Zambia 2014, Day 6 – “Everyone needs a friend”

Though today had a late start, it tended to start out just like any other day. We woke up to the dreaded knock on the door that tells us to wake up to another full day, complaining about how tired we are from the late night the teachers warned us not to have. But we get up anyway, knowing that today it will be worth it, just as every day preceding. Breakfast was as usual, give or take the frantic kwacha exchanges going on last minute, before the ever-anticipated market trip. We were all conversing over the bargaining tactics we were going to use, as we moved from house to bus, laughing, with minds and hearts full of excitement.

As we entered the market, our eyes immediately locked on one of the many interesting pieces there were to look at. Alli quickly pulled us back before we got pulled in, and told us the run-down: we had two hours. We all quickly made a strategy to see, buy and barter for as many things as we could before our time was up. We kept an eye out for good deals, and little trinkets to bring home to our family and friends. But the real quest was navigating through the jungle of swindling salesmen that tried everything to get you to spend more than 20 kwacha. One man even tried to told my hand to “Make me feel more comfortable, like a sister.” But in the end we all came out with bags filled with things we wanted (and didn’t), even if it meant losing a few bottles of hand sanitizer, for a good deal.

After an interesting lunch at the market, we made our way to Africa Directions, a wonderful community center for children and adults to come to and reap the benefits of the center’s facilities. The center focuses on creating a safe space for the people of Mtendere (a neighborhood in Lusaka), and promoting healthy lifestyles. Their programs range from teaching classes on HIV/AIDS and providing family planning, to hosting karate classes, and other fun activities to help the community stay active and happy. After a tour and a quick questionnaire, we enjoyed an afternoon of singing and dancing, shared with both the adults, and many happy children of Africa Directions. The dancing was followed by a tour of the surrounding compound, which I found very interesting. Unlike the N’gombe compound, Mtendere was much larger, with more stores and markets, and a lesser sense of community. I could really see where a center such as Africa Directions could help a community that could easily be lost in the winding markets, unlimited bars, and overwhelming sense of overstimulation. It gives people a place to go to build that sense of community everyone needs in order to survive. And, it’s the pride and passion that people at Africa Directions put into providing better opportunities for the people who come there, that gives me hope.

No matter where you go in Zambia, some one will ask “How do you like Zambia?” and the only way I can respond is that I love it. I love it here; the spirit, the food, the people and their passion for living. They enjoy every single day as a blessing, and another reason to spread joy to everyone around them. The people we’ve met whether they were at David Kaunda, Chikumbuso, African Directions, or anywhere else along the way, have been some of the most amazing and selfless people I have ever met. It gives me hope that the goal of all of these people is to give better opportunities to people who can go out later and change the world. It gives me hope to see kids running and playing in the twists and turns of the compounds, not asking for my grief or pity, but asking for a friend and a hand to hold. And that gets down to the root of the human condition. Since I’ve been here, I’ve learned that it’s not my duty as an American to come and help all of those in need. Nobody ever, needs my pity, or grief, but everyone needs a friend. Everyone has the natural born right to be shown compassion, to know that someone cares for them, to sit with them and share a meal, and to share their life with someone even for a moment, because it’s that moment that might change their life forever.

Gabrielle, 16, Annandale High School