Between November 2015 and February 2016 I volunteered with the government led VSO project in Zambia helping to educate villagers in the country about HIV and AIDs. While I was there I visited the village of Mbabala. The everyday struggle to feed their families and ensure their children received an education so that they could improve their lives really touched my heart and I found myself going back to visit them whenever I had some time, getting to know them on an individual basis.
It soon became clear that they knew everything there was to know about HIV and AIDs and what they really needed was some guidance in working together within a support network rather than struggling on an individual basis – and so the Luyando Support Group was formed. You can see more information on this on my website at this link http://luyandosupportgroup.squarespace.com/

I decided to set myself a personal challenge and at the same time try and raise some money to help the support group. The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage is centuries old with most pilgrims walking from the France/Spain border across to Santiago (i.e. the traditional ‘French Way’). I decided to challenge myself a bit more and started from Mont St Michel – basically adding the length of France as my warm-up before hitting the France/Spain border. I also decided to do the ‘Northern Way’ which is a lot quieter and a whole lot hillier. The journey amounts to nearly 2000km or approx. 1200 miles – all on foot and in the Winter!
This will be my second Christmas and New Year (and birthday) in a row away from my family but compared to the daily struggles for the villagers of Mbabala that is a small price to pay.
Your support is appreciated and any small donation welcomed – it costs just £5 to send a child to school for a term in Mbabala.
Thank you
Adam