This experience is shaping me in ways I could not have imagined, says Betti volunteering in Zambia

After I finished my studies in biology and human ecology, I knew I wanted to work on a field, that is connected to impact on other people’s lives. During my university studies, I focused a lot on climate change and environmental challenges. The more I learned, the harder it became to ignore how strongly these issues affect vulnerable communities, especially in developing countries.  

Before applying to be a humanitarian aid volunteer, I had already volunteered for many years, but those projects were mainly focused on local communities in my own country. I have always enjoyed contributing, but I also felt the need to expand my knowledge and experience on international development projects. That is what motivated me to apply for volunteering opportunities in Africa. 

This motivation led me to apply for volunteering opportunities connected to my field in other African countries. In the end, Zambia felt like the right choice. During the interview process, the country director and my future colleague were very well prepared. They answered all my questions openly and honestly, which gave me a strong sense of trust and safety before leaving and gave me confidence that this would be an environment where I could learn and grow. 

The pre-departure training from ADRA Czechia also helped me to prepare both practically and mentally. Because of all of this, I came to Zambia with an open mind instead of strong and high expectations. Looking back, I think this mindset helped me a lot to adapt more easily, appreciate small moments, and experience the country as it is. 

My first weeks in Zambia were both exciting and challenging. Before moving here, I had never worked for an NGO, so the beginning felt like an intense learning process both professionally and personally. There were many new things, different ways of working and everyday adjustments that I had to get used to. At the same time, what immediately stood out to me was how friendly, patient and helpful people were. Whenever I felt unsure or needed help, there was always someone willing to guide me or make me feel comfortable.  

In Zambia, I work as a Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Officer, which means that a large part of my work is connected to field activities and projects. I also saw this opportunity as a personal test for myself. I wanted to see whether I could successfully combine my scientific knowledge with development and humanitarian work in practice. So far, this experience has shown me that environmental challenges, local realities and development work are tightly connected.

One of the most valuable parts of my work is the opportunity to travel to the field and directly observe the realities communities face. Zambia is a very large and diverse country, both culturally and environmentally, and every region has different challenges, resources and local dynamics. Because of this, field visits are essential. They allow me to understand why certain projects succeed while others face difficulties. Seeing projects written in reports is one thing, but visiting communities and speaking with people directly gives a completely different perspective. These experiences help me better understand how climate change affects people differently depending on where they live and what resources they have access to. They also showed me that successful projects are not only about technical solutions, but also about trust, cooperation and understanding community needs. 

At the same time, this experience completely changed what my everyday life looks like. A year ago, I probably would never have imagined that my life would suddenly be filled with nshima, “Muli bwanji?” greetings, long field trips, seeing wild elephants and cheetahs with my own eyes, visiting the Kuomboka ceremony, meeting so many interesting people and collecting stories and experiences almost every week. Sometimes it still feels surreal how quickly completely unfamiliar things can become part of everyday life. Alongside all the learning and challenges, this experience has also brought a lot of fun, unexpected moments and memories that I know I will carry with me long after leaving Zambia. 

For the rest of my deployment, I hope to continue learning from the communities and people around me, gain more field experience and deepen my understanding of climate resilience and sustainable development. I know there will still be challenges ahead, but I also know that this experience is already shaping me in ways I could not have imagined before arriving in Zambia. 

The Humanitarian Volunteering for Solidarity Activities project (No. 101140258) runs from February 1, 2024, to January 31, 2027, and is co-financed by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed in this text are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the grant provider (the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency). Neither the European Union nor the grant provider are responsible for them.