Cecilia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work Practices and Development, and a certificate in Secretarial and Office Management. Cecilia has over 8 years work experience in social and community development work. She’s an alumnus of the Young African Leadership Initiative as well as a 2019 Mandela Washington Fellow.

As a beneficiary of Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) in secondary school, Cecilia understands first-hand the importance of promoting girl-child education not only in Zambia but globally. She was first trained as a Sexual and Reproductive Health facilitator in 2012 by camfed and as Life Skills trainer by Peace corps Zambia in 2013. Cecilia has been working with Bakashana since 2015 and she has been an integral part of the program. 2016-2019, She was the lead coordinator of the Bana Chimbusa MTV Staying Alive with Icisungu Project, through the MTV staying alive Foundation. She coordinates our scholarship program.

Ceciliah has a message for the girls of the world: “I want all the girls out there to know that, it’s never too late! As they say, ‘every great improvement comes after repeated failure’. Though you may have failed to achieve something you want, you can still make it, provided you let go of your past failures and work hard to get there!”

Allan Mwango is a man of many talents. He is currently serving as the Patron for the Balumendo (boys) Basambilile program. He has been a full-time farmer for several decades, and during this time he has shared his expertise with many farmers through facilitating workshops, hosting field days, and performing on-site consultations. He has worked alongside and taught several generations of Peace Corps Volunteers near Mumano Lupando, where he lives. He was also the chairperson of Radio Mano, the most widely listened-to station in the Northern Province. He is currently the Managing Director of The Bush Barrow Company, a US-Zambian collaboration which, in coordination with local farmers, develops and manufactures appropriate technologies. Mr. Mwango has a heart and focus of assisting those around him, and he serves as a valued advisor both practically and culturally.

Peter was born in Lukupa village. He grew up fishing and farming, and later learned to Garden from his father. He then came under tutelage at LovenLight Lukupa, where he mastered organic farming techniques including composting, tea manure, and polyculture. In January of 2025, Peter became the grounds manager at the Bakashana offices, and is tending a thriving, organic garden.

Mutale Kabwe was born on April 7th 1999 in Kasama, Zambia. She went to Lwitikila Girls Secondary School in Mpika. She further went on to study Microbiology at the Copperbelt University in Kitwe. She is currently working with Bakashana.

Beatrice Chileshe is a Head Teacher with the Ministry of Education and has over 30 years of experience working with young women and rural education in Zambia. As a woman from a rural area who has pursued her education and found gainful employment, Beatrice serves as a crucial role model and mentor for our young women on scholarship. Beatrice’s sense of humor and story-telling abilities make her a hit at our termly workshops and she is a strong support for the young women working with us.

Joyce Mwewa comes from Lukupa Village, where she is a mother, grandmother, farmer, and devoted church member. She brings her care, heart, and humble attitude to the Bakashana offices, where she assists keeping the grantees at the Bakashana Boarding House.

Claire has over fifteen years experience working with women’s development programs in and around Kasama. Her interest in collaborating with and better understanding the Bemba culture of Northern Zambia have allowed her -in cooperation with Zambian colleagues- to develop a program which is effective because of its cultural focus and reliance on input and collaboration from the local community . Claire’s love for Bemba music, food, togetherness, and her admiration of-and-respect-for women in Zambia have motivated her and her partner, Justin, to make Kasama their home. She is fluent in the local language, iciBemba, and enjoys learning from her Zambian friends and neighbors the art of motherhood as she and Justin raise their two children. Claire’s academic interest in Gender and Development began during her undergraduate studies at the University of the West Indies in Kinston, Jamaica in 2005. In 2012, she received an MA in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. Claire has worked with educational programs focusing on the balance of tradition and modernity in a myriad of settings including Kingston, Jamaica; Hawaii, USA; Medellin, Colombia; and Kasama, Zambia

Fridah is our English and Bemba literacy teacher. She is a leader in the community and has stood as a humble guide for women in Kasama for the last 20 years. She joined the Bakashana family because she saw it as a way to share her love for people. She loves to be with women and has a passion for helping them, as they are all her Sisters, Mothers, Grandmothers, and Daughters.

Godfrey graduated from Kasama Boys Secondary School in 2015. He attended programs at Copperbelt University and the University of Lusaka, and has experience in Music Production, Mathematics Tutoring, Academic Research and Computer Instructing. His work experience includes Restless Development, Sichu Stationery and General Dealers, TK Music, and other Media Houses. He is passionate about increasing understanding of Sexual and Reproductive Health for both adolescents and adults around the community, and participates voluntarily in Bakashana Youth Clubs. His knowledge of public health has helped him relate with different age groups, make a good reputation for himself, and fit in nicely to the Bakashana Team.

Petronella Chanda finished her grade 12 in 2012 at Kasama girls’ school. From there she completed a certificate in food and nutrition for one year and general agriculture for 2 years. She began working with Bakashana in April of 2025. Her hobbies include playing gospel music and telling stories. She encourages the Boarding pupils to be nice to everyone, have respect to all elder people, and to attend school and all lessons.

Astecy graduated with a Diploma in Gender studies from the National Institute of Public Administration. (NIPA) in October 2010. She also did a Certificate and Licensure in Psycho-Social Counseling from Chilenge Level 1 Hospital in 2018. In 2011 she started working with the YWCA in Lusaka at their youth drop-in center where she handled different kinds of cases in counseling involving child abuse, child delinquency, rape and defilement. In 2016 she worked with the Childcare Foundation as a Communication and Advocacy Officer, advocating for Juvenile’s rights. She joined Bakashana in 2020 and has augmented our Advocacy and Counseling services. She is a confidant for some of the young women in our program who have suffered trauma and she advocates daily for various clients who come through our offices with cases involving sexual and gender-based violence, defilement, etc.

Kennedy is our Procurement Manager. Not only does he procure goods, he works from the health facility as a counsellor and also as a lead coach for our “Boys for Change” club. He has worked in health for the last three years, first with “Tikambe” National Sexual and Reproductive Health Campaign, before joining Bakashana Basambilile in 2020. He has a certificate in Psycho Social Counselling and is currently using his free time attached to Kasama Urban Clinic in pursuit of his Counselling License. Kennedy is passionate about working with young people around Kasama to help them improve their life skills.

A third born in a family of six, Princess Mphande was born in Ndola. She graduated grade 12 at Kasenshi Secondary School in Ndola, and obtained her Diploma as a Registered Nurse at Kasama College of Nursing and Midwifery in 2021. In 2023, she began volunteering at Musenga Mini Hospital. She began working with Bakashana in February, 2025. She loves listening to music, cooking, watching movies and helping to heal people as a nurse.

Justin has been the CFO of Bakashana for 10 years. Previously, he worked as an aquaculture consultant and business advisor with the Peace Corps and Zambian Department of Fisheries for two years. During this time he worked with many cooperatives and women’s groups in/around Kasama, and cultivated strong ties with the Bemba people and their culture. He holds an MA in Environment and Resource Management from the Vrije University in Amsterdam and a BSBA in Business and Finance from the University of Denver. He is proud to call Kasama his home. He is also writing a blog about the experiences of living in Kasama, and the lessons offered by the Bemba people, called Love n Light Lukupa.