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...
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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...
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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 MoreSeries: Stories of Transformation Today we publish the final story in our three-part Stories of Transformation Series, a set of stories that we hopes helps you connect more deeply to some of the children that Spark is serving in Ndola, Zambia. These stories show not only...
Read MoreSpark Zambia Trip Featured on GrouponIt isn’t every day that a small nonprofit organization like Spark Ventures receives national recognition. But that’s what has happened this week with the offer of Groupon’s first ever volunteer vacation deal in partnership with Spark.The trip was released with...
Read MoreThis is the story of Michael Kalenga, a student at Hope Community School who receives education, nutrition, medical care and emotional support through the Spark-Hope partnership. His story was taken by Brady & Liz Josephson during the June 2010 Transformation Trip.Michael Kalenga is thirteen years...
Read MoreRecently, Sara Blumenshine returned from spending six months with Spark’s partner in Zambia. Sara had visited Hope Ministries before through a Spark Ventures Partnership Trip with North Park University, and she returned as a Global Intern to work directly with the children and serve in...
Read MoreIf you are excited about our the way we lift children out of poverty through our sustainability-focused partnership model, there are many ways that you can show your support- even without financial investment!One of the main steps in growing Spark’s base of support is via...
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Meet Lucy Jodlowska, Spark's first ever Director of Partnerships. After accepting the position two weeks ago, she hopped on a plane and headed with a Spark team to Central America this past week, and is now back in Chicago and settling into her new...
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We recently took the time to interview Jamie Leathers, a participant in our January 2012 trip to Zambia. As a long-time investor in Spark Ventures, Jamie was excited to see our work first-hand in Zambia as well as meet her sponsor child, Jane! Read our...
Read MoreI'm now in the British Airways lounge at London Heathrow after two flights that took me from Livingstone to Johannesburg and now to London. I've just got one more flight before I'm home to San Francisco, and I'm looking forward to resting up after a...
Read MoreWe've had a truly lovely two days in Livingstone. Yesterday, after a magical trip to see Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, we arrived back at the hotel for a calm dinner at the hotel.Scott ordered the bream, and as...
Read MoreIt’s been an action packed few days, and we’re now in Livingstone after a short trip to Lusaka to see the farm. I’m excited to share two of the best stories from the past couple days! It turns out you can buy absolutely anything from...
Read MoreToday was a bittersweet day as we said goodbye to the staff and students at Hope Ministries in Ndola. Tomorrow morning we'll drive to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, to see the poultry farm that Spark helped to launch in May 2011 and that has...
Read MoreAfter a rather structured morning that took us around Ndola to see and learn about the effects of colonialism, slavery and HIV/AIDS, Jamie, one of our trip participants, and I were certainly feeling a bit weighed down.I find that it's precisely in these moments when...
Read MoreMargaret, who used to be the manager of a major bank, is the deputy director of Hope Ministries. She is also a tall and wonderfully hilarious woman who has consistently had the best one-liners on every single trip I've taken here.Half the time I feel...
Read MoreAlthough in Zambia education is supposedly free from Grades 1-9, costs for school fees, uniforms, books and supplies add up to the point that many students cannot afford to complete even this level of basic education.To ensure that Hope's Grade 7 graduates (who have performed...
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