In 2004, we set off for a two-week adventure in Zambia

The first week was the classic safari experience, the kind you find in North and South Luangwa National Parks, where lions, giraffes, antelope, elephants, and hippos roam freely across the plains

But for the second week, we wanted something different

We chartered a small Cessna plane and flew to Shiwa Ng’andu, an extraordinary estate built by Stewart Gore-Browne in the early 20th century

(For more information, read “African House” by Christina Lamb)

Shiwa isn't just another colonial relic

Gore-Browne, uncomfortable with the attitudes of many settlers toward African people, set out to create a utopian community

Brick by brick, with the help of local craftsmen, he built the estate, importing certain comforts from the UK

By 1925, Shiwa Ng’andu was employing 1,800 local people, supporting schools and a hospital under his benevolent leadership

Today, his son Charlie runs the farm, having restored both the school and the clinic

He told us about the “1 in 10” principle, that one employed person in the community often supports ten other family members

That he said “was a massive responsibility, and he had a duty to make it part of any decision they made”, “you cannot just fire people here, every life has a consequence” 

Before our visit, we asked what gifts we could bring for the school

With strict luggage limits on the Cessna, (12Kg) options were limited

We considered Harry Potter books, but they already had them

Their request was simple: two footballs

We brought them, and gifted them to the children and the village

The joy on their faces said everything

The photograph we took that day captures pure gratitude, a reminder that the language of football is truly universal

Conclusion:
That trip taught me something profound

The safari showed us nature’s wild beauty, but Shiwa Ng’andu showed us humanity’s shared spirit

Whether in a Zambian village or anywhere else in the world, connection often begins with something as simple as a ball, a smile, and the willingness to share