GENERAL MANAGER

Trudy was Chikumbuso’s first volunteer and then employee. She has been with the organization from the beginning, as a teacher, School Principal, and now General Manager. She has led the growth of the project over the past 15 years and enjoys seeing the changes it has brought into people’s lives, including her own. She enjoys reaching out to Chikumbuso and non-Chikumbuso members, including President Bush and other notable guests, but most especially the grandmothers in our community who need our support.

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Misheck was a young man when he became part of the teaching staff at Chikumbuso and a role model to our boys and young men. Fifteen years later he is our School Principal and happily married with kids! He has enjoyed seeing the project transform lives by providing food and free education to hundreds of children in our community. Misheck enjoys working with all groups at Chikumbuso and during his time away loves sharing the Bible’s message of a better future for all and how to live satisfying lives right now.

VICE PRINCIPAL & 2ND GRADE TEACHER

When she joined Chikumbuso in 2011, Finety was hired to work as the librarian, but in 2012, she moved to teach our 7th-grade class. She loves imparting knowledge to our learners, whom she wants to help thrive in their environment and ensure they make it in life. Her after-school activity is running our Scout program. After work, Finety spends time at home with her husband, daughter, and two nieces. She is often thinking about how she can better help the orphaned children of Chikumbuso.

SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR

Catherine is the Chikumbuso Sponsorship Coordinator and has been with us since 2017. She stepped up to take over food distribution and record keeping when our dear friend, Maureen Tembo, passed away in 2022. She also is a Teacher Assistant and has developed deep relationships with students.

HEAD OF PRODUCTS

Mary has been part of Chikumbuso for fifteen years and has helped grow our organization into what it is today. She has developed many new programs for us, including our incredible COVID-19 mask donation project and our female hygiene kit project for incarcerated women. She is responsible for managing the daily operations of the microfinance program and the STARY project. She trains students in tailoring, provides health education, and acts as a guide and advisor to many of our young adults.

STARY TRAINER

Rosemary joined Chikumbuso at its start in 2005 and since then has primarily focused on the Skills Training for At-Risk-Youth (STARY) program, which involves purchasing fabric and supplies, quality control for all products, managing workflow for special orders or events, working with the design team to create new items. Rosemary also manages the STARY group, assuming responsibility for all incoming classes, welcoming tour groups and telling the Chikumbuso STARY story. She also supports local sales and fashion events. When she is not at work you can find her at home in Matero township with her husband and six children planning for her next STARY class.

SAFE HAVEN CAREGIVER

Grace joined Chikumbuso in 2012 as part of our micro-enterprise program, crocheting bags. She began serving as a caregiver for the Safe Haven children in 2018. As the caregiver, she currently resides at Chikumbuso where she provides 24/7 care for the Safe Haven kids, providing food, shelter, and emotional support to some of our most vulnerable students. She has two children.

SECURITY GUARD

Alick joined Chikumbuso twelve years ago. His job involves minding the gate at the entrance to Chikumbuso and ensuring all rooms and windows are locked. Alick also assists with some cleaning and maintenance work around Chikumbuso. When he is at home, he helps his family with some housework and attends church meetings.

SECURITY GUARD

Livingstone joined Chikumbuso in 2006. His job involves minding the gate at the entrance to Chikumbuso, making sure that people coming into our Center do not pose a threat to the safety of the people in our community. He patrols the premises to ensure all rooms and windows are locked. Livingstone also assists with some cleaning and maintenance work around the Center. Outside Chikumbuso, Livingstone enjoys gardening.

KINDERGARTEN

Christine came to Chikumbuso as a third-grader in 2005. She earned her Primary Teacher's Diploma in Chongwe. While getting her teaching degree she was a teacher’s helper at Chikumbuso. In 2017, Christine was hired as our kindergarten teacher and she enjoys being with these young ones. Christine lives at Chikumbuso.

FIRST GRADE

Monica joined Chikumbuso as a Teaching Assistant in 2019. She earned her diploma in Early Childhood Education from Rockview and now teaches Grade 1. She lives in Kabanana with her family.

SECOND GRADE

Finety joined Chikumbuso in 2011, Finety has an Early Childhood Certificate. She delights in imparting knowledge to our learners, whom she wants to help to make it in life. Finety is the 2nd-grade teacher and Scout Leader.

THIRD GRADE

What Angela loves about teaching at Chikumbuso is the love that is there. “I love the unity and respect people give each other. The children are from different backgrounds, yet live in harmony and build strong relationships among themselves.”

FOURTH GRADE

Adelaide has been a teacher at Chikumbuso since 2014. She earned her diploma in Education from Fairview College. She comes to work with a smile every day and is eager to learn new things.

FIFTH GRADE

2020 is Angela’s sixth year of working at Chikumbuso. Angela has taken on teaching our third grade class this year. She enjoys working with students and others in the library, helping them to find resources they need in order to achieve academic and personal success. Angela cherishes each interaction with library users as it affords her an opportunity to learn something new and to socialize with everyone.

FIFTH GRADE

Maria is our regular Grade 5 teacher who is out on maternity leave - congratulations! Maria joined Chikumbuso in 2019 after graduating from Fairview College with a Secondary Education Diploma. As part of our teaching staff, she teaches our fifth graders, preparing them for upper primary school. Maria is a resident of Ng’ombe.

SIXTH GRADE

Mtondo Choza is our newest teacher working in Grade 6. He loves being a part of the Chikumbuso teaching staff with the passion to serve the community for the love of widows and orphans. He team teaches with Principal Mvula while he settles in to his new job.

SEVENTH GRADE

Mercy was a student at Chikumbuso from 2005-2011. Mercy earned her degree in primary school teaching at Fairview College of Education. Mercy always knew she would come back to teach at Chikumbuso and give back to the community that supported her so well. Her hope is to motivate current Chikumbuso students to work hard by sharing her success story.

SEVENTH GRADE

Howard joined Chikumbuso with his brother in 2005. He was raised by a single mom in Ng’ombe. Despite life’s difficulties, he graduate from college with a Diploma in Teaching in 2020.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TEACHER

Margaret became a member of Chikumbuso project right after completing high school in 2011. She earned her diploma in Primary Education from Chongwe College. Margaret lives with her parents and three siblings.

TEACHING ASSISTANT

Catherine has been a Teaching Assistant at Chikumbuso since 2017. She has enjoyed doing this work as it allows her to interact with all the teachers and students in the community. Catherine lives in Kabanana township with her son and her young sister.