There were so many great things that happened on this, my fifth trip to Zambia in Mar/Apr.2017. As always, seeing this young man, is a joy and highlight of my trips, but this was a very special visit.
Njamba all grown up into a fine young man at age 22 and on his way to a new job!
For those of you ( like you Debs), who have read all of my medwoman.wordpress.com blogs, you will know the beginning of the story with Njamba. Our first meeting https://medwoman.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/luoke-west/.
For those of you who don’t know, I sponsored Njamba from the age of 10 yrs old to 16 years old when World Vision
drove me to his village to meet him and his family in 2011.
Then in 2012, Carl & I went back to his nearest town, ( a 10.5 hr paddle in a dug out canoe) Kalabo to take funds for Njamba and his twin sister Ngebe to go to high school. Unfortunately Ngebe became pregnant so as per her family’s wishes, ( I know, it was not my choice), we gave her funds to her then 20 yr. old brother Kufuku. To make matters more distressing, but a sad reality in Africa, the baby died shortly after being born but I am happy to report Ngebe now has a lovely 2 yr old named Peggy, named after one of the books I sent to keep Ngebe reading.
We could not afford to pay for the boys to board at school but his older brother Kufuku, gave Njamba his share of the money so Njamba could live at school while he went back to subsistence farming with their father.
So at age 17, Njamba started high school ( there it is grade 10) and graduated with his grade 12 in 2015 at age 20.
I was wondering what he would do after high school and as things happen, I heard about a government run Agriculture course in Kaoma where he and our assistant manager Matindo attended from February 2016 to January 2017 which was partially funded by SEEDS. A blog about our wonderful Matindo is coming soon!
They both really enjoyed the courses and had to grow up fast as they had to find a room to rent, buy and cook their own food and attend long days at school, some times for 12 hrs. They both passed and Njamba recieved 88% and has obtained a job, which he loves, in Animal Husbandry in Chongwe Zambia. It is quite far ( a three day trip) from his home near Kalabo but he is over joyed at getting a job in a country where the unemployment rate is 13.3% compared to our 6.5% in Canada.
The most amazing part of all of this is how confident Njamba’s is now. From the shy, small boy to this young man who is sure of himself and embracing his life. Way to go Njamba! Your hard work has paid off!
I always had to have a translator with all my previous visits so Njamba & I could understand each other but I am happy to report we had no trouble communicating this trip as his English is superb! He was even translating for me with everyone who could not speak English.
So a BIG THANK YOU to all of you who have donated time, energy and funds to SEEDS and contributed to this young man’s success!
I am so happy now and know that he will be just fine!
