From Kambuzuma to New York: A Story of Hope
My story began in 2010, at the start of my secondary school journey. At home, we had nothing. To pay for my enrollment and books for that first term, my mother had to work tirelessly in the school’s maize fields. It was a humbling and difficult beginning, but it was also a testament to their love and sacrifice.
That same year, my mother heard about the Kambuzuma Drop-in Center. It was a place that offered hope to vulnerable children. They took me there, explained our situation, and a new chapter of my life began. The center embraced me, offering to cover my tuition and school needs. All I had to do was show up.
The center became my second home. It was so much more than a place for a meal or a tuition check. It was a hub for life coaching, teaching us how to live well in our community, and grooming us to be young leaders. We learned life skills through arts and crafts, herbal farming, and sports like basketball. They even took us on holiday trips, broadening our horizons beyond our neighborhood.
This support became the foundation of my success. I attended the center every day, from the start of my Form 1 all the way until I finished my Ordinary Levels in 2013, passing with flying colors. The center stood by me as I pursued my Advanced Levels, providing academic support from 2014 to 2015, where I once again passed with flying colors.
Their commitment didn’t end there. When it was time for college, they helped me get accepted to NUST for a Computer Science degree from 2016 to 2020, covering my tuition throughout. After graduating, I secured a two-year graduate internship at FHI360. In 2023, I went back for a postgraduate diploma and finished in 2024.
Now, my journey has taken me across the world. I was accepted for a masters in Data Analytics and Visualization at Yeshiva University in New York, and thanks to a scholarship and a student loan, I’m now a student there.
The Kambuzuma Drop-in Center has been the pivot of my academic success. My story is a living testament to the power of their support—how a hot meal and a little bit of guidance can set a young person on a path from struggling in maize fields to studying in New York.
-Bhekithembas story to New York