OUR Celtic FC Foundation volunteers are now well into their second week in Zambia, as they continue to create some wonderful memories during their time in the Chipata region.

Sunday saw the group take part in a football match in the area of Kapasa, as hundreds of children and adults from the community turned out to watch, as our volunteers, joined by a few Mary’s Meal staff, took on a local team.

The group were welcomed once again in the warm manner with which they have become accustomed to since their arrival. Fun was had by all, as many of the group donned the Hoops to take part, while others engaged with the children of Kapasa Primary School on the side-lines, with a rendition of ‘Come On You Bhoys In Green’.

It was an early start on Monday morning, as the team split into two again and set off to work at two more Early Childhood Development centres, where they would once again have to opportunity to assist with the Mary’s Meals feeding programme, at another two of kitchens built as part of our 67 Kitchens project.

Group one, comprising Aaron Coyle, Martin Cummings, Pauline Findlay, Taylor Jobson, John Mullan, Declan Rooney, Eddie Rooney, Phil Rowan and Ken Simpson, spent the next two days working at Kachele Primary School.

Group two, made up of Mark Cameron, Robert Corr, Christopher Deith, Ross Hart, Michael Kinsella, Joanne McGirr, Anne Marie McKinless, Michael Taggart and Amanda Wilson returned to Kapasa Primary School to be reunited with their new friends.

Monday and Tuesday were spent transforming the bare walls of classrooms at each school, into colourful ‘talking walls’, which will be used to as vital educational aids, for many years to come. There was of course also plenty of time for the volunteers to play games and share songs with the children of each school.

Upon completion of their projects, each group bid an emotional farewell to the staff and children of their centres, ensuring that they were left with plenty of gifts and memories of their new friends from Celtic FC Foundation – and even a crest on the wall for good measure.

Despite spending only a matter of days working within their respective centres, the connection between our volunteers and the children of each school has been truly special and the experiences will no doubt live long in the memory for all involved.

The remainder of the week will see the group come together as a whole, to begin work on their final two projects at Mkowe Primary School and Masamba Primary School.

To support the efforts of the volunteers, you can make a donation HERE.