Kashitu lives through change. And we are part of it.

The volunteer days in the Kashitu community continue at full speed, and each passing day reminds us why this project carries such deep meaning. After a safe journey from Lusaka, Honza and Klárka, together with Emanuel, arrived right into the heart of the community, where locals welcomed them with incredible openness and joy. From the very first moment, it was clear that this was not just another "mission," but the next powerful chapter of a shared story we have been writing in Kashitu for several years now.

Ongoing activities in Kashitu

The atmosphere over the last few days has been full of movement, hard work, encounters, and hope. Boyd and his team are moving forward with making sun-dried mud bricks—the very material that will soon form a new beekeeping workshop, stepping the local community another foot forward. Every brick made here represents more than just building material; it is a symbol of self-sufficiency, cooperation, and the belief that real change is created together. The driving inspiration remains the long-term vision of the Kashitu School project, which connects education, sustainability, and development for the entire region.

Meanwhile, Klárka and Honza have launched essential field research focused on compostable toilets and the emerging "toilet club." Together with local residents, they are mapping out experiences, needs, and potential challenges of dry toilets. The findings of this research will be crucial for securing future grants and follow-up projects. The numbers and people's enthusiasm offer great hope—more than twenty volunteers attended one of the community meetings, all wanting to be part of the change. Everything is heading towards the official establishment of a new club, which could significantly improve hygiene conditions across the area in the future.

Alongside this, another vital part of the project is kicking off—supporting local beekeepers. Current honey prices are being researched, purchasing from local farmers is being prepared, and a database of beekeepers from the wider area is being created. The goal is not just to support individuals, but to build a functional network that will help the whole region grow economically. Beekeeping in Kashitu is gradually becoming not only a source of livelihood but also a tool for education and long-term community stability.

The last few days were also marked by intense preparations. Questionnaires were printed, information brochures for farmers compiled, and materials created to serve further work in the community. For this, we traveled to the nearest town, Kapiri Mposhi, to handle printing and other organizational matters. Meanwhile, step by step, a comprehensive database of local beekeepers is coming together, which will be essential for the future operation of the project.

A warm welcome from the community 

A deeply moving moment was Sunday Mass and the subsequent introduction of Klárka and Honza to the local community. It was beautiful to witness the warmth and trust with which they were received. Moments like these show that Kashitu is not just about buildings, workshops, or technology. It is, above all, about people, relationships, and a shared journey.

Plans for the coming days

The journey continues. In the coming days, we have important meetings scheduled with the farmers who completed the beekeeping training last year. We want to hear about their experiences, find out what the project truly brought them, what they missed, and how the next training can be even better and more useful. Every piece of feedback is valuable to us, as it is the only way the entire project can continue to grow meaningfully and sustainably.

And as if that weren't enough—construction of a power transformer begins next week. Another massive milestone for all of Kashitu. Power, infrastructure, new opportunities. Things that seemed nearly impossible just a few years ago are now taking real shape right before our eyes.

We are overjoyed that dreams are turning into concrete actions. We are thrilled that so many people are pursuing this change together, and that Kashitu is once again proving how powerful a community can be when given the space to grow.