Chuma Kakwete aged 38 is a single mother of two children Mirriam (11) and Isaac (15).  She was among the first beneficiaries of the Sponsorship program which was managed by Dr. Arnfinn Solli at an individual level and was later to be handed over to Response Network in 2007. This sponsorship was by individuals from Norway targeting specific girls.  Later in 2010, the sponsorship grew big when Academic Work of Sweden came on board supporting over 200 girls at the beginning and later growing to over 800 per year, though this was eventually reduced to 600 due to funding. 

Chuma was staying with her grandparents who brought her up after the death of her parents when she was still young.  She was one of the many grandchildren under their care.  The main source of income for the family was from the little shop their grandfather was operating at Livingstone’s oldest and biggest market Maramba.  This resulted in challenges in supporting the many children to school.  Hence the support started in 2002 when she was in grade 10 at Linda Secondary up to her completion in grade 12 at the same school in 2004.

After she completed grade 12, she started working as a volunteer at Maramba Old Peoples where she was helping with the cooking and cleaning.  She was also interacting with the old folks.

In 2005 she joined Response Network as a volunteer Office Assistant.  While still with Response Network she applied and was accepted to do a certificate in early childhood teaching at a college called Mosi-Oa-Tunya College of Education in January 2007.  It was a two-year course that led to her completion in December 2008.  During this training, she continued working with RN according to a worked-out timetable with the college.

After graduating from college, she again volunteered as a teacher at Lunungu community school in Kazungula District.  This school was constructed with support from Fusa Ungdom Skole from Norway. The school at the time had no trained teacher and the addition of Chuma to their teaching roster was a huge boon to the school and added tremendous value.  She was there up to 2014.  She was receiving an incentive for upkeep from the contributions from the community.

In 2015, she was accepted to upgrade her certificate to Diploma at the same school.  She completed it in December 2017.  Two years later, she was employed as a teacher at Alison Future private school where she is now.  She was not picked during the last government recruitment but is hopeful for the future.  In the meantime, she continues working at the same school.

She is thankful to Response Network and NIF for the support she received because she can take care of her children.  She can pay rent, buy clothes, and pay for their tuition at the same school. “Aunt Frayor, I have even been able to furnish my house with basic furniture like sofas, TV, beds, fridge, etc. I  also bought a plot in Mulala which I paid in cash.  I am slowly saving some money to start building my house.”  She bragged to the Sponsorship officer.