Zambia: The Need
Youth in Zambia face many challenges. Zambia is a country of devastatingly widespread poverty: 80% of rural Zambians live below the poverty line. Zambia has the 7th highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world. Family incomes have been eliminated, and orphans are left to head households, feed younger siblings, and take care of sick or dying parents.
Of all of the challenges facing young Zambians, education may be the greatest. Almost all children in Zambia attend primary school, but less than half attend secondary school, and of these less than a quarter complete it. This is mainly due to lack of funds.
Secondary education is a hurdle that many Zambians cannot even attempt because of financial limitations.
The Kucetekela Foundation has recognized the potential in the young Zambian population and provides promising young Zambians the opportunity of a high-quality secondary education. Education is the key to empower Zambia’s future leaders.
80%
of rural Zambians live below the poverty line
11.1%
of the population is infected with HIV
7th
Zambia is the 7th highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world
10%
or less of Zambian children graduate from secondary school
1.2 million
orphans in Zambia under 15 years of age
“KF is a blessing and no big words can express my gratitude, so I thank KF. I have acquired the skill of leadership and been able to interact with many different people.”
— Peter Ndangirwa Sichona
Peter graduated in Dec. 2020 from Chalo Trust School.
Peter is studying Aeronautical Engineering at the Zambia Air Services Training Institute.
KF Team
KF Zambia Staff
Florence Nkowane Lutale
Co-Founder and Executive Director
The “Most Dynamic Teacher”: the name of an award given by the students of a particular graduating class that most succinctly and accurately summarises Mrs. Florence Nkowane. A teacher by profession, but a polymath in her works, Mrs. Nkowane is a Ugandan national who lives in Zambia and travels the world. Her passion lies in working with the youth, and this has led her to be involved in projects and works as diverse as teaching, theatre, diplomacy, social work, pageant, sports and church activities.
Masuku Simasiku Mukena
Co-Founder and Finance and Administration Manager
Simasiku was born on July 28th, 1978 in Lusaka, Zambia. He is a chartered certified accountant and a member of the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants.
After secondary school, Simasiku attended the Zambia Centre for Accounting Studies (ZICAS), which is located in Lusaka and renowned in Southern Africa for its quality.
Joshua Ndong’a Kamelu
Programs Manager
Joshua Ndong’a Kamelu was born on 28th March, 1991. He did his secondary education at David Kaunda National Technical High School and then later earned a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Zambia. He then earned his Masters in Economics at the Copperbelt University. Currently he is studying for a Diploma in Educational Leadership.
Heran Abiy
Princeton in Africa Fellow, 2022-2023
Heran is driven by her curiosity in decolonizing development, community planning, and storytelling for meaningful change. Heran graduated from Clark University in 2021 with a B.A. in Sociology, Global Environmental Studies, & Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies. She also holds an M.A. in Community Development and Planning in Education Development + Forced Migration.
KF USA Staff
Dr. Oliver Barry
Co-Founder and President
Oliver is a Co-Founder and the President of Kucetekela Foundation (KF). He co-founded KF after seeing the need for secondary school education for young people in Zambia. After graduating from Princeton University, Oliver was accepted into the Princeton-in-Africa fellowship program (PiAf), which provided a year-long grant for non-profit humanitarian work in Africa.
Agatha Malacos
Donor Relations and Administration
Agatha is a first generation Greek American, born and raised in New York City. A quality education was paramount in her immigrant family. As a result, her parents enrolled her in a private Greek American elementary school. She then attended the Bronx High School of Science and graduated from Barnard College.
“An achievement I shall call it. A realization of a dream so long awaited. A bridge to a new life. Bright with opportunities all opened by KF. I am happy to have been a part of an organization as awesome as KF. With all the value I have gained, I hope to be a valuable asset to society. Thank you KF for being a guardian, friend and companion on this journey called life.”
– Gaella Kabeya, KF Class of 2011
Gaella graduated in 2018 from the University of Rochester. She is currently Business Development Coordinator at Xtenda Finance in Lusaka, Zambia.
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