
Meet the Bakashana Grantees with Sponsors. Want to learn more about what it means to be a sponsor? Visit our Sponsor Expectations page.
Ireen Chanda
Thank you to Ireen’s Full Sponsors, Tristar and Scott Egermayer!

Ireen is highly determined! Due to her academic prowess, we offered to send her to a Boarding school when we first met her in 2020, and again when she passed grade 9 in 2021. She is committed to her elderly Grandmother who supports her, and knows that Grandma would have a hard time completing basic tasks if Ireen went to a Boarding School. Until last year, she had the support of her Grandfather as well, who was a pensioner, but unfortunately, he passed away in early 2022. Ireen is self-motivated and determined and will go far with your support!
Faith Chanda
Thank you to Faith’s Full Sponsor, Inutu Liam!

Faith Chanda is a very strong and determined little girl. In 2019, her Mother brought her to our offices. At the time she was only four years old. Faith’s Mom has always known in her heart that this girl needs to be in school. After multiple surgeries to correct her club feet, braces on her growing little legs, and years of physio therapy to help her learn to walk, Faith is ready to enter grade 1 in 2022.
Faith’s Father suffers from the same condition. Through hard work and a strong partnership, Faith’s parents have been able to meet the basic needs of their family, living together in a grass thatched house in a shanty compound outside of Kasama Town. Faith is attending a Boarding School for special pupils which is run by the Catholic Church here in Kasama. Learn more about Faith’s journey
Theresa Chileshe
Thank you to Theresa’s Full Sponsor, Inutu Liam!

Theresa describes herself as “a learner with big dreams”. She scored the highest on her grade 7 national exams of any of our 2021 bursary applicants. She dreams of becoming a medical doctor.
Trinah Mutale
Thank you to Trinah’s Full Sponsor, Jennifer Lukomski!

Trinah Mutale will graduate high school in 2024. She is a hard working young woman who has really persisted to make it as far as she has. She lives with her single Mom and the family does not have access to electricity, which makes it hard for Trinah to study sometimes. She say the thing that makes her most happy in life is school.
Loveness Mwansa
Thank you to Loveness’ Full Sponsors, Tristar and Scott Egermayer!

Loveness Mwansa lost her hearing after falling ill with Malaria when she was 12. Soon after, she lost her parents as well. Having had her hearing up to that point put her at an advantage in terms of learning as compared to those pupils who are born deaf. She came to our program soon after losing her hearing and we put her in a special school for the deaf. She currently attenda an even better school in Copperbelt, where she has been appointed as the leader of her class. She is incredibly intelligent and her bright smile lights up any room. When she is not in school she is kept by her Aunt and Grandfather, She will graduate grade 12 in 2024. Learn more about Loveness.
Patience Konkola
Thank you to Patience’s Full Sponsors, Tristar and Scott Egermayer!

Patience Konkola is being kept by her Grandmother who keeps and cares for 9 of her grandchildren who have lost their parents. They live in a house which is unfinished, and in which they are able to stay rent-free to look after the property while the one constructing it finds money to complete it and rent it out. Patience is exceptionally bright and active. Here she is pictured in costume as she performed traditional dance for our 2021 Independence Day celebration. Patience attends the finest girl’s school in Kasama and walks more than an hour each way to get there. She will graduate grade 12 in 2024.
Bethsheba Mofu
Thank you to Bethsheba’s Educational Benefactor, John Flynn!

Dyness Mutale
Thank you to Dyness’ Full Sponsor, Jane Eddy!

Dyness Mutale has been with our program since grade 8 when she was brought by one of her former teachers. She comes from a very rural place in Mungwi District. We saw that her home situation was not conducive and that she would benefit from a greater learning institution, and we sent her to Kasama girls. After she passed her grade 9 exams, we acknowledged that she would benefit from increased self-confidence and assertiveness. For this reason, we pulled her from Kasama Girls and brough her here to our boarding house so that she could be closely mentored by our staff and other girls in boarding. She will graduate grade 12 in 2024.
Christine Namukanzya
Thank you to Christine’s Full Sponsor, Ellyn Lambeck!

Christine Namukanzya is 11 years old and entering grade one in 2022 at a boarding school for children living with disabilities. She was born without use of her legs, and whether it is due to cerebral palsy or another condition is not clear to her family.
After Christine was born, her Father rejected her and would lock her in the house. It was clear to Christine’s grandmother that she needed to be taken from the home. Christine’s grandmother began caring for her. She is a very joyful girl who loves smiling and playing with her friends. Her Grandmother really wanted Christine in school because she is at an age where she loves being around people so much that she will crawl to go and play make believe with her friends. In the rainy season she sometimes comes back covered in mud! Unfortunately, it is not safe for such a smiley and friendly young girl to move around so freely so Bakashana program took it upon ourselves to make sure that this girl is found in school.
Lillian Chileshe
Thank you to Lillian’s Full Sponsor, Kimberly McPhee!

Lillian Chileshe is living with her single mother. After passing her grade 9 exams in 2021, she pushed hard to be accepted to Laura Girls, a prestigious school in Kasama. She, along with four others from our program, raised money to sit for entrance exams. Lilliam was the only one amongst the four who passed. She is incredibly bright, both in spirit and intellect. She has ambitions of becoming an accountant to capitalize on her love for math.
Mwambazi Grace
Thank you to Graces’s Educational Benefactor, Inutu Liam!

Grace will graduate in 2022. She has been with Bakashana program since 2015. She stands out as a committed and active member of our program, as well as our Girls Leading our World Club. She describes herself as a “strong girl” and has ambition to be a Journalist. Her hobbies include reading about other people’s history.
Kalaluka Mwango Emily
Thank you to Emily’s Educational Benefactor, Inutu Liam!

Mwango will graduate in 2022. She is unlike any young lady who we have ever had the pleasure of providing assistance to. She consistently ranks number one in her class and her incredible intellect will take her as far as her circumstances allow. She lost her mother when she was four and has never known her biological father.
Peggy Mubanga
Thank you to Peggy’s Educational Benefactors, Liz Uno and Rey Juban!

Peggy Mubanga will complete high school in 2025. She is a Survivor. She was brought to Bakashana Boarding house by a concerned Auntie who wasn’t comfortable with the way she was being kept by her relatives. She lost both her parents before she was 10 years old. She has truly blossomed over the last year under our roof. She is a friendly young lady who loves animals and her favorite food is chicken and rice.
Joy Kabwe
Thank you to Joy’s Full Sponsor, Fred Dunfey!

Joy will graduate in 2025. She is being raised by her single Mom. She loves to sing and dance and her favorite proverb is: “Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched!” She calls her Mother her most important role model.
Noice Namuchenje
Thank you to Noice’s Full Sponsors, Jack Morrow and Friends/Family!

Noice is a fun loving, motivated student attending Laure Girls Secondary School. She takes after her mother in never wasting a moment and she is often reading random English books or pamphlets she’s gotten her hands on. She immediately made friends and she is without a doubt among the sharpest kids in her class. Upon graduating she would love to continue her education into nursing. Noice Namuchuenje is a rockstar student and plans on breaking the pattern of women in her family ending education before secondary school. She will graduate in 2023.
Memory Mulenga
Thank you to Memory’s Full Sponsor, Carol Rholl!

Memory comes from a family of 10, and is attending Laura Girls Secondary School. Her favorite subjects are math and biology. She dreams of someday becoming a doctor in order to heal sick people, and help her family and her country.
Sharon Mulenga
Thank you to Sharon’s Full Sponsor, Catherine Bruns!

Christine Mutale
Thank you to Christine’s Full Sponsor, Leilani Simmonds

Christine comes from a rural agricultural area. She is hearing-impaired and mute. When Christine was brought to our offices by her mother, she had been helped by a Catholic Sister who had recently left the country, taking with her Christine’s hopes for the future. She was attending an overburdened and understaffed special school here in Kasama, and, upon completing our educational assessments, we were surprised to find that this grade 6 girl was unable to read or compute basic math. We sought out an opportunity for her at a better-funded and resourced school in a neighboring district where she is flourishing, the second highest performing in her class.
Constance Mulenga
Thank you to Constance’s Full Sponsor, Leilani Simmonds

“I have always dreamed of being in a boarding school, I promise to try my hardest to make you and my Grandmother very proud.”
Jane Kampamba
Thank you to Jane’s Full Sponsors: Barbara Power, Jamie Beers, and Sherry Hostetter!

“After losing my Mom and then my Father, life was terrible for me and my siblings. I have a problem with my leg which began when I was 14 years old. It causes me great challenges when walking. I was living in an orphanage before the Bakashana boarding house. I want to succeed so I can be an example for girls to make them understand that one or two problems can’t make your life end.”
Theresa Mutale
Thank you to Theresa’s Full Sponsors, The Awsumb Family!

Theresa was raised in a rural area. She will graduate high school in 2025. She is the last born in a family of seven, and her parents are quite old. Her father suffers from Tuberculosis and Mom works hard to support the big family. She is a very clever young lady and so grateful to be living at the Bakashana Boarding House.
Deborah Mulenga
Thank you to Deborah’s Full Sponsor, Wiljam Bruno!

Deborah lost both of her parents at a young age and has since been kept by her Aunt and Uncle. She came to learn of Bakashana Program when she became a regular at our Girls Club Meetings on Saturdays. Our staff and coaches were so impressed by this dynamic young lady and so moved by her story that they insisted that she move into the Boarding House. She wishes to become a Medical Officer after she graduates high school in 2024.
Theresa Mulenga
Thank you to Theresa’s Full Sponsor, Linda Short!

Theresa will graduate high school in 2025. She was so relieved to come and live at the Bakashana Boarding House, because prior to that she was living with her Mother who works alone to support the family through subsistence farming, because her father has a debilitating physical disability. Theresa is always smiling and has dreams of being a Nurse one day.
Rabecca Zimba
Thank you to Rabecca’s Full Sponsors, Sven Haarhoff and Allison Shadday!

Rabecca loves poetry and dancing. She has dreams of being a doctor after graduating high school in 2024. Before moving into the Bakashana Boarding house, she was staying with her single mother and two younger brothers. Her older sisters didn’t manage to finish school, and instead married quickly. She is a hard working and sociable young woman.
Thelma Kabwe
“I really want to be on scholarship, with no support coming from my family, you are the only hope I have.”
Thank you to Catherine’s Full Sponsor, Michelle Barr!

Catherine first came to know our program through our weekend life skills clubs for girls. She is high achieving and hopes to become a doctor. Unfortunately, Catherine lives in a home where her Step Father shows favor on his biological children and makes Catherine do the bulk of the work. He has taken out multiple loans and financially crippled the family. We have brought Catherine into a boarding environment so she can focus on her studies and pursue her dreams of becoming a doctor.
Constance Mutale
Thank you to Constance’s Full Sponsor, Ingeborg Holiday!

Contance will graduate high school in 2023. She loves dancing, singing, and reading, and says that the most important person in her life is her Mom. Her favorite subject is mathematics and she performs very well in school. She is currently studying at an all girls STEM boarding school, thanks to Bakashana and her sponsor.
Thelma Kabwe
Thank you to Thelma’s Full Sponsor, Susha Cohen!

Thelma is a hard working young woman who has been living with her Grandmother. Before we were able to purchase her a bike, with help from her sponsor, she was walking nearly two hours to-and-from school each day. She has continued to impress us, and this year was selected to be the school leader of her class. Thelma is very outgoing and loves to make people laugh. She dreams of exploring the world, a dream she has held since she was a little girl.
Dorothy Mwanamusonda
Thank you to Dorothy’s Educational Benefactor, Martha Hill!

Dorothy loves singing and dancing. She has been raised by her very hardworking single mother who travels between town and the village- farming in the village so that her daughter can have a better life by accessing schools in town. Dorothy is outgoing and sweet, and is always ready with a smile. She has ambitions of being a teacher one day.
Elizabeth Muma
Thank you to Elizabeth’s Educational Benefactor, Jane Eddy!

Elizabeth is currently in Grade 10. When she is not away at school, she stays with her mother in a compound on the outskirts of Kasama. She and her mother, who is also albino, face many challenges living in Northern Zambia. Not only is the sun often unforgiving but there are also cultural biases against people with albinism, and they are often mistakenly associated with witchcraft and bad spirits. Elizabeth has risen above these challenges, seeing education as her path to a brighter future for herself and her family. She aspires to be a nurse.
Lastage Musonda
Thank you to Lastage’s Educational Benefactor, Beth Morgan!

“My Father died last year. My Mother is a disabled woman. She walks with two crutches and she’s suffering from one kind of disease, such that she can’t even work any simple kind of job even house chores. I would love to go to college so that I can contribute for my family’s sustainability and the community at large.”
Peggy Mutambo
Thank you to Peggy’s Full Sponsor, Sherry Hostetter!

Peggy lives in Henry Kapata Village with her mother, father, and 3 siblings. While Peggy’s dad seeks money doing carpentry, the family still struggles to make ends meet. Peggy’s exceptional English skills and intellect make her stand our among her family and peers. Now that she is sponsored, Peggy can focus on her studies and her family can focus on getting their other children through school.
Catherine Mwansa
Thank you to Catherine’s Educational Benefactors, Jenna Metz and Chad Howell!

“I want to be in school because education is my only future and I realize that education in the only way that I will survive. If I am not educated I will not be able to take away this suffering from my Grandmother.”
Catherine has been raised by her Grandmother since both of her parents passed away when she was only five years old. She is a sweet and quiet girl who visited our offices on her own (as her Grandma couldn’t manage the journey). We were so moved to meet Catherine that we took her straight away to buy some clothes and shoes, it was so apparent that she wasn’t getting the support that a young woman needs.
Kethabel Kaputa
Thank you to Kethabel’s Full Sponsors, Kari Hummer and Dan Pennise!

“In January 2018 my Dad shot my Mom dead and later shot himself. I didn’t attend the first term because of the situation…I was sent to stay with my grandmother in the village.”
Chiluba Chipasha
Thank you to Chipasha’s Educational Benefactor, Dede D’Arcy!

“My mum became mentally ill when I was five years old and failed to care for me. I was moving back and forth to different people’s houses and most recently was living in an orphanage.”
Hope Kangwa
Thank you to Hope’s Full Sponsor, Diana Spencer!

“My Mother struggles to support all three of us at the moment, my Father became mad and at this time he doesn’t have power in his body. I want to be educated and I know education is a matter of the heart.”
Chama Nancy
Thank you to Chama’s Educational Benefactor, Chris Erickson!

Mutamfya Monday
Thank you to Monday’s Full Sponsor, Lew Jones!

“I didn’t have enough money to go into grade 8 so I started selling vegetables with my step -mother to save both for school and for food. At home we live without electricity which means we use candles for light and sometimes we don’t have enough money for candles.”
Precious Kabwe
Thank you to Precious’ Educational Benefactors, Bob and Mary Lou Hostetter!

“We survive with the little my family earns as a street vender. The situation has really gotten very bad and my elder sister failed to continue her studies.”
The third born in a family of seven, Precious stays with her mother and siblings. When she completes school at PEAS secondary, Precious would like to be a medical doctor.
Ruth Mwale
Thank you to Ruth’s Full Sponsor, Sue Deuber!

“When I get home I have to start working hard washing plates, sweeping, and I don’t even have a chance to study. Now that I am in boarding I know that I will be able to read at anytime which will help me do better and be a teacher one day.”
Eunice Chowa
Thank you to Eunice’s Full Sponsor, Kyira Korrigan!

“I want to help orphan and poor people like me in the future. Please help me so that I become a better person in my life.”
Mwenya Loreen
Thank you to Mwenya’s Full Sponsor, Linda Short!

“I want to be in school so that I could help my family when I complete.”
Loreen is an academically gifted pupil who was selected to attend the best school in the Province, Laura Girls. She is a single-orphan having lost her Father when she was 7 months old. Her Uncle who had been supporting her Mother and her siblings passed away last year. We have seen that her intelligence will take her far if she is provided with the opportunity to learn.
Patience Mukuka
Thank you to Patience’s Educational Benefactor, Ellen Berman!

“Thank you for helping me! My mother is a widow and has failed to support us and pay school fees. I know that education is my chance to make a better life for my family.”
From a family of four, Patience’s Mother supports her children by farming what she can, having lost her husband a long time ago. This year, she was selected to attend a new school, PEAS academy, run by a UK-based organization which seeks to provide quality education at affordable rates. She is in Boarding there in grade 8. Her family has high hopes for her, and so do we.
Grace Mabo
Thank you to Grace’s Full Sponsors, Jane Deuber and Mario Villacres!

My name is Grace Mabo, I was born on 15th May,2004. I am the third born in a family of three. I am a single orphan, living with my aunty who has three children. My dad died when I was 5 years old. My mom stays in Luapula with my Grandmother. My hobbies are singing, dancing, reading novels and making new friends. My ambition is to become a pharmacist and also have a house where I will also be helping young children in need. I also like debating and trying out my ideas, thats why I have joined Jets and Debates club in school. I am the only girl in the family and the rest are boys. I love poetry a lot – I write short poems about different events and things.
Mwenya Marvis
Thank you to Mwenya’s Full Sponsor, Lynnette Mwangala Chisuse!

Mwenya is a quiet girl coming from a very rural area outside of Kasama. Her mother is in her fifties and struggles to support her five children through subsistence farming, “The reason I want to complete school is that I want to be independent and support my Mum and siblings. I would want to attain skills and knowledge so that I can be either self-employed or work in the government to serve the nation.” Mwenya had outstanding results on her national exam and her persistence and family struggle are what brought her story to a teacher who encouraged her to apply for sponsorship. She is now in boarding at PEAS secondary, the first school of its kind in the nation.
Rejoice Mulenga
Thank you to Rejoice’s Educational Benefactors, Tom and Carol Deuber!

“Last year I couldn’t even pay school fees because my mother doesn’t have enough money. We were forced to sit outside when writing our exams. I want to provide a better life for my family.”
Rejoice lost her father in 2011, and since then her mother has been working as a house helper, earning around $50 a month. She is one of five children and as school fees increase every year her mother is struggling to put all of her children through school. Bakashana is looking for someone like you to help Rejoice to become educated.
Rhoda Bwalya
Thank you to Rhoda’s full Sponsor, Wiljam Bruno!

“I want to be in school because school is the only weapon that can be used to reduce poverty.”
Rhoda came recommended by a Peace Corps Volunteer who taught her for two years. Though short in stature, this young woman is a force! She is being housed in our Boarding House while she studies at Laura Girls. Her mother and father support five children through subsistence farming.
Miriam Lwipa
Thank you to Miriam’s Educational Benefactor, Mukuni Simpungwe!

Miriam’s smile speaks to her strength, as she has had a very challenging few years. Miriam, 15, and her brother lost both of their parents in 2012, and went to live with an Aunt in a deep village named Shiwa`ngandu. Soon after settling into life there, their Aunt passed away, leaving Miriam and her brother orphaned once again. She recently moved to Kasama, where she is living with her “Mama” (Grandmother). Miriam’s grandmother is quite old and lives in a township very far from Kasama. Despite all of this hardship, Miriam did well on her national exam and was selected into the best girls’ school in Kasama. She knows that her grandmother cannot support her and her brother with a subsistence farming lifestyle, and personally fought for a place at school, and in the Bakashana program.
Theresa Ngoma
Thank you to Theresa’s Full Sponsor, who prefers to remain anonymous!

“My life has been a life of suffering since the day I was born. I want to work hard in school so that I can finish the suffering in my family. I want to help my mother so that she can rest and because she has done everything for me and my family.”
Theresa’s father passed away the year she was born. Since then she has lived with her single mother who has struggled to get by without any family support. She struggled to support Theresa through working different odd-jobs until she secured a job as a night guard, though her pay is only around $50/month. On this humble salary, Theresa’s Mother has struggled to support her young family. Theresa, against all odds, has done very well in school and was selected to attend the best private school in Kasama.
Mapalo Mungwele
Thank you to Mapalo’s Educational Benefactor, Capri Harrel!

“I have been and will always be attentive in school. I hope to become a lawyer once I finish with University so that I can help people solve their problems in an organized way.”
Mapalo is the first born of 5, 3 girls and 2 boys. Her Mother is a subsistence farmer who stays in a village outside of Kasama. Her mother, not only responsible to care for her 5 children, also cares for her aging parents. With the help of Bakashana, Mapalo with be the first in her family to be educated past grade 7.
Precious Michese
Thank you to Precious’ Full Sponsor, who refers to remain anonymous!

Precious is 15 years old, and comes from a village about 20 km outside of Kasama. Her Grandmother has been her primary caregiver since she lost her parents some years ago. Precious had higher marks than any pupil (male or female) at her school in the village of Kalafya. Her grandmother walked to Kasama Girls to fight for a space for her granddaughter, but was discouraged to find that there were no options for sponsorship. Returning home disappointed, the family was very excited to learn of the opportunity to be sponsored by Bakashana. Precious’ older brother has been supporting the family by crushing and selling stones in a make-shift rock quarry, but couldn’t raise enough to pay the school fees. Precious is quite shy and quiet, but incredibly smart and motivated. We look forward to helping her bloom as she works with our program and builds her confidence!
Naomi Lungu/h2>
Thank you to Naomi’s Educational Benefactor, Andrew Jo!

“I would like to work in a way in my life which will help children. Especially children who are left alone without a father because people have no mercy for children left fatherless.”
Precious is 15 years old, and comes from a village about 20 km outside of Kasama. Her Grandmother has been her primary caregiver since she lost her parents some years ago. Precious had higher marks than any pupil (male or female) at her school in the village of Kalafya. Her grandmother walked to Kasama Girls to fight for a space for her granddaughter, but was discouraged to find that there were no options for sponsorship. Returning home disappointed, the family was very excited to learn of the opportunity to be sponsored by Bakashana. Precious’ older brother has been supporting the family by crushing and selling stones in a make-shift rock quarry, but couldn’t raise enough to pay the school fees. Precious is quite shy and quiet, but incredibly smart and motivated. We look forward to helping her bloom as she works with our program and builds her confidence!
Gertrude Chalikosa
Thank you to Gertrude’s Full Sponsors, Keith and Joan Westpy!

“Ever since I can remember my Grandmother and my younger sister and I have struggled to live well. I badly need your assistance so that I can finish my education and become somebody in life. Without education life can be very difficult as I have seen in my own family.”
Gertrude lost both of her parents at a young age and has since lived with her aging grandmother. Though too old to work, Grandma provided for Gertrude and her younger sister by selling things here and there as well as relying on the kindness of others. School fees were too much for Grandma to manage so, after Gertrude did well on her grade 7 exams, her Grandmother brought her here to seek assistance from Bakashana Program. Gertrude, due to her exceptional results, is now studying at the best girls school in the Province and enjoying the life and study time that living at the Bakashana Boarding House has afforded her. You can help Gertrude become a part of your ‘extended family’ as well!