Introducing the tough guys of Nyimba.
Welcome to the Nyimba Team, March to June 2016! There is much to be said about the 19 wonderful characters in our group! Here is a short introduction to everybody in the team. We will be keeping you up to date on our weekly activities, but for now enjoy getting to know us!
- Alix cowan 19 From Glasgow, Scotland, U.K
Before the ICS programme, Alix was a team leader in a cocktail bar. Previously, she has worked as a care assistant which she found highly rewarding as she was motivated by the opportunity to help others. When Alix returns home, she hopes to study substance abuse counseling and is ready to gain more experience and confidence in supporting others by volunteering with ICS.
Emmanuel is the youngest in his family of five. He joined ICS to help and educate his fellow youths about topics he holds close to his heart. He also wanted to improve his self confidence in holding sessions to large groups of people. Back home Emmanuel works as a psycho social counselor and he also works at his local youth friendly corner as a communication manager. In the future Emmanuel wants to be the boss of his own company. Emmanuel is a happy approachable guy who always contributes great ides in the group. He also likes to break out in to dance whenever he gets the chance which always lifts the spirits of our team!
Ollie decided to join the ICS program because he wanted to do something different, gain some first-hand global development experience! When he goes back to the U.K he might go travelling around the world in a van or start his apprenticeship in engineering with Rolls Royce through GEA Aviation which is based in his local town. He loves football, he supports Chelsea and also plays for Bishops Cleave FC regularly. There is more to say about Oliver but this is just a brief introduction!
As a young girl Maria has shared her time living between France and the U.K. The reason she chose to volunteer on the ICS programme is because she saw first-hand how poverty affects people in India and now wants to give her time to help others, to have a chance to fulfill their own dreams. Maria has recently gained a scholarship studying International Law at a University in Madrid and naturally we are all quite proud of her achievements. I admire Mariah’s ambition, compassion, independence and maturity. As a team member I love working with her because she is supportive, considerate and always knows the right thing to do and say when you are stressed! She is a free spirit and a definite needed spark in team Nyimba!
Dennis was once a volunteer with VSO-ICS in Nyimba in 2015, Dennis decided to join the ICS programme because he believes that through together people can make a difference. ICS offered him the platform to be able to work with others, to impact knowledge to the people who need it most in the deepest parts of Zambia. Now a team leader he continues to achieve his goals in making a bigger impact. Dennis loves football and food (especially T-bone steak)! Dennis is a friendly and enthusiastic personality. He is caring and always knows how to listen to problems and calm down heated situations. He knows when to have fun but also when it is the right time to be serious. Great attributes for a team leader!
Jennifer joined the ICS programme because her passion in helping people is as vivid as a light on a tower. She believes that volunteering isn’t just about giving but also gaining something. What motivates Jennifer is seeing other young people succeed and because of this, she has spent a lot of time back in her home town working with other young people. She has worked with the youth friendly corner and edusport foundation to educate young people through sports in choma. After ICS she would like to study social work so that she can pursue a career which puts her in the forefront to help others. I find it inspiring to work with such a young and ambitious lady who is so passionate for other young people’s lives!
Sam decided to become a team leader for VSO-ICS because he wanted a new challenge, also in the future he hopes to work with international relations and possibly work with other organisations like VSO. He is a physical education teacher back in England and has previously couched Rugby in South Africa. He loves travelling around the world, has bungee-jumped and likes extreme sports! He is a laid back dude with an infectious laugh. I also really like his Zambian dance moves. He is a good team leader because he is very supportive and a great listener.
Before joining VSO-ICS, Bayenkhu was a business woman and one day hopes to create her own big business. She joined the ICS programme to make a difference before working towards her future plans. She enjoys reading in her spare time and is engaged with plans to marry very soon! She is fun to talk to and comes in handy when you are in need of advice! Since we have become a team she has gained the name Queen Bee! This is due to her nurturing personality and the fact that she speaks her mind when it is necessary. She plays a very important role in our team!
Before coming to Nyimba, Kizito also known as Kizman was a volunteer with VSO under the programme called Global Exchange, he worked in Choma southern Zambia and in London with a sports club to make a difference, he apparently enjoyed the cold weather in London! He later became a Team Leader and now he is the project officer, who provides logistical support and area expertise to team leaders and volunteers. He particularly enjoys the challenge of working with a variety of different teams as they are all different but all leave having made great personal development. He takes great pride in ensuring their security, safety and comfort through organizing host homes. Overall he is a great boss man apart from the fact he is a Liverpool fan but we all have our faults!
Emma “Iron woman” Ginnely is a rough, tough ultra-marathon runner from North Wales. Although small in stature, her huge personality stands tall as she keeps all of the volunteers in order (no-one messes with Emma)! She left her job as a primary School Teacher to pursue her interest in global development issues. With a love for the African continent, she joined the VSO team with aspirations to empower women and increase educational opportunities for those living in Nyimba district. As a natural born leader, Emma is an incredibly valuable member of the team!
Patrick is a friendly, young man from Choma in the Southern Province. He came on ICS programme so that he could help to make a difference in his country by educating peers about serious health topics. When Patrick is not working, he likes to hang out with his friends. He aspires to become an agriculturist as he has a passion for the outdoors. He has a reputation for being the “funny Grandad” of the group. Myself, (Matthew) Patrick and David are called the triplets by the rest of the group, we all look different but we live together and have very similar traits! My favorite thing about this person is that he doesn’t snore!
Eppe Coe, female who lives in England which is one of the best countries in the world! She’s still single and has no plans of getting married soon which gives her more time to move around the world helping out just like this place. She has come to Zambia to work with VSO/ICS program. Back in England she works as a special needs teaching assistant with teenager and young adults at a College. In the future Eppe would like to move to Spain to be close to some of her family and the sunshine! She would also like to set up her own charity one day. Eppe is a very lovely, charming and funny person and I love her style.
James studied sports science at Strathclyde. His nickname is Bobo due to the footballer who played for Celtic called Bobo Balde. He looks nothing like him but plays football in a similar manner! His Mum is called Ann and his Dad James senior, he also has a sister called Rachel who is 25. James lives on an island and often enjoys making the most of the ocean through swimming and surfing. He joined ICS because he didn’t know what to do job wise but wanted to do something good and productive whilst deciding! He’s easy to get along with everyone. Apart from the fact he supports Celtic He’s a top bloke!
Sherena views volunteering as rewarding and back at home she did lots of charity work. She decided to join the ICS program because she believes if she wants to make a difference she will do it bigger and better by helping first-hand. Her motivation in life is seeing people work together to make a difference. Before coming on the ICS program she was a student and was working part time as a youth support officer. In the future she wishes to create her own project to make a positive impact. I like Sherena because of her confidence and passion in helping young people, after all she has made the trip all the way from the U.K!
David studied Business administration at the University of Copperbelt for four, good years! Eventually David wants to be the boss of his own business but in the meantime he wanted to do something productive which would help other people in need. He also wanted to join ICS because he would like to be a peer educator in the near future as well as experiencing living with a different family and muzungus! David loves reading, visiting new places and sports! He is also a pretty good cook, I know this as I have had the chance to sample some of his delightful cuisine! He is a laid back dude, understanding and very easy to live with.
Chimunya graduated from St Mary’s School in 2015. She is last born in a family of three, 1 boy and two girls. She joined VSO-ICS because she was impressed by the work VSO/ICS does in Zambia. Chimunya has a natural artistic flare and prior to ICS, she worked at King Fisher Art as an artist and painter! She loves writing, singing, reading and cooking awesome pies and samosas. Chimunya is a bright and colourful personality, which is represented in the many favorite colours she has including green, blue, black and purple. What I like about her is her personality; She is quiet but insightful, she is really a chilled girl and has a great smile!
Matthew or Matteo as he is called by the local Zambians was previously working in a warehouse whilst waiting for ICS to commence! Matt decided he wanted to join ICS as he was intrigued by the interesting experience he would gain by volunteering in Zambia. He was very keen to have some adventure in his last year as a teenager but more importantly make a difference here in Nyimba. When asking Matt about how he is finding the food he says “he finds sampling the local food quite interesting”. Matt is living in a host home with two Zambian counterpart volunteers and together we call them “the triplets”. Although he is enjoying his time here he is finding washing by hand “rather painful and I have the scabs to show it”. Our favourite thing about Matthew is his use of grammar and typical English style and traits, from his voice to his grumblings about the weather. He is highly amusing and is known as the “English man” or the “Muzungu” in the local language!
Abassi was born on the 25th of May which means he is one of several volunteers celebrating his birthday whilst on placement in Nyimba! He started school at the age of 3 and due to his intelligence he skipped grade four and five! He is currently studying a four year course in agricultural statistics. He decided to volunteer with VSO-ICS to help others, complete his own Educational project and become more confident in speaking different languages whilst also learning how to relate different lifestyles. When he goes back home he wants to volunteer for the Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ). Abassi loves reading, writing, football and music! What I like most about Abassi is that he doesn’t segregate no matter the race or first language of any individual. He is encouraging, always has a smile on his face and is like a brother to me!
Maureen joined VSO-ICS because she wants to boost her enthusiasm and wanted to learn how live with others as well as learn about other cultures. She was a volunteer at PPAZ before she joined ICS. She plans to study nursing after the program. She likes to learn new things, try new things and reading the bible. I like Maureen because she is cool, calm and collected and hard working, amazing at translating.
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