HfH Zambia has an active global village program. This program sets to link local and international volunteers with communities in Zambia for a life changing experience of cultural exchange, skills transfer, interaction and exhilarating time of your life. Every year, we host teams from around the globe, and below is an excerpt from Emily Kingston, a team member who built in Ndola’s Chipulukusu Affiliate.

The team from Bandon Grammar School, from Cork in Southern Ireland came to Zambia to Chipulukusu for two weeks starting the 22nd April to build homes for two families.  There was 15 in the team, 5 boys and 5 girls aged 16 and five adult leaders too. On arrival to Lusaka the team met with our amazing co-ordinator Saka Yoyo. On our first day the team had a briefing on our trip, we had a chance to learn a bit of the language, culture and what to expect from the community.  We were the first group to go into the community of Chipulukusu with Habitat. The foundations and preparations for houses had already started to grow.

We arrived at Chipulukusu in the evening of Saturday 23rd.. We met with some of the local habitat affiliate there who would all look after us during our build. The team were welcomed to three houses, girls and boys and our cook house where ladies from village helped us immensely.

 On the first morning of the build everyone who would be on building team was introduced and we got a chance to hear from the hopeful homeowners. We were set to build one house for a man named Lungu and the other for a lady, Beatrice who would own the second house same. Both worked hard on sites as well to achieve their homes. Building started immediately, with the team split to the two houses.

Working from 8-4 and  in 35 degree dry heat in the afternoons had work but very rewarding. during our day we would get a chance to play with the kids in the communnity or chat to the people we were building with. After the days work everyone would gather water from the well to have a shower. We played a lot of soccer with the children and after work one day the community burnt out one of their fields so we could have an official Ireland v Zambia game, an experience enjoyed by all.  The young  girls loved to play with skipping ropes brought out and taught us some of their games and songs too.

After the first week, the team had one day for R&R, we team left early morning and travelled to our  Safari lodge. Some in the morning went fishing and caught fish half the size of themselves which were later snacks before tea, while the others went on game drive spotting Lions and cheetah and many more. Late evening half went on boat trip with elephants and hippos in sight while the others adventured to their game drive.

Back to work on the Tuesday morning and everyone was on to finish the build. The lintels were going in and soon the gables were growing. Hard grafting was done as it was all manual labour; mixing cement and carrying bricks, everyone worked very hard during our time.

It all paid off, Thursday came and work, finished at 2 and all that we could have done was done. Everyone washed up and got ready for the handing over ceremony. This was beautiful as all the community gathered together we sang and danced with the women and the local teenagers had drama performances as well as traditional dances. There was a member of government present who acknowledged the work being done by the Habitat for Humanity charity.  Then the home owners were presented with the houses and a  picture of all the team. We were also presented with certificates. The whole day was amazing, young team member Lindsay Sweeney made a beautiful speech to the people thanking them for everything done for us and that night we along with the builders and ladies who helped us during the week sat down for our last meal together.

Leaving the community was extremely difficult many friends were made that will never be forgotten.  The team found it hard to say goodbye to the friends we had to leave  but we came away proud of our achievement. A whole year of fundraising and hard work behind us with great support from home and family was all worth it. The two families moved into the homes once the roofs were up. Our trip is just a testimony of how hope can be turned into homes.