Lusaka Day 1

After a very pleasant flight (including our second breakfast) we arrived in Lusaka and caught a cab straight to the hotel. So far we have stayed in lots of lovely, independent and often quirky small places but for some reason, we still don’t know why, in Lusaka we booked the Best Western. I really wouldn’t recommend it! It’s not that there was anything wrong with it, although the pool was a little dodgy, it was right at the front of the hotel and looked more like a water feature, it was just bland and corporate and had the worst customer service out of everywhere we’ve stayed – and we’re becoming quite expert now!😊It was also our most expensive yet!! What were we thinking?

Anyway, once we’d checked in and I’d had my first moody and a little bit emotional stage (not bad for nearly six weeks in) we decided to go out for a walk before dinner. We asked the receptionist’s advice and walked towards the famous (apparently) Cairo Road. We’d walked for about twenty minutes when a man started talking to us. So far in our time in Africa we have been approached by several people asking for different things but this gentleman was definitely different. He was dressed smartly and on his way home from work. As we walked he started to tell us a little bit about himself, his name is Godfrey Simukonde and he is a child activist who seems to work tirelessly for the welfare of the homeless children or street kids in Lusaka. Rob is usually very cynical about many things but was very moved by Godfrey and his story and before we knew it we had agreed to go and meet some of the children, look at their living conditions underneath the main bridge in Lusaka and take some of them, with Godfrey, on a little shopping trip to the local supermarket to buy enough food to keep them going for a little while.

As we walked to the supermarket Rob talked football with the boys and I walked with Godfrey and the girls who were very affectionate, holding my hands and wanting to be close. Their English was limited but Rob was fine as Football talk needs very little language and I found out a little about the girls with the help of Godfrey. Walking with them also confirmed some of what Godfrey had told us, the local people ignored them totally and they weren’t allowed in public places, such as the Supermarket unless Godfrey was with them.

After we’d bought the provisions in the supermarket we parted ways as it was getting late and neither Rob or I are keen on wandering the unfamiliar streets in the dark. Godfrey had given us a short leaflet with details of his work and charity and we spent quite a lot of the evening, as we ate our dinner in total luxury, thinking about what we might do to help.

Thanks to members of both of our families we have gathered enough money to ensure that the two young girls who have recently given birth under the bridge will be housed, with their new babies, for the foreseeable future. We are in touch with Godfrey and hope to do more once we are home. Our first afternoon wasn’t spent quite how we’d expected but it felt right and really highlighted how lucky we are. Xxx