Twenty-first week in Zambia 🔆🇿🇲

Week from 18/08 to 24/08

This week in Zambia was a real rollercoaster of emotions: from the exhausting heat to the joy of starting new projects with the girls, through trainings, matches, surprises, and even a few scares. A “full” week in every sense, that reminded me once again how life here is made of small things, big gestures, and so much, so much humanity.

August 18 – Chill and housework

Rest day, easy at home. Some work on documents and on the projects for when we return home… new updates coming soon.

August 19 – Projects, heat and smiles

Morning in town looking for new materials for the Mapsa girls: we’re starting a project to give them the chance to sew and create hair scrunchies and bonnets, so they can earn something and build a small future. They’re really beautiful and I’ll show you the photos on Instagram soon! With Karola we’re even thinking of taking them to Italy and distributing them through donations.But the heat was unbearable, blood pressure very low… and I was exhausted. I saved myself with the usual peanuts and a piece of dark chocolate (my lifesaver). Here lactose pills don’t exist, so I really have to watch what I eat!In the afternoon we stopped by the field: greetings to Jo, Frida and the other kids who always welcome me with endless smiles and a thousand “Tina, how are you?”. Then training with the under 19s and lots of photos with the under 13 kids. One of them got my jeans dirty with the ball and immediately started cleaning them: their kindness always amazes me. Another whispered to me: “We will miss you when you’ll go”… and I tried hard to hold back the emotion. The truth is I don’t want to leave.

August 20 – Training, laughter and blackout

Morning of cardio and stretching, then straight to charcoal training with the Chipulukusu boys: learning and sharing new skills for their future.Special lunch with the guys at a restaurant: 225 kwacha for 7 people, which is just over 1 euro each… The afternoon flew by with laughter, music, and an improvised truth or dare that had us laughing until we cried, before closing with the girls’ match.The evening? No light and no gas. After a simple dinner (bread, tuna, veggies and peanut butter) I was a bit down… but a friend from Zesco, the team from Ndola, came to pick me up for a ride and a chat. Just what I needed.

August 21 – Scare on the field

Morning with a friendly match for the under 19s, but unfortunately marked by a big scare: Jo, one of the boys, collided with an opponent and lost consciousness. Total panic. Two of us rushed him straight to the clinic and spent the whole morning there. Tough hours, waiting for him to wake up. Now he’s better, and Karo and I will take care of him in the coming days… welcome to KaroTina guesthouse!

August 22 – Focaccia, goodbyes and new projects

Almost a sleepless night checking on Jo, but luckily he’s fine and spent the evening with us. Quick pasta for everyone and then some rest.We also said goodbye to Bobby, who left. Meanwhile, I had the “brilliant” idea of making focaccia… it turned out delicious, but I made way too much!!A quiet morning with board games and chess with the kids, then off to Chipulukusu to launch a wonderful project. Of course, communication here doesn’t always work as we’d like… so we couldn’t get anything done and postponed to the following Monday.In the afternoon we had another meeting with a group of boys and girls: they’re also organizing themselves to create products to sell and support the academy. We’d like to collaborate with them to produce materials to sell, and use the proceeds to help the academy.We went to Petronella’s house, the group leader. She offered us biscuits and drinks: always such a lesson in hospitality. We chatted about our future plans and set a meeting for next week to start working with them too.

August 23 – Goodbye braids and Zesco’s victory

The day actually started last night with the adventure of removing my braids (three of us to manage it!), just in time to go see the Zesco match. Clear 3-0 victory and so much joy in the stands.After the match, a quick grocery run in Kansenshi and then relaxing at home. An injured Zesco player came to visit and brought me a gift: jersey and shorts—such a thoughtful gesture!Quiet evening, with electricity that for once didn’t go off: maybe thanks to the president’s visit in town?

August 24 – Draw and laughter

Relaxed morning and afternoon at the field for the Mapalo vs Mapsa match: it ended 1-1, but with great satisfaction for the boys who gave everything. The evening ended with chats, laughter, and some snacks together. A simple but perfect ending for such an intense week.

Word of the week:

Nalikutemwa sana: It means “I love you” and here we often use it jokingly with the people around us… especially with the girls from the team, who always repeat it with big smiles. A simple and fun way to feel closer!

Picture of the week:

Con i ragazzi Mapsa under 13