Zambia | March 2025

People, Proposals, and Partnerships

Ryker Jensen

Date(s) Visited: March 02, 2025 – March 08, 2025

Region: Lusaka & Livingstone, Zambia (Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe)

Purpose: Initiated and led workshop on proposal writing and partnership development for adaptive sports and disability advocacy with the National Paralympic Committee Zambia, Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and the UN Youth Association of Zambia. I developed this idea after meeting Zambian friends and professionals while working on U.S. State Department professional exchange and sports diplomacy programs at FHI360 in Washington, D.C.

Impact: Strengthened local disability rights organizations’ capacity to secure funding and launched a GoFundMe, aiming to strengthen short- and long-term institutional capacity.

Languages: English, Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, and more…

Religions: Primarily Christian, with diverse traditional beliefs.

Welcome to Global Footprints

Hello, привет, and Herzlich Willkommen to my first country blog article! Or, as they say in Zambia, Muli bwanji? (How are you?)

This series blends travel stories, personal reflections, and academic insights from journeys to over 50+ countries around the globe. From supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals in Senegal to exploring sports diplomacy in Malaysia, each experience brings unique lessons. Most of all, I hope to demonstrate how the people I meet teach me the beauty of compassion, the richness of languages (e.g., Wolof, Farsi, Chichewa), and the value of hands-on cultural exchange.

I believe travel should be both fun and deeply informative. So, enjoy my mix of stories, practical tips, and a few favorite words and dishes along the way!

How It Began

From August 2024 to January 2025, I supported U.S. State Department international exchange programs as an intern at FHI360 in Washington, D.C. There, I worked with programs like the International Visitor Leadership and Sports Envoy & Sports Visitor Programs, and first connected with Matthews Kalabo, a local leader from UN Youth Association Zambia, selected for the IVLP by the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka. Later, I met Deophister (“Deo”) Chisenga from the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities, also an alumnus of the Sports Visitor program. Through the Sports Visitor Alumni Mentorship Program, we connected via WhatsApp and began brainstorming ways to make an impact together.

Following the disbanding of USAID, we developed a practical workshop on storytelling, proposal writing, and the donor/project cycle. Our goal was to equip local leaders with fundraising tools and establish lasting relationships, not only between me and them, but also between the local agencies and the government itself, so that advocacy and funding can develop locally.

Arrival & First Impressions

Landing in Lusaka, I was met by humid, dusty air, familiar from other subsequent trips to Sub-Saharan Africa but unique, tinged with the scent of charcoal and street food. Lusaka is a city of contrasts: bustling markets, friendly laughter, vibrant chitenge fabrics, and visible infrastructure gaps.

Matthews met me at my hotel downtown, in the embassy district, where expats rub shoulders with local entrepreneurs. He greeted me with a broad smile and a handshake, saying, “Muli bwanji!” in Nyanja. We spent the first day walking the city, trading stories, and practicing my limited knowledge of Bemba greetings.

As we walked along the roadsides, there were deep canals near most major roads as well. Matthews pointed out Lusaka’s waste management problem, most prominent with trash filled canals, as recent heavy rains flooded gutters with plastic and food packaging. Blocked drainage turns flooding deadly, with several deaths reported in the city just a day before I arrived. Having recently studied “Waste Worlds: Inhabiting Kampala’s Infrastructures of Disposability” by Jacob Doherty, which offers an analysis of similar challenges and solutions in Uganda, the interconnected social and environmental issues in the city became evident.

Matthews this as more than an environmental issue, noting how it connects to public health, economic stability, and safety, all of which are linked by often-overlooked systems. He explained that most of the waste originates from the central market in Lusaka, which is the largest and busiest market in the entire country. Therefore, he decided to give me a tour, accompanied by his friend, a local journalist from the media.

Market Walk & Lunch

We entered Lusaka’s bustling market. Vendors shouted over stacks of tomatoes and dried fish. The smell of grilled maize and meat mingled with the exhaust of minibuses filled my nose. Motorcycles weaved through crowds as we entered, often precariously transporting produce, animals, and/or people. Beneath it all, gutters clogged with plastic and trash revealed that commerce coexists alongside obvious infrastructure gaps.

Matthews showed me where the rain most often leads to flooding, not just a nuisance, but a significant health and safety risk. He highlighted issues such as city garbage cans being stolen and melted down for quick cash, storms spreading litter from the central market throughout the rest of the city, and many more challenges they face. Seeing the firsthand impact of how urban systems affect opportunity and human well-being is always a humbling and daunting experience; however, I am inspired by the resilience of the communities and the hardworking, good-hearted people who continue to find solutions.

Now, please enjoy the following video of my local friend “secretly” filming on my phone while we walk through the central market, which is the largest market in the entire country. And please excuse his candy wrapper noises, but do watch with volume up!

The Workshop

The three-hour workshop and roundtable were practical and informal. Ten people squeezed into a hot, modest office, brainstorming with energy: Matthews from the UN Association of Zambia, Deo from ZAPD, leaders from the National Paralympic Committee, coaches, and athletes.

We didn’t have a fancy venue or even reliable internet, but everyone brought commitment, passion, and, in Zambian style, warm kindness. Together, we discussed needs/challenges, practiced proposal writing, and shifted from using technical language to telling real stories.

By the end, everyone had practical tools and resources ready for use, feeling reinvigorated to address these pressing challenges together.

Why This Matters Now & How You Can Help

Donor funding is shrinking at a time when passion and potential are at an all-time high. During our workshop in Lusaka, I witnessed firsthand how much local leaders, athletes, and organizers can accomplish when provided with the right resources. But passion alone isn’t enough. Equipment is breaking down, indoor facilities are lacking, and Zambian Paralympians have historically missed regional and international qualifying tournaments due to a lack of sponsorship or funding for travel needs.

That’s why our GoFundMe campaign is now live. The funds raised will go directly toward priorities identified by our Zambian partners, including:

Adaptive sports equipment (wheelchairs, crutches, cleats)
Indoor facilities to enable training during the rainy season (half the year)
Transportation to tournaments
Hosting local competitions
Proposal development for future grants
Direct sponsorship for athletes preparing for regional and international events

By supporting or sharing this campaign, you help ensure that Zambian athletes with disabilities aren’t left behind, but are empowered to train, grow, and compete on local and global stages.

Sport is far more than just competition; it is visibility, community, and dignity. Every contribution and every share creates opportunities that last far beyond a single tournament or workshop.

Victoria Falls | A Personal Pause

After a few intense days in Lusaka, I flew to Livingstone to decompress and visit Victoria Falls, locally called Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the Smoke that Thunders.” The falls’ roar is felt in your chest, with spray rising for miles. In Bemba and Tonga, the name evokes awe and respect for nature.

Crossing the border with a local guide, I noticed customs checks, market life, and other interactions. Border officers spoke Nyanja; vendors called out, “Bwanji!” and “Karibu!” Watching both sides, I saw borders divide geography, not always culture.

At sunset, I sailed along the Zambezi River, watching hippos yawn and crocodiles glide between sandbanks. My guide, using a blend of English, Bemba, and Tonga, pointed out birds with names I’d never heard before and told stories about the river’s importance to local livelihoods. The next day, a friendly park ranger led me through the national park, helping me spot zebras, monkeys, gazelles, buffalo, and, with luck and patience, several rare white rhinos.

Being close to wildlife grounds me and helps me reflect. Visiting Victoria Falls reminded me that the work in Lusaka is always about people but is also deeply rooted in local ecosystems. Watching food vendors and guides, speaking a patchwork of Bemba, Nyanja, and English, cater to visitors, I saw how tourism weaves through daily life. Protecting nature isn’t just conservation; it’s a bridge between ecology, economy, and culture. Every river crossing and every conversation, whether about wildlife or football, reveals how livelihoods, environment, and identity are inseparable here.

Play

Reflection & Next Steps

As my Zambian adventure drew to a close, I found myself reflecting on the connections made and lessons learned, such as how a workshop in a modest office room could ripple outward, and how a walk through a crowded market could reveal both the heartbeat and disparities of a city. These experiences remind me why I travel and write: to share not just places and projects, but the people, the moments, and the unexpected turns that shape each journey.

I hope this story brought you, even for a moment, to the streets of Lusaka and the thundering mist of Victoria Falls. If something here resonated, I’m grateful to have had the chance to share these stories and the remarkable people behind them. Supporting and sharing these efforts is always appreciated, but simply reading and reflecting is encouraged, too.

But this is just one chapter in a larger adventure. From Victoria Falls, my path led me straight to Malawi, where a new story unfolded: I joined my graduate research group for fieldwork in sustainable agriculture, conducting interviews, hosting focus groups, and learning from local communities. That story is coming soon.

Thank you very much, or zikomo kwambiri in Chichewa, for reading and being part of this journey. Stay tuned, or subscribe below for free, to hear more stories, lessons, and ways to connect across borders, as I cover over 50 countries and regions I have visited over the last decade.

Lessons Along the Way

Empowerment Starts Locally — Lasting impact comes when local leaders drive the agenda. Listen more than you talk, partner rather than prescribe.
“Muli bwanji?” Opens Doors — Even where English is widely spoken, learning basics in local languages can deepen trust and spark smiles!
Sport is a Universal Language — Adaptive and inclusive sports programs unite communities, break down barriers, and spread awareness.
Connection > Checklist — The most memorable moments aren’t in the itinerary: Sharing nshima, swapping stories (both the funny and devastating ones), and laughing through power shortages are what you remember and what build solid partnerships.
Flexibility is Essential — Expect power cuts, bad weather, and last-minute changes. With humor, patience, and a reserve stash of cash (not just cards), you can go a long way!