Our Moon

JOHN: A STREET KID AND A LEADER

John wears a broad smile and confidently introduces himself to Our Moon’s newest group of students: “I’m a street kid and I’m a leader.”

We were all sitting in our ‘insaka’, a thatched shelter. You know the saying “there’s always someone worse off than you?” At that moment, we knew we’d found that someone.

John takes over. “Sadly, my parents passed away when I was eight years old. I was split up from my older siblings and taken to live with my grandmother, who wouldn’t let me go to school despite extended family protests. After five years, I decided to take my life into my own hands and left for the streets.

Life was hard. I was only thirteen years old and had to work weekends to make sure I could go to school. I set up a small stationery business to feed myself. I squatted in my late grandfather’s unfinished two-bedroom house and invited other street kids to stay with me. My meagre earnings were shared out among all of us, and I encouraged my friends to go to school. I excelled academically despite often being turned away for non-payment of fees. My friends and a small group of teachers knew I was a good student. I would often hide under their desks while the school bursar took the register, chasing away those who hadn’t paid. Some days, I even had to listen to my classes from outside the classroom. At night, I would go out in search of a street light so I could study under it.

“Our Moon has built me up in ways I couldn’t have imagined. My use of English has improved exponentially, I’ve learnt how to use IT, and had a three month internship at KPMG where I met with clients and took part in audits. I enjoyed the company of my fellow students, as well as being looked after, so I didn’t always have one part of me wondering where our next meal would come from.”

When I completed lower secondary school, I was invited to transfer to the best government school in my area, and although it was a very long walk to school, I was totally up for it. But it wasn’t simple. The headteacher told me I had to pay all my fees upfront, and after a disagreement, I was sent away. However, I knew others who were allowed to pay in instalments, so I argued my case at the local education department, and was eventually given a place to study.

I found out about Our Moon while I was volunteering for CopperRose, a Zambian NGO educating adolescents on sexual and reproductive health. When I was offered a place on Our Moon’s Young Leaders programme, I knew everything in my life was about to change for the better. I always knew God had a plan for me. I ensured my street kid friends were set up by planting some vegetables and showing them how to run my small businesses, and urged them to keep going to school so I could follow my dreams.

Our Moon has built me up in ways I couldn’t have imagined. My use of English has improved exponentially, I’ve learnt how to use IT, and had a three month internship at KPMG where I met with clients and took part in audits. I enjoyed the company of my fellow students, as well as being looked after, so I didn’t always have one part of me wondering where our next meal would come from.

I’m now looking forward to the next phase of my life. I will attend Swarthmore College — Obama’s alma mater — in Pennsylvania, and plan to study engineering, but I’ve also developed an interest in economics and would love to combine the two. My hope is that I can contribute to distributing affordable, clean and sustainable electricity across my country and inspire others along the way.”

We all wish John good luck and feel honoured to be involved in his life. He is truly an exceptional young man.

To help us support more bright young Zambians like John please click here.