Watch Nadia’s full interview 

Nadia from Italy spend 8 months in Zambia to work with DAPP Zambia. In this interview, she shares some Experiences and reflections on the whole experience.

My name is Nadia and I am from Italy. I recently had the amazing opportunity to volunteer with Humana (DAPP) Children’s Town project in Zambia for six months. It was a big project with many departments, and I had the chance to collaborate with all of them – the Youth Academy, Climate Center, and the Young Farmers Club. However, my main focus was working with the students at Youth Academies, specifically the department for street kids.

Prior to this experience, I had already worked with street kids for a long time and felt confident in my ability to connect with them. It was like being a parent, where you have to be strong and not spoil them. At the school the social worker talked with the children in the street and introduced them to the opportunity of the programme, inviting them take part. The programme offered food, accommodation, clothes, and education, and was designed to help street kids who lacked parents or came from broken homes.

Many of these kids were mistreated by their stepmothers and guardians, and as a result, some decided to run away to the streets where they sold things or begged for money. They were also susceptible to drug use, and it was not uncommon to find 12-13 year-olds who had already tried drugs and suffered the consequences. This experience made me realize how important it is to save a child from the streets.

By offering them a skill and a basic education, we could change the trajectory of their lives for the better. The community was incredibly grateful for the school and everything we were doing for the young people. Collaboration between the school and the community was also strong.

I learned to be flexible and patient during my time in Zambia. Plans would often change unexpectedly due to weather or other issues, and I had to learn to adapt quickly. For example, the rain would often cause flooding, making it difficult to bring sick children to the clinic. We also only had one vehicle, so if it was being used for groceries or other errands, we had to rely on bicycles to transport sick children.

Overall, this experience was a dream come true for me. I have always wanted to work with people who appreciate the little things in life and understand the essentials of life. Being in Zambia and contributing to positive change in these students’ lives was incredibly fulfilling. Every time I start a new project, I give it my all, and this experience was no different. I am grateful for this opportunity and hope to continue making a positive impact wherever I go.