I initially met Toxy three weeks ago; I had arrived in Zambia the previous day, and was suffering from a severe lack of gusto due to sleep deprivation, and an eleven hour turbulence accosted British Airways flight.

I had come to Zambia as one of the 2009 IDEALS Students, taking part in the UKSport funded IDEALS Project, a scheme that aims to address some of the social difficulties happening in Africa at present, such as the economy, education and HIV/AIDS awareness. UKSport works in partnership with Sport in Action and EDUSPORT, two non-profit organizations that promote sport and recreation as tools for achieving empowerment and knowledge in socio-economically underdeveloped communities in Zambia.

As part of my initiation into Zambian culture I was taken with my fellow students to meet the community Peer Leaders who we would be working with throughout the duration of our stay; the Peer Leaders involved in the IDEALS project work daily in the shanty-communities, and are responsible for providing community schools with control and sporting guidance that implements a strong social message that will relate to some of the difficulties that the young people will personally face during their lifetime.

With an appetite for change, and an enthusiasm for eliciting the best in people, the Zambian Peer Leaders involved in the IDEALS Project epitomized an ambition for making a difference, and assured me that I had little to worry about, and much to look forward to during my stay in Zambia.

Amongst the haven of rainbow filled personalities my attention became drawn to a girl dancing in the centre of the group, seemingly older than the rest of the mass, her persona possessed something unique. Eventually we were introduced with the traditional Zambian handshake that I had yet to master, her name was Toxy and she responsible for the IDEALS project in the community of Chawama, the poorest and most problematic of all the compounds that the scheme is involved with. Real name Dinah Mattakah, but affectionately referred to as Toxy because of her incessant need to infectiously talk about anything and everything, she extended an open invitation to visit the Chawama whenever I had the time, in order for me to learn more about the community and her involvement in the IDEALS project. Toxy, who hankered ambitions to become a doctor, first became involved with EduSport after visiting the charities sporting tournaments as a member of the Zambian Red Cross, of which she was a member from 1999-2005. Being aware of the EduSport mission and values Toxy decided to join the organization and IDEALS Project as a Peer Leader in 2006.

“The community of Chawama is plagued by alcohol, drug and education problems; I believed that sport, and the UKSport IDEALS Project could help unite the community and solve some of its ongoing troubles”.
Later that week I accepted Toxy’s invitation and visited the community of Chawama to experience the UKSport IDEALS Project, and Toxy’s work in force. Despite the extreme poverty that was obvious in the area, the compound of Chawama boasted a captivating charm; littered with smiling faces that became animated at the sight of a white person.

 I approached Toxy surrounded by a herd of children in the centre of one of the eleven intriguing community schools in Chawama (UKSport IDEALS Project operates in six of the schools to successfully sustain the program); playing traditional Zambian games with the children it became immediately apparent how important sport had become to the area of Chawama. Toxy explained that:

“Sport is seen a second ‘god’ in the community, a chance to breakout of the typically destructive lifestyles that much of the community can get trapped in. Recently members of the community have been talent spotted and become National Sports stars, this wouldn’t have happened without the help of UKSport and the IDEALS Project. Youths in the area are becoming more aware of the Peer Leaders attending their schools, and how important sport can be to their social development ”.

In addition to the sporting development programs EduSport and the IDEALS projects offers Peer Leaders the opportunity of educational sponsorship. At present Toxy is receiving sponsorship from the organizations, and is attending the University of Zambia to study for a Diploma in Social Work.

“Through the IDEALS Project I have come into contact with Friends of EduSport (EduSport’s sister charity) who have funded my Social Work Diploma, I appreciate all the opportunities that IDEALS, UKSport and EduSport have given me that I wouldn’t have had before. People fail to use their brains in Chawama as it is easy just to accept the lifestyle that they have been given, I don’t want to do that.”

Walking around compound it’s not immediately evident to notice the changes that are happening in the community, the shanty village of Chawama is littered with waste, and has an obvious sewage problem; the majority of children that amble unaided in the streets have little clothing or shelter. It is not until you approach one of the many community schools with a Peer Leader that you detect a glimmer of hope, the IDEALS Project and the Peer Leaders have clearly established a valued reputation among the schools, and more importantly the children that they are teaching and influencing.

Witnessing the changes that have been progressively happening around her home of Chawama, Toxy is keen to continue her involvement as a Peer Leader, and in the future imprint her own mark on the community.

“I have dreams to open and develop an orphanage for young children in the community. I believe that the children of our future will be able to make a positive change in the community if they are directed correctly; I want to be a mentor for children who receive little chances. I understand that it will involve a lot of hard work, and it’s probable that I will need a sponsor but I am willing to continue trying to make a change.”

Through the ‘lottery of birth’ the people of Chawama have not obtained the chances that the majority of western people take for granted, but for Toxy and the inspirational among the communities it has not suppressed an ambition for making a change.