RABSON SAKALA
My name is Rabson Sakala I am a District Coordinator under the USAID CHEKUP I Project at Copper Rose Zambia. Other than professional activities, I participate in organizing youth activities at church, offer career guidance to young people, reading books and offer free extra lessons for learners.
I came to learn about Copper Rose Zambia while studying at the University of Zambia through a joint outreach they were conducting with The University of Zambia HIV AIDS Response office, where I was serving as a peer educator. Since that time I closely followed the activities of CRZ through their social media platform, where I attended several virtual career development sessions. These sessions were mainly youth-centered and really triggered my interest to look out for ways through which I can be part of CRZ because I saw it as a great opportunity to associate myself with an institution that believes in empowering young people.
Throughout my volunteering journey as a Gender Equality Champion, I was carrying out the following responsibilities: Providing support and skill-building/educational activities to young people in schools, Supporting young people in SRHR advocacy activities, Training young people about gender equality, Hosting feminist sessions at Copper Rose youth hub, Hosting gender equality webinars, Hosting policy sessions in schools and Performing any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor. I really loved doing this despite a tight academic schedule I always found time to volunteer with or without a transport refund or any monetary incentive.
This experience made me discover more about myself and what I love doing which is working with adolescents and participating in activities that aim at bettering the lives of young people. As a result of my commitment to CRZ activities, I remember some of my fellow students mocking me which I didn’t find offensive because I knew what the experience was doing to my career as a young person.
The inclusiveness approach of Copper Rose Zambia motivated me to do more in an improved manner, taking part in organizing the first ever CRZ Youth Rise Up Summit was very gratifying as it helped me see greater value in myself.
Additionally, upon completing my Bachelor’s at the University of Zambia, CRZ advertised job opportunities and I did not waste a second to apply. It was after this that CRZ hired me to serve as a District Coordinator under the USAID CHEKUP I. The most encouraging part is that the support and inclusiveness has not changed even as a full-time staff. I received maximum support from superiors and other team members and this really made me cope easily with this role. Academically, CRZ’s Senior Management and Leadership Team has been supportive and urging me to further my academic studies and aggressively go for opportunities which will enhance my career. Because of this support coupled with my passion to advance my career I now enrolled for my Masters in Public Health at The University of Zambia. Much of the success of this journey is attributed to a youth-friendly strong support system within CRZ.
Lastly, from all this what I learned as a young person is that many times we possess greater potential to succeed but what we lack is an opportunity and a conducive space where we can be nurtured, appreciated, recognized, and supported.
“Society needs a shift from from looking for experienced candidates to giving experience to the inexperienced” Rabson Sakala- CRZ USAID CHEKUP I District Coordinator
Naomi Mwiinga Chilokota
My name is Naomi Mwiinga Chilokota, I am a student at Zambia Institute of Business Studies and Industrial Practice (ZIBSIP). I am pursuing a Diploma in Occupational health and safety management and I’m an HIV activist too.
I started volunteering for Copper Rose Zambia last year. I’m so proud of myself for choosing to become a volunteer, I have learnt so much already which I wouldn’t have known or learnt if I didn’t choose to work on voluntary basis at Copper Rose Zambia
Being a volunteer has helped me to have a glimpse of young people’s needs in our communities. Voluntary work has also given me an opportunity to see how young people’s needs can be addressed and met. I was one person who wouldn’t mind staying in the house the whole day, I used to hate crowded places. After meeting new people as we are volunteering, I always want to step out. I feel bad if I miss a session or an outreach program. Outreach programs have enabled me to connect with new people and improve my networking skills.
Through networking we develop good future personal and business relationships. It has boosted my self-esteem and self-confidence. It just feels good to go out and do valuable things for the community. It gives me a sense of accomplishment which makes me feel fulfilled about what I have planned with my fellow volunteers.
Copper Rose Zambia offers various trainings for volunteers on their projects and this has helped me gain valuable skills. The trainings contribute to my communication skills, public speaking, and soft skills. I am grateful to Copper Rose for training me in these skills because am very positive I’ll use them in the future with other organizations.
“You have to apply yourself each day to becoming a little better. By becoming a little better each and every day, over a period of time, you will become a lot better.” Naomi M. Chilokota- Copper Rose Zambia Volunteer
Naomi Mwiinga – Copper Rose Zambia Volunteer
JOHN MWAPE
I am John Mwape, a licensed Human Resource practitioner who holds a bachelors degree in Business Administration with Economics from the University of Zambia, and a CA Zambia Application Professional Certification. Apart from work, I am a passionate choir member at church, path finder leader and a youth usher.
Joining Copper Rose Zambia is one of the biggest achievements of my life. I am so grateful to have joined an organisation filled with young people who teach me an array of skills that are greatly beneficial.
During the last year and a half of working at Copper Rose Zambia, I am so happy that I have learnt so much in ways that I never thought I could.
At first, Menstrual Hygiene Management was a foreign concept to me because I grew up learning that all menstrual issues are to be handled by women. As a member of the Finance and Operations Department I thought it wasn’t necessary for me to know about menstrual hygiene, but after a training session on Menstrual Hygiene Management I am now an advocate for menstruation Hygiene Management issues.
I remember after the training I went back home feeling ecstatic just to share with my family that I learned how to sew a reusable pad. Now, I view menstruation as a normal thing that is no longer a taboo.
I am delighted about the fact that I am surrounded by brilliant minds, in which I can learn new skills apart from what I pursued throughout my university days.
My advice to young people is to keep pushing, because your future self will thank you for the sacrifices you are making today. Become unstoppable.
“Respect is a two-way street, if am asking it from you then you are getting it from me.” John Mwape- CRZ People and Performance Officer
BIBIAN CHIBELUSHI
My name is Bibian Chibelushi, I am a Programs Associate at Copper Rose Zambia working on the Health Action for Adolescent and Youth in Zambia (HAAYZ) project.
I joined Copper Rose Zambia in 2020 while I was a student at the University of Zambia pursuing my bachelor’s degree. I was interested in joining an organization that works on issues I am passionate about such as Adolescent and Youth Reproductive Health (AYRHR), Menstrual Health Management and gender equality and other related feminist issues. I came across Copper Rose Zambia through its online platforms and I was immediately intrigued and joined the organization as an adolescent and youth peer educator on the Zambian Universities Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (ZUPPI).
During my time on the ZUPPI project, Copper Rose involved me in a number of activities such as conducting and facilitating community and school outreach activities and speaking on the ZUPPI radio show which aired on UNZA radio. During the ZUPPI project I learnt a lot of important skills such as public speaking and community engagement. After the ZUPPI project came to an end, Copper Rose trained me alongside other students to work on the Generation Equality project as a Gender Equality Champion. I was trained on feminist leadership, ways on how to properly and inclusively advocate for gender equality and a more inclusive society through feminist principles that border around equality.
During my final year of my studies at the university of Zambia, I had an opportunity to conduct my school community experience attachment at the Copper Rose Zambia head office for a period of three months at the organization’s programs department. This experience made me the first student on attachment to be received at Copper Rose. My experience as a student on attachment gave me a chance of having a glance at how a career in the NGO sector would look like for me.
In March 2023, I graduated from the University of Zambia as the best graduating student in my program and best performing student with the highest-Grade Point Average (GPA). I was immediately interviewed to join Copper Rose Zambia on a fulltime basis as a Programs Associate on the Health Action for Adolescents and Youth (HAAYZ) project which is being implemented in the Eastern Province of Zambia with the aim of increasing and improving access to reproductive health and rights (RHR), reducing the numbers of teenage pregnancies in the province as well as conducting research to assess the effectiveness of the work of peer educators in addressing RHR needs.
I express my profound gratitude to Copper Rose Zambia for affording me the chance to learn, evolve, and embark on a career in my chosen field. The organization’s unwavering commitment to engaging me in diverse activities has opened doors to countless opportunities, including my selection as one of the two professionals in Zambia working on RHR to participate in the AIDs and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA) training and leadership program in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“You are the author of your own story, start writing the chapters that inspire you and others to always show up and do the absolute best” Copper Rose Zambia Programs Associate
MAPALO KASAPO
My name is Mapalo Kasapo, I am an Our Moon Education student. I spent eight months, last year, doing a gap year program that bridges the gap between high school and university, where I learnt about identity, researching, coding, presenting and I narrowed down my interests to decide what I want to study at university.
Whilst at Our Moon Education Centre, I authored a 4000-word research paper about the extent to which diet and exercise have an impact on Zambia’s low life expectancy. I discovered that many people get illnesses while others die because of this lifestyle choices. I would like to make more people aware about the beauty of living a healthy life, so being at Copper Rose will help me learn and share this information with more people. This is also why I would like to study biomedical engineering -to improve health facilities.
Being at Copper Rose Zambia is a great opportunity for me to learn and grow in all areas before going to university. I am interested in studying biomedical engineering and public health, and copper rose fits in perfectly as it incorporates parts of public health, such as menstrual health hygiene and sexual reproductive health rights. I am part of the youth excel research team which has taught me how to interact with people from all walks of life. I used to have stage fright, until I started practicing public speaking and realized that it is one of the most exciting things I can do. I want to encourage young people who have low self-esteem to believe in themselves and not let people’s opinions stop them from fully expressing their views.
I have also been working in the finance department. I have not only learnt how to file and print but I have learnt and understood how transactions are carried out and the necessary documents required. It is a comfortable environment that makes me feel like I can be part of both the programs and the finance team.
I love being a part of Copper Rose Zambia because it brings me joy knowing that I am contributing to positive change in my community. I want to participate in more activities that have to do with communicating with people and educating others. At the end of the day, it is all worth it and I could not have chosen a better place to polish my skills and grow.
“It is important to have confidence and determination no matter the situation, it is never too late to put them into practice. This is why I always tell myself to never give up.”Mapolo Kasapo- Copper Rose Zambia Intern
SARAH MABUKU
My name is Sarah Mabuku, I am a volunteer at Copper Rose Zambia, Corporate Event host, Radio and Television Freelancer and currently serving as the Vice President for Tonse Tipunzile.
I count being a volunteer at the Copper Rose Zambia Youth Hub in Lusaka a great privilege to advance in my areas of interest as well as learn from those that have gone ahead of me so as to build on my skills for the development of myself and others.
I have always had interest in social activities at a tender age, serving as Vice President for a young organization and also doing a study that demands creative and critical thinking, research, problem solving as it explores the complex relationships between Countries, Roles of Government and Non-Governmental Organizations and requires one to build a strong verbal and written communication skills. I strongly feel Copper Rose Zambia is the perfect environment for me to learn practical skills which my field demands through how the organization is run at all levels
I challenge my abilities through the given responsibilities to lead on a project, coordination with the team in planning activities and implementation which has taught me how to effectively engage, communicate and interact with people from all walks of life. This has also built certain levels of confidence in me when it comes to public speaking which is one skill, I’m building to perfect that demands confidence for I used to struggle in that area and got stage fright even though I loved & still love speaking.
Copper Rose Zambia enables me to contribute to this world I envision and I feel truly honored to be part of the amazing works Copper Rose Zambia is doing in the many provinces of Zambia through different projects to change lives and communities.
“Everyone has a choice to choose how they want to be remembered by the work they do and how they treat people around them.” Sarah Mabuku – CRZ Volunteer
RHODA MSISKA
My name is Rhoda Msiska, and I am a Youth and Gender Officer working on the USAID Family Health Nutrition Activity. I graduated at the top of my class from the University of Zambia with a Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies and Philosophy. In my spare time I enjoy reading books and some of my favorite authors include Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Chimamanda Adichie and George RR Martin.
Being a part of Copper Rose Zambia has been a dream realised. During my undergraduate studies, I learned of the issues to do with teenage pregnancies, but it wasn’t until I started working as Youth and Gender Officer that I understood how pervasive teenage pregnancies are and how deeply they impact adolescent girls.
During one of my field visits to the Chipata Central and St. Francis Hospital Mothers shelters, I was able to witness first-hand the high rates of teenage pregnancies in Eastern province as more than 50% of the mothers were teenagers, some of the youngest being 13 and 14 years old.
My practical experience in the field has raised my awareness of the practical implications of teenage pregnancies, the worst being, adolescent maternal deaths. Working for Copper Rose Zambia has given me the opportunity to help alleviate the challenge of teenage pregnancies through the USAID-FHN Youth and Gender Unit.
As a young professional with a great passion to foster change through gender equality, Copper Rose Zambia has been the ideal intellectual and cultural environment for me.
My advice to young people is to always believe and work hard to achieve their dreams.
“No one can deny you of hard work. You have to step up and do your best.” Rhoda Msiska -Copper Rose Zambia Youth and Gender Officer
Elvis Makukula
My name is Elvis Makukula a seasoned professional with 5 years of experience in Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning. I hold a PGD in Monitoring and Evaluation and a bachelor’s degree in Demography with Economics from the University of Zambia. Additionally, I have several certifications in Leadership (University of Zambia, Zambia Monitoring and Evaluation Association- ZaMEA), project management, Impact Evaluation of Health Communication Programs, Family Planning Promising Programmatic Approaches for Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (AYSRH), Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), STATA, Epi-Data, Eviews, DHIS2, CSpro and Microsoft Office Suite.
My technical expertise ranges from designing, operationalizing monitoring and evaluation systems, to the development of data collection tools, and data management of both quantitative as well as qualitative data. I currently work for Copper Rose Zambia as a Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Officer.
During my leisure time, I focus on developing and sharpening my skills in learning about different Quantitative and qualitative software, reading leadership books written by lden Mills (Unstoppable Teams), and now looking forward to spending time with my family.
It has been a pleasure for me to work for such a beautiful organization with outstanding staff members and splendid management.
Over the past few years, I have learned and gained practical experience which has strengthened the monitoring and evaluation system at our organization. Additionally, I have learned a lot in other fields within the organization.
My advice to young people is to keep working extra hard and show kindness, when their dreams come true, it will be a glorious feeling.
“A journey that combines hard work and good company seems to be shorter” Elvis Makukula- CRZ Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Officer
SLYTON KUNDA
My name is Slyton Kunda, I am a trained and certified peer educator and psychosocial counsellor currently working as a community health worker for Copper Rose Zambia, a Champions coordinator for Orange Babies sekelela Ng’ombe project, an intervention team lead for the adolescent team under the adaptive leadership movement. I am also serving as the current chairperson for the Mandevu sub district 2 adolescent youth friendly spaces sub district executive team.
I started going to the youth friendly space in 2016 when I was in grade 8 and got trained as a peer educator that same year. I started conducting community outreach activities as a way of giving back to my community because I wanted the peers around me to have access to the information that I was given a privilege to have. After being trained as a psychosocial counsellor, I was engaged along with 3 peers from the facility to be trained as community health worker for Ng’ombe facility by Copper Rose Zambia.
Ever since I started implementing activities as a community health worker, I have learned new approaches of working in the community and these include: how to work with adolescents and young people living with HIV, how to run support groups, how to be a service provider. I’m really grateful to Copper Rose Zambia for giving me a platform to operate on a higher capacity than I ever thought I would ever get a chance to.
I am currently mentoring and acting as a treatment buddy for 5 paediatrics living with HIV under the Community health worker project as my own way of giving back to my community. I have always wanted to be a researcher who documents the findings directly from the source and thereafter analyze the best course of actions that can be taken to improve the lives of adolescents and young people in communities, and with this opportunity that I have been given by Copper Rose to work as a community health worker. My dream is surely getting close to reality.
Being a community health worker has given me an opportunity to visit different areas of my community and I have seen first-hand how uninformed young people are in my community and how I need to do more to make sure that the right reproductive health information and services are known in my community.
In conclusion, everything I am is centred around the opportunities and information I have been exposed to over these years and I believe that if the young people are informed, they will always make better choices that will benefit their wellbeing.
“One uninformed adolescent is more dangerous than 10 informed adolescents that is why no one should be left behind.” Slyton Kunda- CRZ Community Health Worker