Simonetta from our partner project in Zambia, Pamodzi Ndi Ana, introduces Annie:
“Annie started her journey with us as a volunteer in 2005. She got to know us thanks to a project on nutrition we were carrying out during that time. Since the beginning she’s always shown much interest in our projects and she was great at communicating with people as she knew exactly what they were going through.
Thanks to her passion and hard working attitude we got to know her better and better throughout her voluntary year and we decided, in 2006, to employ her and let her sign her first contract.
Annie’s story
Hi Hands Around the World, my name is Annie Zulu working with Pamodzi Ndi Ana as a social worker.
I’m going to explain how I became to know Pamodzi Ndi Ana. In 2005 I worked as a volunteer the whole year and in 2006 they employed me.
I came to know them when they were giving some infant formula to the [HIV] exposed babies. I did a basic course in counselling HIV positive mothers. So I came to know Pamodzi Ndi Ana because they they were dealing with HIV positive mothers. So I got interested. That’s how I started volunteering with them.
The experience that I have has helped me a lot to help other people. Also by helping the people I’m getting more experienced, because I meet different people like children with disabilities, HIV positive mothers, the vulnerable, etc.
So the experience that I have, it’s helping. And also the people themselves, they’re helping me a lot.
According to my work, because I’m a social worker, I’m dealing with different people, helping them in different ways, you know, as vulnerable people. They like much when you give them something like food, clothes. They like also – when they have problems – you stay with them, you talk with them, you counsel them. Like that, they feel relieved.