Joseph Sikasula (right) poses for a photo with ZOCS Executive Director Mrs. Cleopatra Muma during the handover of 500 pencils that he donated to the organisation for further distribution to OVC in Community Schools.
Zambia Open Community School (ZOCS) bursary beneficiary Joseph Sikasula recently donated 500 pencils to Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Community Schools.
The donation which was received by ZOCS on behalf of the intended beneficiaries came as a gesture of appreciation to the organisation following its bursary support to him from Grade 10 to 12 (2016 – 2018). The bursary programme was made possible through financial support by the Embassy of Ireland.
During the subsequent year after completing his Secondary School, Joseph was among the young people ZOCS sponsored for training at Lusaka Technical and Business College specialising in Electrical Engineering.
And during the month of April, 2021, he was engaged by ZOCS for a week to support data entry, an exercise that earned him K2, 788.00. It was from that pay that he spent a K500 to buy pencils that would go towards supporting Orphans and Vulnerable Children.
“I would like to appreciate ZOCS and its partners for supporting my education from Secondary School to tertiary education as I did not have any one to sponsor me after the demise of my father,” Joseph said.
ZOCS Executive Director Mrs. Cleopatra Muma thanked Joseph for the gesture calling it a demonstration of gratitude and selflessness.
She added that there are many vulnerable children in Community Schools who are in need of support and with the pencils donated, many will wear smiles on their faces upon receiving this gift.
ZOCS, according to Mrs. Muma believes in the principle of passing it on to assist others, “and this is what Joseph has demonstrated by donating pencils that will support individuals who are in the situation similar as he was”.
Mrs. Muma added that ZOCS does not take such donations lightly, the organization is grateful for the efforts that Joseph has showcased. She called on all Zambians to emulate Joseph’s gesture and think of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Community Schools. No gift is small, she said.
Joseph Sikasula was sponsored by ZOCS with support from the Embassy of Ireland following the financial challenges from his family who could not afford to pay for his school fees as the father was a bread winner died some years before he enrolled in grade eight.
He was provided with school fees, books, study lamps, shoes and uniforms from grade 11 until grade completing secondary school at Olympia Secondary School in 2018.
After successfully passing grade 12, ZOCS and Embassy of Ireland further supported him to go for tertiary education where he enrolled in the school of Electrical Engineering field at Lusaka Technical and Business College and he acquired a craft certificate in Electrical Engineering.
Comments are closed