My Zambian Experience

Two teens share their thoughts on their first trip to Africa.

Emily

This summer, I went to Africa for my first time, to spend a month volunteeringat the PestalozziWorld Village. It was a scary prospect, but an experience I'll never forget.

I fell in love with the Village. I was involved in numerous activities at the school, such as jewelry making, revision, reading groups and communication lessons. I was also in charge of some tasks like making a scrapbook for each of the girls who have won a scholarship to go and study in India. This involved collecting letters from all of the students and teachers, it was time consuming but I loved it as I love art. Night duty was another interesting task, especially when the children were half asleep and trying to figure out which way their mosquito net came down… I spent a lot of time laughing.

I think that my main job was painting nails. I was put in charge of a set of twenty nail polishes, which proved to be extremely popular. Both boys and girls would gather round to paint their nails, or ask me to paint them. I once spent four hours painting nails; I didn’t even think that there were that many children at the school!

Being new to the Zambian culture, ‘nshima’ was another interesting experience. It is a very acquired taste, and if I’m honest I was not a huge fan the first few times I ate it. However, I quickly adapted and now miss it! The children prepared the food, and four mornings a week I went to help with breakfast and preparation. It made me think about how simple our life is with electrics such as microwaves and dishwashers.

The children are amazing and I made genuine friends who I will never forget. Playing volleyball with Mervis and Charity; being taught how to play the keyboard by Joseph Kumwenda; drawing with Joseph Zimba, Ernest, and Mercy. These are all moments I hope I will always remember.

The simplicity of the Village gave me a wake up call, and I definitely appreciate my life here in England more. I can’t even imagine the background that these children have come from; mainly because they are so charming you would never have known.

Now that I am studying my A levels, I don’t know when I will next have enough time to visit PestalozziWorld again. I was told that I would never want to leave, and though it was good to get home, one month was not enough time. I am definitely going back!

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Tymandra

I spent six weeks in Zambia living in the Village, with a few days in Malawi where I attended an alumni reunion. When I first arrived I found myself almost overwhelmed by the sense of family. Everybody knows one another because the students eat, sleep, work and live together, and it's like “one big happy family.” The adults or people in charge were called “Aunty.” Though I called people by name, this custom pulls you into the family, which is really nice as immediately you feel part of the group.

The children are  polite and well-mannered. It's the kind of thing that you notice almost immediately. Always please and thank you, and a willingness to help, which made me blisteringly aware of my own Ps & Qs.  They are friendly to each other – not so much rough 'messing around' by the boys as I'm used to, probably because the children are taught the Pestalozzi way of Head, Heart and Hands, and that hands are supposed to be used to nuture and create, not injure or destroy. That's my take on it anyway.

Dancing and singing are a huge part of everyday life. At least once a day the students will gather and sing and dance. Usually this is choir practice for Sunday mass, but sometimes there's practice for things like parties. I once witnessed them  break into random song which had a “High School Musical” effect when others joined in. Most of the music they listen to is pop created by local African artists. Though I didn't understand the lyrics, it's fun and exotic to listen to.

My activities
I taught gymnastics because I coach it at home and thought it would be amusing for both the students and myself. Teaching gymnastics was fun because the students are keen to try new things. They don't give up trying. Maybe it's because it's a new activity for them or maybe it's simply that they're open minded.

I also helped with “Life skills” - brainchild of Kirsten, a volunteer from Germany – which included reading and writing strategies and mental maths. Reading strategies included: the difference between skimming and scanning, how to do both, and  the preview strategy - I think I learned something in those classes as well! We also did dictionary work.

Social Learning
PestalozziWorld trains the 'head, heart and hands', and the 'heart' part is the social responsibility part. The lesson is very practical: volunteer to help others; look after each other; and give back when you can.

One of the students' social project is to go walking dogs at the Lusaka Dog Shelter every Sunday morning for a twenty minute walk. I went most weeks and grew especially partial to one dog called Spirit, a tan dog with plenty of energy. He was really sweet and quite young. I wanted to bring him home but obviously I couldn't. I liked the walking, for the exercise and the dogs.

My Last Days in Africa
The Malawi Reunion was a bus trip away, and was held during my last weekend. Considering that I spent almost twenty-four sleepless hours on the small bus from Malawi back to Ibex Hill, I was in a daze from tiredness and the fact that I was already finishing my time. The following morning I finshed packing and was given a very nece goodbye party by the residents of Ibex Hill, with cards and cake. At 12:30 I waved goodbye to the Pestalozzi African Children's Village for the last time... in 2011.

I would like to thank several people who made my trip possible and pleasant: my parents, for agreeing to let me go; Sir Richard and Lady Butler for planting the idea; Michele Watkins for looking after me and answering my queries and problems and taking me out every now and again to see more of Lusaka on fun trips; Samuel and Daniel for chauffering me around; Housemothers Auntie Edah, Anutie Jane and Auntie Juliet for being there to help me; Alice, Pricilla, Prisca and Stella, Assistant house mothers, for being such fun to be around; Mabel and Victoria for letting me use their office space; the Scholars at Ibex Hill who helped me feel so much a part of the family and being so welcoming; to the Chair of Trustees for inviting me to her house and the unforgettable afternoon I had on the game park; to Jerry Merz, Fabian Kasonde and Simon Wakely for getting me to Malawi and back safely; to the Malawian Alumni for their warm welcome that first night on our late arrival; and to the Zambian Alumni who made a long trip to Malawi and back so much fun.