1. Is it a Mystery? Life in Africa
We are going to look at some pictures from Zambia to see what life is like there. Some of the pictures might be very mysterious, some might be easy for you to see what they are of. The man on the right is watering his field using a treadle pump. The orange fruit is a Zambian cucumber. Can you guess what the picture on the left is?

2. Let’s fly to Africa! Can you spot the UK on this map?
Africa is a continent. Do you know how many countries are in Africa? 54
Over 1,000 languages are spoken
We are going to see what life is like in some of the countries where the charity Self Help Africa works.

3. What do people in rural Africa live in?
Lots more people live in villages in Africa than they do here. There are some cities with big buildings but we are going to look at pictures from the villages.
Is life very different from here? Are some things the same as here in the UK?
What sort of houses are these people living in?

4. This man is baking bricks
Not everyone lives in straw and mud huts - many people have tin roofs and bake bricks out of mud for their houses.

5. This family have build a brick house
They have to build they’re own houses. The houses are usually quite small. There is no upstairs.

6. The people in this village have to drink dirty water
Many people in African villages do not have clean water to drink. Some people get water from wells, but some have to use water from rivers that is not very clean.

7. How far do you have to go for water?
Some people in African villages have to go far to get their water. Children often help.

8. These children are getting water from a new well
Some villages have wells with clean water. These children are collecting water from a new well. Pumping it up and down can be fun!

9. What are these boys playing?
Like all young people, children in rural Africa love to play sports, especially football. They often make their own footballs out of plastic bags or rubber bands.
What are these boys playing?

10. They’re not wearing shoes!
Football is played in dusty fields and school yards without proper shoes or equipment.
Entertainment is not like your experience – televisions are rare in rural homes – they probably don’t have electricity! There are no shops to go to, no cinema, no playgrounds, no toys, no libraries and because adults work so hard there isn’t much time for clubs or outings.

11. Can you guess who lives here?................
This is where some animals live. Can you guess which?
Can you guess who lives here?

12. ……GOATS!
It’s a goat house!
Lots of villagers keep goats for the milk and manure. They have to make the houses off the ground so it is easier to collect manure and so the goats are kept away from parasites like worms during the night.
Families make houses off the ground so the goats are kept away from bugs

13. Can you guess what animal this is?.......
Here’s a clue....it lives in Africa and likes rolling in the mud to cool down!

14. ………A HIPPO!
This is a hippo! Hippos live in rivers in Zambia and other parts of Africa. They come out of the rivers to look for food and at night can cause a lot of damage trampling on people’s crops. They may look slow but can run fast so people need to watch out!

15. These children are selling mangoes by the road
These children are selling mangoes by the road. They have is a shady shelter to protect the mangoes from the heat. Lots of children help their families to sell things by the road to people on buses and in cars.
These children are selling mangoes by the road

16. What is this woman selling?
This shop sells white bread and sugar. Most people in African villages eat basic meals for breakfast made from their staple crop like maize, plantain or rice. But if they have the money they like to eat bread and tea for breakfast and they like a lot of sugar in their tea!
What is this woman selling?

17. Sunflowers like growing in Zambia, Malawi and other African countries!
What is growing here?

18. These can be made into cooking oil
People in some villages are growing sunflowers them to collect the seeds to press for oil. They can sell the oil and make money for their families to pay for things like school fees and medicine
These can be made into cooking oil

19. Have you ever eaten these?.......
You might have had them at parties with salt on.

20. In Africa these are called groundnuts, but we call them peanuts
These are groundnuts, or peanuts. They are not really nuts but grow in the ground. In southern Africa they grind them up to make a paste to add to vegetable stews as well as eating them like we do with salt.
In Africa these are called groundnuts, but we call them peanuts

21. What sort of fruits are these?.....
These farmers in Uganda grow lots of fruit along with the staple crop of maize.
What sort of fruits are these?.....

22. and an African JACKFRUIT!
Its an AVOCADO!
and an African JACKFRUIT!
This is an avocado and an African Jackfruit. They don’t grow in the UK. They are very good for you.
They are very good for you!

23. Why is Angatu proud?
Self Help Africa have helped her grow lots of things so she and her family can have a better diet.
Angatu is very proud because she have learned, with help from Self Help Africa, to grow lots of things instead of just a few things. She now grows cabbage, rice, and different fruit and vegetables so her family have eat all year round and can sell things.
Our resources are free, but if you like them and want to fundraise, please go to and click on ‘schools’
Here are some easy fundraising ideas:
Hold a non school uniform day with an African theme – you could wear bright colours, dress up as African animals or come in green like Self Help Africa’s logo
Make a collection box and decorate it with African patterns and crops. Visit to download a net
For lots more fundraising ideas, visit

24. These children are happy because Self Help Africa have given them a better future.
Our resources are free, but if you like them and want to fundraise go to: .org and click on ‘schools’. Here are some ideas:
Hold a non school uniform day wearing African animal masks
Make a collection box and decorate it with African patterns and animals. Visit to download a net
Thank you!