Events Sports and Celebs from Zambia and Big Brother Africa
Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show – Billy aka Mr Green, Kachanana host from TV2 and I meandered around the Zambia’s biggest agriculture and amusement show. People from all over the entire country gather together to learn about new agriculture technologies as well as ride the train, play soccer and even jump in bouncy houses.
Personally, I love to shop and chat, so that’s just what we did. I bought some EcoDivalicious earrings made from bullhorns, purses made from crocheted plastic bags and earrings made from wrapped magazines beads. There were many organic and environmental booths with friendly people (friend’s of Mr. Green) ready and willing to share their knowledge. There was also an eLearning van there. It was creates so that students in rural areas could have a chance to learn computer skills. My friend Mathews was selling “The Highly Efficient Stainless Steel Cooking Stove” cooker set. It was specifically designed and created to help stop deforestation and charcoal use. Next stop was the Zambian Red Cross was where we all got our “beep beep” aka blood pressure checked.
Puni, the head of Namununga School, where I’d been previously teaching, offered Billy (from YEN Zambia) and I the opportunity to travel to the Barbara Mary Collinson’s Pre-School an hour outside of Lusaka. Initially I was told about Barbara because she’s making dolls using waste like fabric scraps and excess wig hair to raise funds for Cerebral palsy. Barbara’ was lucky to find gracious donors to donate computers for the computer lab. Barbara’s beautiful house has a skylight the length of the roof. Barbara and her husband Dutch have a farm and they teach Zambians organic farming methods.
MundaWanga is a botanical garden with an animal park featuring impalas, hyenas, mongus, lions, tigers and wild bores. Mr Green loved the trees and greenery. I loved the 3 different types of bamboo, eucalyptus and the raffia tree (…and yes I am thinking that Zambia needs to start manufacturing eco fabrics from these trees and grasses!!!)
Namununga School Sports Day – I was the guest of honor for the special occasion – LET THE GAMES BEGIN – The theme was “Maintaining a GREEN mind through sports.” 1st and 2nd grade cheerleaders were cheering and skipping, 3rd 4th and 5th grade barrel rolled, 4th grade hula-hooped, and the best part of the day was the teachers vs. parents soccer (futball) game…I even played on the teachers team and Billy played on the parents. (Footage was shot, but no pics, so look out for it when the video posts.)
Q FM DJ Mich interviewed Billy and I live for all of Zambia to hear (many of the Namunuga students heard us on the radio.) Billy spoke about Youth Environmental Network and the Cop 17 Youth Caravan that starts in Kenya and makes it way down to South Africa for the Climate Change Convention. I simply WOWed Zambia with some Eco Fashion facts and I shared what I’d been teaching and learning from students at Namununga.
Salaula Markets are where second hand clothes from London and the US are sold. Super EcoDivalicious. I want clothes from London for cheap. J
Smooth Talk is a popular talk show in Zambia where all the really cool stars and musicians get to be interviewed. Host Smooth IK (Innocent) is a really great person and was happy to add Mr. Green and I to the mix to spread positive environmental messages in a funky, trendy, fashionable way. Some of the other guests were designer Smart Phili, designer Raymond Green, Rapper Brisky, and Mumba from Big Brother Africa.
Billy’s Auntie Stella played professional basketball and she rocked on the court.
COP 17 Youth Caravan team members including CCZ invited members of European embassies, the press and youth organizations to a press conference to launch a fund raising campaign. They all listened intently as Billy Lombe, from YEN Zambia, presenting COP 17 proposal.
