And so we come to the middle stage of our immersion journey in Africa. We have seen and worked in all of the immersion projects and met the leaders here in Zambia. The weekend doesn't have too much physical work but certainly has challenges and rewards in abundance. Yesterday Joe and Paddy went to the Home of Hope to continue with the construction of the play area for the boys there but no power (again) = no metal cutting possible = play football with the boys! Our guys (and girls) got the chance of a lie in (to 9 o'clock) and a bit of 'easy time'. The afternoon was brilliant! A trip with all 60 boys from the Home of Hope to a small animal park and an open air swimming pool. The kids at the Home of Hope were so excited and our buses rolled out to the sound of drumming, singing and sheer joy! Sometimes we do take so much for granted in the West and fail to appreciate how basic experiences mean so much to those who have so little. One of the wee boys from the Home of Hope told us that he was so excited because the only animals he had seen were cats, dogs, chickens and rats. To have our guys walking around a tiny zoo holding the hands of these boys and swimming in the same pool as these most vulnerable of children does really make these boys feel valued in a world in which they have suffered so much rejection. Great day and great memories.

Today we went to mass (2 hours with lots of singing) and then went with the Tembo family to the grave of Peter Tembo who died tragically last year. It was very emotional for all of us who came to know Peter Tembo as a dear friend and especially for Joe who is godfather to one of Peter's grandchildren. It was a beautiful short ceremony with blessings, music provided by the St Dominic's girls, readings and a reflection about the great inspirational man from Africa who has touched so many lives both in Zambia and Ireland. May God be good to this man who led his community with such vision and energy.

We then went to the orphanage where we were greeted Angela Miyanda's husband (the former Deputy President of Zambia) as we awaited Angela and the 55 children return from church. Games followed and then off to the market to buy presents and gifts for family members, friends and those who supported their fundraising efforts throughout the past months.

We will now enter our final phase of this journey during which we start to prepare to go back to our own homes and families. Friendships have been established among the members of our school groups and with the people here in the margins. All of us can be so proud of our young people who have brought so much joy and, indeed, hope to the former street children in the Home of Hope, to the orphans in Kabwata, to those in the slum of Misisi and to everyone whom they have encountered here in their new daily lives in the margins.

God bless,
Aidan

And so it is day 4 of our journey into the margins and a wonderful journey it is too. All of the group have now arrived (collected 'Mr Mark', Adam and Matthew at the airport yesterday) and thoroughly enjoying their immersion experiences. Friendships are being established both within our group and with the communities we serve that will last a life-time. Watching the students and staff interacting with children and carers in the Home of Hope is truly uplifting. Paddy Linden has a group working with him putting wood preserve on decking for a play area for the street children and there is another group painting and really brightening up the Home of Hope. Brother Jacek is delighted not simply with what we are helping to provide but especially the fact that our students are working with these most vulnerable of children together to create a wonderful environment that is rightly called the Home of Hope.

In the slum of Misisi the St Catherine's Centre is indeed a beacon of hope in conditions that, frankly, are shocking and a crime. Peter Tembo (the community leader who died tragically last year) always said that his dream was to provide a path for a child from Misisi to go to university. And Project Zambia has certainly been hugely influential in this. The foundations for the school hall started to be dug today and building materials arrived on site. Busy days ahead.

On a totally personal note I was delighted to be visited today by an old woman who I had met on numerous occasions in the past. She was one of the grandmothers who sit at the side of the road breaking down stones into building materials. They receive 70 pence per day for 12 hours hard work in the blazing sun. The reason they do it is to provide for their orphaned grandchildren. This old woman and I (and her grandson) used to laugh together every morning (not understanding a word each of us said) as I would stop off with her at the side of the road near the St Lawrence's Centre. She went from that place a few years ago and I always asked the local people about her. This morning a woman brought her to meet me in the Home of Hope. The old woman had heard that I had come back to Lusaka and asked this other woman to bring her to me. Her son is now in Grade 11 (A-level)! I was blessed today by an elderly widow from the slums!

God bless,
Aidan

Over the next few weeks, we have volunteers in Zambia. Here are the first few updates from Aidan. We are hoping to have a PZ blog up and running very, very soon so we are kept well up-to-date. With photos. But for now here you go.

Zambian immersion journey: Day 1

So today our journey into the margins begun for real. The flights were behind us and we had settled into the hostel last night. Everything had happened precisely according to plan. On arrival at the airport we were met by some airport staff I know who ushered us through the queues as Zambian residents and were met in the arrivals hall by transport organised by Carol (owner of the hostel). Dorms allocated, mosquito nets checked, food got and an evening reflection about what has called us to Zambia followed by an early night. Joe gave the call at 7.30 and it was time for a shower and breakfast. Then off to the immersion sites to meet and be greeted once again by friends of St Mary's, St Dominic's and Project Zambia.

First stop was Kabwata Orphanage where we met the youngest child - a boy of two months of age from Brundi. The Orphanage is an oasis where (currently) 55 children are wonderfully cared for. Then to the Home of Hope (street children project) where 53 former street children - the most vulnerable young boys you can think of - have a safe and secure home and a future. Finally into Misisi slum - a place that no amount of talks can prepare you for. Mr Linden pointed out the silence that descended on the group as it entered the slum and witnessed first-hand the conditions that so many countless millions of people are forced to endure in the 21st Century. And then the joy and amazement when they saw the St Catherine's Centre right in the Misisi which gives the children of Misisi an opportunity to move forward through the only factor that defeats poverty - education. It was also a very emotional day for Joe and myself as we met Peter Tembo's widow, Catherine, and daughter, Ruth, for the first time since the inspirational leader of this community died tragically last October.

Tomorrow will see our guys painting, digging, clearing and playing with the children in the various immersion sites. Parents and teachers should be so proud of our young people who have thrown themselves so enthusiastically into this new world and nothing is a problem to them. They will also come back much fitter. Apparently we walked 11.6 miles in the African sun today!