storiesfromhome4

Hello! My name is Lwanga Chibamba. I have lived and worked in Poole for a number of years, and my most recent role was as an occupational therapist.

I love occupational therapy (OT). Honestly, it’s probably the most exciting job I have ever had. To me, OT isn’t just a job, it’s a philosophy. It’s about bringing hope when people are at their lowest and most vulnerable… and sometimes, it’s about making what seems impossible, possible again (with a bit of creativity and a lot of problem-solving).

Let me take you back to 2015, I was working part-time as a carer while doing my Master’s degree in Social Care. I was working for our family-run care agency, and I had a client I saw regularly- let’s call her Mrs Nelson.

Mrs Nelson was a lovely lady. She was independent, her mobility was fair, and she could manage most of her day-to-day activities. However, due to some mild cognitive impairment, she needed a bit of prompting here and there. One thing about Mrs Nelson, she loved looking good. Every Saturday, without fail, she went to the local hairdresser to have her hair washed and her nails done. That was her highlight of the week. That was her thing. Her meaningful occupation.

Unfortunately, as time went on, Mrs Nelson’s cognition declined, and her physical function was affected. She needed more support, especially with transfers, and eventually, she wasn’t able to leave the house safely anymore. No safe transfers meant no outings… and no outings meant no Saturday hair appointments.

Our care agency contacted the local authority for an occupational therapy assessment. At that point, my understanding of OT was… well, limited. I mostly thought of them as the people who send moving and handling care plans. And like many people, I also thought, “Aren’t they basically the same as physiotherapists?” (I know… sacrilege. I have since repented 😅).

The community OTs carried out their assessment and made practical modifications in the home. With the right equipment and adjustments, carers were now able to safely transfer Mrs Nelson from her bed into a wheelchair. And just like that, something beautiful happened…

We could take her back to her Saturday appointments.

And the difference? You could see it. Her wellbeing improved. There was a spark again. Even though her cognition had declined and she needed more support, she still recognised that this activity brought her joy. It mattered to her. It was hers.

I was immediately sold.

I remember thinking, “I want to do that. I want to be that person who looks at a situation and finds a way to make life better.”

To me, those occupational therapists were like fairy godmothers in Cinderella. They came in, waved their (very practical, evidence-based) wands, and completely transformed the situation. No pumpkins or glass slippers, just grab rails, hoists, and a whole lot of impact.

It took me another seven years to finally take the leap and go back to university to train as an OT fairy godmother myself. I qualified in 2025 and have since had an incredible eight months working in a hospital as an occupational therapist.

But the story doesn’t end there…

As I write this, I am now living in Kalulushi, Zambia.

You might be thinking, “Wait… didn’t you just qualify? What are you doing there?!”

Well… that’s exactly what this blog is about.

Join me as I reflect on returning home to Zambia, building an occupational therapy service, and discovering what meaningful occupation looks like across different communities and cultures.

Come along with me 😊