A word that echoes in the fields and markets, in moments of sharing.
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Updates on the website
New photos coming soon in the Portfolio section! I’m uploading authentic shots from these past weeks — from matches, everyday moments, to unexpected smiles. Every photo tells a story and a piece of Zambia.
Support the project
Want to help out? Share, spread the word, or support our fundraising for the MAPSA Academy with even a small gesture. Every contribution is super important. You can find the link on the dedicated page on my blog or on social media.
Thanks to everyone who keeps supporting us.
