Response Network

A Walk for Life – Promoting Healthy Living Through Sport.

Response Network Zambia is proud to host the press conference for the annual Walk for Life event, taking place in Livingstone.

The event promotes sports, physical activity and healthy living across all age groups. Walk for Life is part of the AUSC Region 5 sporting activities, which are also held in other member countries. In Zambia, sports activities fall under the National Sports Council of Zambia.

Through our sports partnership, supported by NIF, Response Network Zambia continues to provide a space for meetings, press conferences and other sports-related engagements at our Resource Centre in Livingstone.

We are proud to contribute to initiatives that bring communities together, promote active lifestyles and demonstrate that sport is for everyone.

A Walk for Life — a healthy practice for all! 🚶🏾‍♂️🏃🏾‍♀️

🌍 THE TEN-MONTH JOURNEY HAS BEGUN! 🏡⚽

After a two-day internal orientation at the Response Network Livingstone office, our YSEP participants were ready for the next exciting chapter meeting their host families and beginning their ten-month journey in the communities.

Before heading to their respective host communities, the two participants spent a night together so they could get familiar with where each of them would be staying.

The following day, the team travelled to Kalonda, where Sara will be staying for the next ten months. They then continued to Luyaba, where Ingrid will call home during her stay.

Both participants received a warm welcome from their host families and were given beautiful local names. Sara was named Choolwe, meaning Luck, while Ingrid was named Namwinga, meaning a strong, happy person. ❤️

So far, so good! The girls are settling in well, enjoying their new families and communities, and are ready to work hard to create a different and positive future using sport as a tool for development. ⚽🌱

And the cultural experience has already begun! 🇿🇲✨

Sara (Choolwe) was gifted a chicken by Ingrid’s host mother, and, of course, she gave it a name Berit🐔😂

The girls have also bought chitenge wraps so they can look just like the locals. Ingrid has even tried carrying a bucket of water on her head after seeing the girls and women in her community doing so! They have also started learning some everyday household activities, including washing plates.

It’s only the beginning, but already there are smiles, new friendships, cultural experiences and plenty of stories to tell.

Stay tuned! More stories from the villages are coming soon. 🌍❤️⚽

2026/2027 YSEP VOLUNTEERS, A NEW JOURNEY BEGINS.

The 2026/2027 Youth Sport Exchange Programme (YSEP) is officially in motion following the successful hosting of the General Orientation.

Response Network, NOWSPAR, Sport In Action , the Zimbabwe Volleyball Association, and Norges idrettsforbund (NIF), welcome a new cohort of exchange participants that are eager to learn, collaborate and make a difference in the various areas or communities they will be placed.

For the next 10 months, there will be exchange ideas, building skills, strengthening programmes and work with communities across Zambia, Zimbabwe and Norway. This promises to be yet another demonstration of how sport can connect people and create positive social change.

This will definitely be an inspiring season of collaboration, cultural exchange and shared impact. For our two participants, our rural communities are excited to meet and host the participants.

Today, the 2 participants attached to RN ,and 1 attached to Sport in Action Livingstone jumped on to a UBZ with the Response Network YSEP Coordinator. This is the participants first long journey in Zambia.

Looking forward for more learning and interesting adventure.

Let the journey begin!

At 45, Iness Siambula, a vegetable farmer from Sioni Village in Mangonda Ward, Zimba District, cares for seven children aged 7–26, her mother and a person living with a disability.

Before LIFT-Zambia, Iness farmed along a stream that dried up around July. She relied on buckets to water a small garden, a difficult task because of problems with her legs.

After joining the LIFT-Zambia Program, Iness attended trainings and invited project officers to conduct practical demonstrations in her field. She learned to construct a check dam to preserve water and received a water pump, allowing her to expand her garden and making irrigation easier—even her seven-year-old son can now help.

Through mulching and using animal manure, she retains moisture for longer and irrigates less frequently. She now saves about K2,000 every week from vegetable sales and, for the first time, is moulding bricks to build a house for her family. She also uses the pump to make mortar for the bricks.

The knowledge has extended to her field crops, where she now practices crop rotation, intercropping, ripping, erosion control, water management and planting early-maturing varieties suited to local rainfall.

From water challenges to saving money and building a home, Iness’s story shows the power of knowledge, practical support and climate-smart agriculture.

“I want to thank the LIFT-Zambia Program. Please continue training us farmers so that we can improve our lives.”

Congratulations, Agnes Banda our Newest Graduate.

Join us in congratulating Agnes Banda on her graduation with a Diploma in Pharmacy from Evelyn College.

Agnes is one of the more than 2,500 girls who have been supported through the Sponsorship Programme by AKIND, in partnership with Response Network.

Her achievement is a powerful reminder of the impact that investing in the education of the girl child can have. We are proud of how far you have come, Agnes, and we celebrate this important milestone with you.

Girl child, the sky is the limit!

As you begin the next chapter of your career, we wish you every success. May your knowledge, skills and dedication make a positive difference in the lives of many.

Congratulations, Agnes! Your journey has only just begun

Program Integration Workshop Enters Day Two

The Program Integration Workshop has entered its second day, with sessions being facilitated by Mr.Mwaba, Head of Programs at the Joint Country Programme of NCA and DCA.

The key highlights of today's discussions continue to focus on understanding what program integration is and exploring the practical steps required to achieve effective program integration. Participants are engaging in insightful discussions and collaborative learning aimed at strengthening integrated programming for greater impact in the communities we serve.

The workshop is equipping participants with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance coordination, improve efficiency, and maximize the impact of development interventions through a well-integrated programming approach.

Walking Down Memory Lane: A Journey Back to Response Network's Roots

Response Network Board Chairperson and Co-Founder, Hakon Spigseth, recently took a nostalgic journey back to where it all began, visiting Weston Siachongwe, Response Network's very first employee, at his home in Siulikwa Village.

The visit was filled with fond memories as the two reflected on the early days of Response Network—travelling from community to community, engaging traditional leaders and community members, and introducing the Self-Help Manual developed by Dr. Soli. Their shared experiences highlighted the humble beginnings and unwavering commitment that laid the foundation for the organization's growth and lasting impact.

The memory tour would not have been complete without a stop to visit Timothy, one of the first community volunteers. Timothy played a pivotal role in mobilizing communities and organizing meetings during the formative years of the organization. His dedication and tireless efforts were instrumental in building trust and fostering community participation in the self-help approach.

The journey also included a visit to Musanta Community School, where the Chairperson witnessed both the challenges and the promise of the future. Although the school currently has inadequate infrastructure, plans are underway to construct a 1×3 classroom block, which will significantly improve the learning environment for the children.

The visit served as a powerful reminder that Response Network's achievements have been built on the dedication of community members, volunteers, and staff working together over the years. As the organization continues to grow, it remains committed to the same values of community participation, self-reliance, and sustainable development that inspired its beginnings.

Today, we join the rest of the nation in celebrating the hardworking farmers whose dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment continue to drive Zambia's food security and economic growth.

Your tireless efforts nourish our communities, strengthen our economy, and build a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Happy Farmers' Day!

In the comment section share a photo of your of your farming activity and admin will give you a special mention.

Join us in congratulating our very own Kubala Girl, Memory Manyando!

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Memory Manyando, a Response Network-sponsored girl under the Kubala Girls Sponsorship Programme, for her outstanding achievement at the Provincial JETS Competition held at Terry Schwarz Adventist Secondary School.

Representing Livingstone District against participants from 15 districts across the province, Memory emerged as 2nd Place in the Secondary Sustainable Systems & Environment category.

Her innovative project showcased a water reticulation system, demonstrating the processes of water collection, treatment, sedimentation, and distribution—highlighting practical solutions for sustainable water management.

Memory's achievement is a testament to the power of education, innovation, and determination. She has not only represented Livingstone District with distinction but has also made the entire Response Network family proud.

Congratulations, Memory! Your hard work, creativity, and passion inspire other girls to dream big, work hard, and believe in their potential. We wish you continued success in all your future endeavors.

The future is bright, and girls like Memory are leading the way!

Join us in extending a warm welcome to our Board Chairperson and Co-Founder, Mr. Hakon Spigseth.

Mr. Spigseth is no stranger to Zambia. Having lived in Livingstone for many years, he shares a special connection with our community and the people we serve.

We are delighted to welcome you back to Livingstone, welcome to Zambia, and welcome home to the Response Network family. Your continued leadership, commitment, and passion for empowering communities remain an inspiration to us all.

We wish you a pleasant and memorable stay as we continue working together to transform lives and strengthen communities.

Welcome, Chair Hakon! 🇿🇲🤝