It’s been difficult wrapping my head around the news that befell us here at The Responsible Safari Company on the 22nd of May 2019, even more difficult to write this piece.
On the morning of May 22, our company lost one of its guides. Wellington Chisambo. I received the news whilst away and every day since then, I stay thinking he’ll walk right through the office doors ready to listen to all my travel stories.
Wellington sat on the desk right beside mine & each day he spent in the office, I never saw him angry or frustrated. He was very easy to work with, a very approachable and easy going character, a gentleman.
Dear Wellington, we cannot question your departure, but we can very well revisit the memories you left us with. It was a complete joy and honour to work with you, thank you so much for leaving this earth having left such a positive impact. We will surely miss you.
Here are some of the messages that my colleagues, clients and well-wishers left.
“Wellie was a good person, very cheerful and humble. Working with him was always easy as he paid attention to every detail. I miss him and I feel the gap he left just as I miss him dropping me at home when we work late sometimes. May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.”
“Wellie liked to smile, and laugh with the group. He was a great swimmer, as we found out earlier this year on our company trip to the lake. Wellie liked helping people, colleagues and clients alike.”
“A selfless guy and very personable and easy to work with. He left such positive impressions on people. He will be missed dearly by all that had a chance to spend time with him. One memory that stands out for me was that I always told him my money was on him if he was a car racer. Fastest, yet safest driver!”
“I first met Wellie at RSC. My first impression of him was a classy, humble guy, which still remains the case. He was a friendly, gentle, kind, jovial and down to earth person. It's difficult to choose the right word to describe the gap/hole that he left. I will miss him both as a colleague and friend.
Wellie will be in our hearts forever. May he rest in peace.”
“Wellie was one of the company's original guides and had been with us since 2014. He was always hugely popular with both clients and staff alike with his beaming smile and his cheeky sense of humour. He will be greatly missed by all”
“Such sad, sad news. He was such an important part of the success of recent Royal Holloway Geography fieldtrips to Mulanje. I am sending sincere condolences to his family and the RSC team from all at RHUL Geography.”
“Worked closely with him last year at Katete PS and was getting ready to do the same this year as teams are about to start arriving. Very professional, calm and ever smiling! Will miss you Wellington. RIP”
May his soul rest in eternal and perfect peace.
Ivy chat about the power of women coming together on our Skills Sharing Expeditions. 'If women are capable of doing everything that men are capable of doing, then we have a universe of double work force, a universe full of people that can work together in a better and faster way.'
Maggie goes behind the scenes of RSC's Community Project links and chats about how we are trying to empower communities through sustainable tourism and practice Trade Not Aid where possible.
Our Malawi team chat about The Orbis Challenge, Orbis Skills Sharing and our 2020 School Expeditions. What a year it will be!
