Our February Groupon trip ended in a whirlwind of activity, with packed days and little time to document all the many exciting things that happened. By today, all our travelers have left Zambia for their next adventures… whether that involved...
Read More
One year ago this month, we at Spark Ventures began discussions with Groupon about a unique partnership that would introduce an international volunteer trip as a Groupon Getaway offering. Patty Huber Morrissey, the leader of Groupon Grassroots, and Spark’s Board...
Read More
Head Teacher Ngoma shows new textbooks to the children at Hope SchoolToday I was thinking about where I would be without the teachers in my life.There was Mrs. Williams, who welcomed me into her 3rd grade class when, mid-school year, I moved from California to Illinois....
Read More
I am in Zambia for the first time, and though I knew it would be an amazing experience, I was unprepared for just how incredible my time here would be. I knew I would fall in love with the kids...
Read More
1 – Innovative and powerful grassroots Zambian organization that our travelers will get to know during the coming week3 – Excited Spark staff members ready to share the impact of our work (two are along for the whole ride, and...
Read More
There’s no disguising it. Traveling from Chicago to Zambia is not a short journey!But the long journey made the arrival even sweeter. I stepped off the plane into the open arms of Zambian hospitality – unbelievably excited about the start...
Read More
Poultry Farm - Lusaka It’s hard for me to imagine that in just two days I will have been here in Zambia for a month, with just one more week to go. Though I spent a week in Ndola and had...
Read More
Over the past several days, our team of 18 Grouponers have really settled in, playing with the children, participating in the student reading program, touring the village, and spending time with the staff and teachers from Hope Village. There have...
Read More
Scott Barbeau and SweetnessOur travelers arrived at Hope Ministries for their first full day on the very same day the bi-annual health clinic for the children began. Our travelers spent the morning meeting the staff and the children and being introduced to the work Hope...
Read More
Within the next couple of days, members of the Spark staff will be traveling to Zambia and will be joined by 18 Spark friends from around the country to visit our partner organization, Hope Ministries. Preparations for this journey began many months ago and the...
Read More
This is the beginning of a beautiful relationship…. Part IHow 18 travelers, 3 guides, 25 local leaders and 350 children with hope created a life-long bondWe have just wrapped up an exceptional 5-day stay in Ndola, Zambia with our first group of those traveling with...
Read More
Clairelise Rodriguez traveled to Zambia on the Spark Ventures July Partnership TripMuli shani? Bwino!If you’re planning a trip to Zambia—or even just considering one—write this down.Muli shani, meaning how are you?, is the greeting of choice for Bemba-speaking Zambians and bwino!, meaning good!, is the...
Read More
My wife, her sister, and I were fortunate enough to come to Zambia a few days before the rest of the group because my wife made some friends here in Ndola on her first trip 5 years ago, who we were able to stay with....
Read More
Mwaiseni!If there’s one word I would use to describe the feeling in Zambia it would be “Mwaiseni”. It is the Bembe word for “welcome”. It seems no matter where I go or who I meet in this country, everyone says to me, “You are most welcome...
Read More
Wednesday, July 11th, 2012 Though it’s only the beginning of the third day that Rich and I are in Zambia, it feels like it’s been much longer. Maybe because of all the long meetings we’ve had thus far and how much work there is still to...
Read More
A former Partnership Trip Participant reads with one of the children from Hope Community SchoolIn only a matter of days, a couple members of our Spark team and myself will find ourselves in Zambia, home of our first partner Hope Ministries. We will...
Read MoreThis week we introduce the second story in our three-part Stories of Transformation Series, which helps connect you to the children that Spark Ventures serves in Ndola, Zambia. We hope these stories help show the incredible potential of these children, potential we hope to help...
Read MoreEvery child that Spark Ventures serves in Ndola, Zambia has a story to tell, often a story that is heart wrenching and inspiring at the same time. As we invest in these vulnerable children to help them achieve their potential, we would like to share...
Read More