Welcomed into their home and hearts
My trip to Cameron’s Orphanage was without a doubt life changing. I was 18 and had just taken my A Levels and was embarking on adult life beyond school. Having been involved in fund raising for this charity throughout my time as a student at Hurst, I was keen to go out to the orphanage at the start of my gap year as a volunteer and excited to travel to rural Africa.
As I set out, I reflected on what my life would look like now if I had grown up as an orphan in Zambia; losing my parents at a young age, struggling to find food and warm clothes, being denied the access to healthcare and medicine and opportunity to attend school which I have always taken for granted.
Our arrival at the Orphanage in Mkushi was the beginning of an incredible voyage of discovery. Tired and exhausted after our long flight and bus journey, we were welcomed like celebrities by these warm, happy people who have so little. Our entrance into the Italia Foundation School which sits next to the orphanage was like Alexander the Great returning to Babylon with hundreds of smiling children screaming and cheering us, trying to shake our hands or speak to us in English. I have never felt so welcome. We were welcomed into their home and hearts!
Even more overwhelming was the sense of joy that emanated from these people who I could see were very poor yet seemed to have so much love to give. As darkness fell, the children put on a spectacular welcoming ceremony involving impressive dancing and singing and even a small concert. The atmosphere was eye wateringly beautiful. This was my introduction to Cameron’s Orphanage where I would spend the next week, living in a simple mud hut and getting to really know and understand each of the lovely 12 young orphans who had made this their home over the previous few months.
Over the coming days, we learnt quite a few new trades and I am proud of the way we worked as a group of students supporting each other and rising to each challenge.
We dug trenches, mixed cement, built walls which we plastered and painted allowing us to renovate a house and build a tuck shop.
When we were not working, we played and interacted with the orphans. One memory that will never leave me is watching the faces these young children as they were introduced for the first time in their lives to toys. We had each carried over a suitcase of donated toys and clothes. Some impressive Lego creations emerged, and I confess we had just as much fun as the orphans in creating them!
Another highlight was the Hurst vs Mkushi football tournament. As I hope to become a doctor, I had brought over a medical kit and decided to serve as the medic for both teams.
During the match a little girl came off crying with a cut on her leg. As I disinfected and dressed the wound, I talked to her and she felt this was a good time to teach me basic Bemba. Her crying soon turned into laughter at my humble efforts to communicate in her native language.
As I had no other medicine to offer, I gave her a few Haribos and from that moment onwards I became known as Dr Chris by the children, who then paid me daily visits with their fake injuries in the hope of also receiving the sugar gift of ‘medicine’!
As a group of 16 to 18 year old Gen Z students used to every electronic gadget the planet has to offer, aside from the amazing connection we made with all the children, we learnt something very special on this trip.
After sunset, we would sit in the dark around the camp fire chatting. No phones, no laptops, no electronics in sight. This led to real conversations; exciting ones, fun ones and most importantly meaningful ones. This was something I never knew I had missed, but when it happened I realised I had craved this for a long time. We all did and recognised we had escaped the rat race of life, left today’s news and stress behind allowing us to truly focus on each other and our new community.
The realisation that time no longer mattered here was incredible as all that mattered was the moment and feeling it, something the children taught us. It wasn’t long into the trip before no one checked the time or worried about the date. What you don’t know you never miss, but I now miss those timeless days at the orphanage where all that mattered was being, feeling and caring for those around us and in return this incredible sense of love from these young orphans, many of whom have never known such security, warmth and strength they get from each day at the orphanage.
After leaving the orphanage he and his school friends ventured deep into the heart of Zambia where they enjoyed a safari, a 3-day gorge trek along the Zambezi river sleeping under the stars at night arriving finally in Livingstone where they witnessed the majestic Victoria falls. Chris continues to support the Orphanage in many different ways and will be going back next summer to spend more time with the children and help build them a health centre.
During his time at Cameron’s Orphanage, Chris made a short film of his experience.
