LearnServe Zambia 2017: An Eye-opening Day (6/28/17)

Today was our first full day in Zambia filled with teaching at Daughter’s Vision, exploring N’gombe Compound (the township where Daughter’s Vision is located), and visiting Chikumbuso. As we were arriving at Daughter’s Vision, it was interesting to realize what a novelty we were with groups of children lining the streets and looking into the bus with such curiosity. Once we got to Daughters Vision, Gladys, the woman who founded the organization, began to tell us about some of the girls’ stories, bringing many of us close to tears just thinking about what some of them have been forced to go through at such a young age. She told us that many girls in Zambia are assaulted or raped at a very young age, often in the home by a family member or friend. Unemployment is high and many men spend all day or night at the local bars getting drunk, only to stumble home, leaving young children, particularly girls, very vulnerable. To know this made it even more surprising to look over at them and see their huge smiles, eagerly awaiting to see what we had planned for the day.

Anisa and I taught reading and at first teaching the groups was difficult. Although their ages were all similar their previous knowledge was not. Within one group, we would have one girl who could read basic sentences perfectly while another struggled with simple letters in the alphabet. However, a constant trend that followed within each group was the difference between what the average boy knew versus the average girl, likely due to a cultural system in which boys are more encouraged to go to school while girls are often expected to stay home and do chores and take care of siblings. It became hard to stick with what we had previously planned because we never knew how advanced each individual would be. So, we began to switch up our activities doing anything from going over the alphabet using cards to playing word bingo and always ending with a story. No matter what we did, they listened and watched us with big eyes, always seeming to want to know more. Even the slightest thing such as a small sticker made them more appreciative than I could have ever imagined, making me want to give each of them everything I could because they deserved it. One of my favorite parts was when I was teaching a small group and we were going over the alphabet once more and all of a sudden I noticed a group of girls staring at my blonde hair, fascinated. Before I knew it, about 10 little kid hands were combing through my hair as many more continued to join them.

By the time we were done teaching for the day it felt as if we had known the kids for their whole lives. Groups of them would run up to each of us and shower us with love with anything from a high five to a big hug. It felt amazing. Even though these kids had known us for such a short period of time they were so loving and appreciative, it was hard to say goodbye even if it was just for the day. When we started leaving to tour the N’gombe community, many of the kids refused to leave our sides. The bolder ones came up to us to hold our hands and others trailed close behind. One of the teachers, though, told us that if we allowed them to follow us, by the end of the tour, we would be a mob of children, moving through the “streets” which wasn’t going to work. So, unfortunately, we had to tell them to go home. We were sad but knew we would see them in the morning.

Two kind teachers from Chikumbuso, a community center where LearnServe previously volunteered for 7 years, agreed to take us on a tour of the compound which we learned houses almost 3 million people. We began to walk past all the houses and it became evident how different life was for everyone there than at home. Even though there’s 3 million people living there, only 10 people have running water in their houses. The rest of the people have to get their water from waterholes and we found out that there are only 55 waterholes to provide water to 3 million people. Another thing that shocked all of us was the fact that there were more bars and pubs than schools and churches combines. We continued to walk through the market which consisted of a small street lined with open stores selling anything from haircuts to live chickens.

Afterwards we visited Chikumbuso, a community center that works to benefit many different groups. It included a school of around 400 children, a factory working area that provided single mothers with the chance to sell goods made of recycled plastic to support themselves, and a safe haven for girls whose home lives are not safe enough for them to live at home or alone. After the tour we visited the store and many of us bought little bags and other trinkets to support the mothers.

Overall, today has been eye opening. Never would I have suspected what girls so young were forced to go through. Even more surprising is how they carry on day by day with a smile brightening up their faces. Just seeing them made me so much more appreciative for all that I have and made me want to give them all the opportunities and everything else that I have been given. I’ve never been this excited to have to wake up early in the morning to go to school and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the week will bring.

Ndapita (goodbye),

Brianna O., Rockville High School