My years of toil liberated me

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” these are the words of Africa´s most celebrated leader Nelson Mandela, engraved in my heart and soul.
In my 27 years journey on earth nothing hurt me so much like growing up in poverty, real poverty where having two meals a day was a rare occasion. Breakfast in our home was only served once a month when my uncle got his monthly salary.
Having a perfect school outfit was something I never knew, later on paying school fees was a real struggle.
Growing up in such an environment, as painful as it was, I learnt that education was my only liberator, the only remedy to live a better life.
I struggled through my education, even when I had no money to pay my grades in class showed how dedicated I was to my education and my teachers always found a way of sneaking me in class without paying.
I completed my senior grades and time for tertiary school dawned but where was the money?
I applied for tertiary and started working as a sales lady at one of the shops in Lusaka to raise money for school but my salary was minimal, it ended up just filling my stomach.
With my acceptance letter in my hands tears rolled on my cheeks, thinking that my dream to be liberated from my poverty had just ended like a real dream, my twelves years of toil in school was nothing!
God indeed does not slumber, when I lost hope of been in school with only a week to go before registration closed, my teacher informed me of an organization called FAWEZA, (Forum for African Women Educationalists in Zambia).
I looked for the place the whole day on foot, hungry, with lost hope I eventually found my ´promised land.´
I met a lady called Kate Dignan and I asked her if I could see the director.
She asked me what I wanted and I explained. Before I could finish Kate told me her brother had money to sponsor someone at school but told me to give her my written explanation why I needed help, right away I scribbled the letter and she told me to call her on Monday for the money.
I couldn't believe it, I spent sleepless nights that week thinking she would change her mind.
Monday came, there was Kate at campus, my fees paid and I stepped in class with disbelief.
From that day on, I dedicated my life to ensure other children have an education.
I joined FAWEZA and I´m a contributor to their sponsorship grant.
Though my contribution is minimal my vision is to have more resources to help more children.
Currently I´m working on a program with my friend Mutale Kapekele on how to empower youths with skills that can enable them make an income and provide for their needs like education.
These skills can include, hairdressing, knitting, baking, writing skills, flower planting, Curio making, tailoring, etc.
These are extra skills that I feel children need away from academic knowledge to enable them have a start in life without struggling.
Though the project is a profit making venture, about 15 % participants will be underprivileged children who won´t be paying anything.
Depending on how the project goes, some proceeds will go towards sponsoring some children in school.
My vision is too see each and every child educated, rich or poor, able or disabled.
With PulseWire Voices of Future program, my platform of interaction will widen, so will my knowledge.
I wish to share my vision with the world, share ideas and transform them to reality and see more and more children liberated from the chains of poverty.
Indeed, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It changed my World!