At the end of her undergraduate program, Chilembo got a job in a law firm as a legal assistant. “I remember after getting the job, I always thought there was something missing. I loved the work I did, but I still felt empty for some reason. So after some time I saw an ad that was looking for gender equality champions who would work as volunteers at Copper Rose Zambia. I was very excited and decided to apply for the role. And I thought, you know, I can give my weekends to this. I remember my first ever volunteer session was a feminist session that I was holding at Pestalozzi School” Chilembo mentioned.
“I remember after this session, all the joy that was filled in my heart, every empty part of my soul was revived. I remember, feeling fulfilled that just standing there and talking to a group of girls and boys and seeing how excited they were about the next session, and watching them participate and realize new things, and realizing their potential, was very fulfilling to me”, she added. After sometime, Chilembo went back to work. During this period, she found herself craving for the next time that she would get the opportunity to volunteer again.
After returning to work and feeling unfulfilled, Chilembo made the decision to quit her full-time job and become a full-time volunteer. Her decision led her to volunteering with Copper Rose Zambia and Action Aid Zambia under the global platform where she works as an Associate Trainer Volunteer who holds sessions under the thematic areas of feminism and sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
“I remember quitting my job and obviously being afraid, but even before quitting I had saved a good amount of money, that was going to sustain me for a couple of months until I figured out the way forward. However, I knew that I was going to use the skills that I learned from Copper Rose and Action Aid to create a career that wasn’t self-seeking, but a career that’s going to benefit communities, maybe even nations or continents”, she added with a laugh. As time went on, Chilembo continued with her volunteer work. “I kid you not, my volunteer experience has been more fulfilling, more exciting, and more livening up than any single day I spent in a full-time career that was only pleasing myself”, Chilembo went on to add.
She later participated in the Youth Rise Up Summit hosted by Copper Rose Zambia in collaboration with Bongo Hive where she was part of the ushering team. She also took part in the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence at Action Aid. She also participated in the International Day of the volunteers where got the privilege to give a speech on the needs of a volunteer. “I remember this experience as something that has really impacted my career, how I view what my career goals are and how I want my career to be shaped. I think this whole experience as a volunteer of which has not yet come to an end because I intend to volunteer for as long as I can. This experience as a volunteer has really made me realize that sometimes we miss that fulfillment in life because we have been sold a lie that fulfillment is found in the car that you can afford or a nice house, when sometimes the fulfillment you’re looking for is just creating a better world for the next person. And I’m really excited for where this journey is taking me and I really look forward to continue volunteering”, she added. After December came to an end, Chilembo saw a call for applications by Copper Rose to join their staff and she immediately applied.
She believes that her volunteer experience has really contributed to how she found herself getting employed as the Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant for the Kitwe office. “I’m really excited for this journey because I really do know that it’s not easy for people to take a chance on you and to create an opportunity for you to occupy space in a room if you do not present yourself and show the skills that you have and how you can really contribute to their goals and to their mission. So I’m really grateful that I’m here and I’m excited to continue volunteering. I’m excited for what comes ahead”, Chilembo added enthusiastically.
