PROJECT INSPIRE AFRICA with Choolwe Chimuka

As we strive for a better future, no one is to be left behind. In Zambia, Choolwe Chimuka advocates gender inclusiveness and adult literacy of rural women. In this interview with Project Inspire Africa, Choolwe speaks about her work and its impacts.

  Can we meet you?

   My name is Choolwe Chimuka. I was born in Kabwe District of Central Province of the Republic of Zambia. I am the founder of Choolwe Foundation for Girls and Women Empowerment. I am the first child in the family of three. I am an accountant and a passionate advocate for girls’ and women’s rights. Besides advocacy, I enjoy cooking, playing football, and listening to country music.

  Tell us briefly your childhood experience. 

Growing up, I did activities that came naturally to children: moulded clay pots and clay cows, made and flew kites. I grew up under the care of my parents who instilled discipline and the fear of the Lord into me, laying a strong foundation of my life. My parents also taught my siblings and me the value of working hard and sticking by a task until it is done right. Those values are a blue print for the significant buildup of whom I am today.


  What’s your educational background?

I had my primary and secondary education in Kabwe District of Central Province of the Republic of Zambia and obtained a General Certificate of Education (GCE) there. I later pursued tertiary education at the Zambia Center for Accountancy Studies (ZCAS), Lusaka, where I did ACCA.


  Tell us briefly what it’s like to be a citizen of Zambia.

 It is fulfilling to be a Zambian national, as the country gives me a sense of completeness and makes available a conducive and enabling environment to keenly advocate the rights of girls, women, and the youth. I enjoy the inherent freedom of association as enshrined in the Republican constitution. Above all, being Zambian gives me the exuberance that, I think, no other country can give as far as freedoms of expression and association are concerned.



  What’s the level of youth political participation in your country?
   Like that of most African countries, Zambia's politics is dominated by the elderly. However, in recent times, young people in Zambia have changed the narrative. The youth are becoming more active players in Zambian politics.



What are your contributions towards making Zambia a better place?
  As an individual, I recognise that everyone I meet in life is human and deserves to be treated fairly and courteously. I am always willing to do my best to positively contribute to people’s well-being. As the founder of Choolwe Foundation for Girls and Women Empowerment, an incorporated non-profitmaking organisation that champions the rights of the girl child and women empowerment in the country, my team and I work hard to create platforms for girls and women to speak out about issues that affect them, and together we proffer solutions. Through advocacy, we are challenging cultural bias and seeking to increase the number of girls in school.



What steps did you take to bring your vision to fruition? 
The idea of setting up a non-profitmaking organisation had been a burning issue in my heart. I shared the vision with my family and a group of like-minded young people. We began seeking collaborations, which resulted in several partnerships. After incorporation, many opportunities through which to interact with women at different levels opened up. As an organisation, we have tremendously raised awareness on women issues through campaigns, and we intend to do more, as some of our projects are still in process.



  What have your achievements been? 
We have organised several workshops and a great deal of training. We have empowered women with skills in fish farming, goat and cattle rearing, and moving from subsistence to commercial farming in order to increase their income. We have also carried out adult literacy training to help women learn the basics of reading and writing. More than 500 households have been reached out to since we began. At the student level, we have visited a number secondary schools to campaign against gender inequality and early marriage.


What motivated you to do what you are doing? 
The prevalence of gender inequality in Zambia significantly motivated me to take part in promoting women’s rights. It is astonishing to note that so many girls and women in many parts of Zambia are unable to attain their goals and dreams owing to lack of access to a quality education and, in most cases, gender inequalities. These realities inspired me to be a part of the solution.


   What has been the major challenge since you began your non-profitmaking organisation? 
 Running charity requires courage in words and deeds. Resources have been limited, but we are proud of our accomplishments and the strategies we have developed to bring us this far.



How have you been able to raise money to implement your ideas?
 Funds have come from family, friends of the organisation, and fundraiser. We are still exploring other possibilities of attracting local and international donors.


   Could you share with us one or two experience(s) you have had in the course of your campaign that has/have impacted on you? 
We conducted an outreach in a community in the heart of Lusaka province where I met young women who, though, were illiterate were desperate to get a minimum education. I was moved by their desire to acquire a formal education amid diverse limitations.



What are your prospects in the next 5 or 10 years?
 As an organisation, we hope to expand our reach to every part of Zambia. We hope to take our community outreach, campaigns, promotion, and workshops to areas we have not covered in Zambia.


  What do you think is the major cause of unemployment in Africa, and how can we get over this? 
There are many causes of unemployment in Africa and notable among them include low economic growth, lack of desire to engage in entrepreneurship among the youth, inadequate access to a quality education, lack of productivity (that leads to dependence on government), and lack of financial capital. However, we can get over this by encouraging the youth to venture into entrepreneurship which, I suggest, should be incorporated into primary and secondary school curriculums with a view to creating opportunities for all. Increasing budgetary allocation to education will also make a difference.



 If you had an opportunity to speak to presidents of African countries, what would your message be?

 My message to them would be: Invest in Africa's future.

 Thank you for sharing your story with us, and we do hope that a great many are inspired as they read.
 My pleasure!



  Many thanks to our editor: Pookers Literary & Editing World.

www.pookers.com.ng
+234 703 009 4966




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