Desmond shares his story of how Our Moon is helping boost his potential in fostering solutions to existing societal problems.
There are so many opportunities for growth and development in many communities across Zambia that go unnoticed. Growing up in my community with peers, I have seen how people get deep into rote learning and not deep in critical thinking. This limits growth and restricts our collective progress as a society overall.
In school, I often noticed my friends and I would memorise our notes and formulae for the sake of passing the exams, but never deeply understood concepts. We could recite facts and figures, but when faced with real-world provoking questions, we struggled to apply our knowledge effectively. That way of learning, with emphasis on superficial understanding, did not really prepare us to deal with life’s complex challenges.
In my community, for example, the same problems keep occurring, like the issue of facing water shortage or electricity issues, but no permanent solution is ever found. Rather than trying to understand the causes and act collectively to find long-term answers, people use short-term solutions that will not resolve the situation at hand. These chains of thinking perpetuate the difficulties we have in making change that lasts in our community.
But joining Our Moon Education introduced me to a different way of learning, encouraging me to think critically and embrace new perspectives. I have deepened my understanding of challenging concepts through innovative teaching strategies that include the use of Khan Academy, reflective writing, and exposure to the preparation for the SAT, ultimately contributing to an enhancement in my academic performance.
Additionally, Our Moon has greatly impacted me beyond the academic circles. Peer tutoring sessions and mentorship from the teaching staff have aided in building my self-confidence. This has consequently taught me not to give up in the face of challenges but to forge ahead amid adversity. It has also made me rise after every fall and try again with greater resolve to achieve excellence.
As I look into the future, I am filled with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement. Our Moon has equipped me with broadened knowledge and skills and ignited a deep passion to become a leader in my chosen career. I now have an open mind to look into situations from different dimensions and approach problems with solutions of a goal-oriented mindset. This has empowered me to do something about some of the problems being faced in my community, such as shortages of water and electricity. For example, I will work with the local expertise and leaders of my community levels in tracing these issues to their roots, with a view to coming up with sustainable solutions. This will be done through workshops to educate others on techniques of water conservation or advocate for the implementation of renewable energy sources like agrivoltaics to produce reliable electricity in my community and throughout the country.
I am determined to use the knowledge and experiences I have gained as a requisite towards inspiring and empowering other young people in Zambia, cultivating their curiosity, and helping unlock their full potential. I have realised that Our Moon’s focused education is not just a strong tool for personal development, but also a critical investment in the future of our nation.
I would further wish to offer my heartfelt gratitude to Our Moon’s staff and volunteers for their unwavering support and guidance in every step taken to ensure my overall well-being. Their commitment to empowering Zambian youths is so inspiring that I feel privileged to be part of such a great community.
I therefore urge my fellow Zambian youths to seize every opportunity for growth; we shall, together, create a far brighter future for ourselves and our great nation. Let education empower us to unlock our full potential and in the end, we will realise how impactful it can be on the world around us.