Secondary Scholar, Zambia
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Secondary Scholar, Zambia
Katongo leaves her aunt’s house well before sunrise to begin her 90-minute walk to school in Chinsali, Zambia. Despite the long walk, it’s a journey she looks forward to every day.
She knows when she arrives she has a place in the classroom – the same classroom she was barred from two years ago because her school fees were unpaid. When the Head Teacher noticed her all alone with no one caring for her, she was put on the list to request scholarship assistance from CAMFED.
In addition to the school support she receives, Katongo also benefits from the encouragement and mentoring provided by CAMFED-trained Teacher Mentors and volunteers. Her favorite subject is math, which is useful when she helps her aunt sell bananas.
Katongo never knew her parents, having lost both of them when she was an infant. However, she knows neither of them finished Grade 1, and the aunt who has raised her left school after Grade 6. Many of Katongo’s friends don’t attend school, and some are already married and pregnant. She will be the first in her entire family to finish school. When she thinks of this, “it makes me so happy, I want to jump!”
My dream is to become a nurse – I want to help people
But Katongo’s story doesn’t end there. Just as Katongo completes her secondary education, she will join the CAMFED Association (CAMA) – the network of female leaders educated with CAMFED support, who will support Katonga on her journey to independence.
Rob Nickerson £350
Niall Doherty $215
David WOLFSON $750
Wendy Wallbrunn $40
Jonathan Wilkinson £50
Albert Zabin $200
Steve Osman $100
Roe & Maggie Stone $100
Betty Schwab $25
Jonathan Brody $40
Bonne Mogulescu $150
William Wiedmann $150
Adrianna Timmons $360
Lizbeth Garcia $10
Niall Doherty $370