Meet the Gapettes!

This week we wanted to give you a proper introduction to our new gap year students, or the 'Gapettes' as we call them... So here they are:

Who are you?
We are the Gappettes!

I’m Beth Wilson. I go to Restore Community Church in Loughton. I’m eighteen and have done Cache Level 3 (childcare education). I visited Zambia last August for 10 days with my church and couldn’t wait to come back.

Hey! I’m Cathy Hobbs. I went to Cranleigh School and have just finished my A levels. Cranleigh is partnered with one of the schools linked with Beyond Ourselves – Kawama. I came out here in October 2012 with a group from school and was desperate to work with Beyond Ourselves for a longer period of time. Beth and I are staying out here for three months.

Why did you want to return to Zambia with Beyond Ourselves?

Cathy:
For me, Beyond Ourselves is a very special charity. I have never come across a group of people so devoted to a shared goal, both teachers and those representing Beyond Ourselves in Zambia and in England. The Christian grounding of the charity is especially important for me. The short period of time I spent here two years ago were simply too good and I felt that I didn’t have enough time (only 10 days) to fully get to know the staff, teachers and the kids properly. They taught me so much more than I could have ever taught them. There was simply no question of not returning when the opportunity came up!

Beth:

When I came out to Zambia last year I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was blown away by people’s generosity, kindness and love. People were inviting me in to their homes, showing me around their area and just loving me for who I am. That’s something that you don’t really get back home, so that’s one of the reasons I wanted to come back. Also just because I loved the children and families so much, they bring me so much joy and laughter and everything they do and the way they live teaches me so much and makes me value life so much more.

What have been your first impressions – second time around?

Beth:

My first impressions second time round were the same as my first impressions last year. The community still brings me so much joy and the love is still going strong. The only thing I have found different this year is that people are looking at me (and Cathy) in a much more funny way than they did last year. I don’t know if this is because I’m not within a big group of people, so I may stand out more, but my first impressions of this is why are people looking at me!? (Plus we are both ginger!)

Cathy:

Similar to Beth to be honest. First impressions are similar although for me, the teachers seem to be slightly more chatty as they know we are staying for a long period of time, so that’s great. The kids initially were quite nervous which I didn’t remember from last time, but now they are as boisterous and playful as ever. Understandably it took some time for them to get to know us both. Dan set us on a ‘treasure hunt’ in Ndola yesterday (basically doing odd chores and finding our way around, one being collecting a napkin from ‘Hungry Lion’ – the Zambia equivalent of KFC!). Previously I hadn’t seen much of ‘proper’ Zambia. Even if slightly daunting with lots of stares (!) it was great to find our feet.


Any highlights (or lowlights!) from your first two weeks?
Cathy:

A major highlight has got to be the lunch we had with the Bishop of Zambia after visiting Gilgal church on Sunday. He was an incredibly inspirational preacher and such an amazing person to speak to. It was a truly humbling experience. Additionally, spending time reading and playing with the kids everyday has got to be a highlight. Seeing Dan’s face after buying him an African shirt off the street has got to be up there too!

Possible lowlight – Beth and I have just cooked our version of Chili con Carne for the Whitcombe crew and Dan, who has eaten caterpillars in the past and has not been sick, now has a stomach ache… Whoops!

Beth:

My main highlight has to be going to the football stadium to watch Zambia vs Mozambique. The atmosphere was just crazy, never seen so many excited people. It was great! Within this highlight, another highlight, was when Cathy turned to me crying, I was thinking she’s crazy, what’s wrong with her, soon I realised we had been tear gassed! That was probably a low light for her, but for me it’s stuck in my memory!

What are you looking forward to doing?

Beth:

I am looking forward to getting more involved with the schools, working alongside the teachers to provide fun stimulating, educational activities for the children. I am also looking forward to Cathy teaching me how to play my recorder! Dan is going to love me! Getting to know my neighbours will be fun and I love the idea of becoming a family and not a ‘team’ with the Whitcombes and the Pearses family.

Cathy:

I simply cannot wait for the next church service. The singing is absolutely incredible and the praying is something I have never experienced before. In addition to that, I’m looking forward to teaching the kids some songs to perform for the Zambian Independence Day on the 24th October. Every Friday afternoon, we have ‘Team time’ where ‘The Crew’ (Whitcombes, Pearces and Gappettes) meet and take turns to choose an activity. Beth and I are taking it next week and there is no question that ‘pass the parcel’ shall be making an appearance.

New term, new team!

As the new school term starts we are ridiculously excited that we have new people joining our team in Zambia!

At the end of July we were sad to say goodbye to our Gappies Alex and  Charlie after they shared three months with us, but we are thrilled to be welcoming our first Gappettes (we're fairly sure that's a real word!), Beth and Cathy. They will be staying with us for the next three months working alongside Dan and Melissa at the PHC community schools we partner with. Although they've only been there a couple of days it seems they have already got to know our neighbour Daliso! I'm sure you'll be hearing from them as soon as they've settled in to life in Zambia :-)

Not being content with just a couple of Gappettes we are also welcoming the Pearse family; Malcolm, Emily, Lucy and Albert.

Malcolm and Emily first visited Zambia in February of this year and they loved it so much that they have committed to retuning for two years as a family! Malcolm will be teaching at a local school in Ndola, where Lucy and Albert will be going to school too. And from January 2015 Emily (also a teacher) will be working alongside Dan promoting the quality of teaching and learning at our partner schools. 

All very exciting!