Narratives

We all arrived here a miracle. Creatures all bottled up with talents and purposes and dreams and gifts. Set out on a universal mission of healing the world, in making it a better place for us to be, for others to be.

 As a child, I always knew the universe was way deeper than what I imagined. I knew there was more, something surreal; somewhat untouchable. And we have bits of it reflected in us – something to give back through service. And this was what moved me to be a part of NHF; an avenue to render my service to humanity. It’s me giving, living full and dying empty, using my talents to serve people. Doing what I can, while I can, when I can, in any way I can, every way I can.  

It is also me rising by lifting others, weaving earnest words with hope they would find a dwelling place in the hearts of men; creating ripples, happiness and inspiration. Just ordinary actions, by ordinary people, causing extraordinary changes in the world.

I am a youth activist and a program coordinator, and it is part of the reason I find myself connecting with NHF’s mission “Making Health and happiness accessible to children in Africa” because my passion for youth work strives in creating opportunities for other young people. And having been diagnosed with three medical conditions while at primary school, which affected much of my life growing up, connects me more to this mission to help other young people move beyond their boundaries in healthcare.  

When I was 11 years old, my life completely changed. That year my father had just died, and I was also diagnosed with a mental disorder. I smelled things that were not there, which made it difficult for me to either connect with people or be around people.  On top of that, I had arthritis, which caused the joints in my legs to swell and was painful. And as if you think that was the end of my plight, I was also told there was something wrong with my brain: my eyes would turn slightly yellow, and I fainted on many occasions.

Having these conditions made me withdraw from the world.  And I also became suicidal. Most of the time I stayed in my bedroom reading books, and writing stories and poems. 

Facing these challenges meant missing out on school some lessons both at primary and junior secondary school. My grades were inconsistent. And I constantly needed help through tuitions to stay up with my grades.  Apart from the help of teachers through extracurricular educational activities, my mum was very supportive. She made sure that I had treatment both at Care for Business (CFB) and Chainama hospitals, especially when I had a relapse, fainted, or experienced more pain in my joints.

Being at Munali Girls for my secondary school was a little different. I stopped fainting. And secondly, I didn’t have challenges with arthritis.  The biggest challenge I had at secondary, however, was my mental disorder, which continued to persist.  And affected my relationships with others as I would not always connect. 

One of the doctors I was seeing recommended me to a therapist, who attended to me for free throughout my secondary school. Free medical care from him once every two weeks helped me to find my footing to a greater extent. And secondly, my favorite two teachers, for chemistry and math, were extremely supportive of my improvements in school. Having teachers like them who were patient and understanding created an environment that made it easier to strive for someone like me with a mental disorder.

The support of my mum, good teachers, and free medical care from a therapist helped me succeed to go to the University of Zambia to pursue my degree.  While I did enjoy my experience at University, it was not always easy. For the first time in my life, I was away from family. I lived in a boarding house across from the school. I had to grow up. Look out for me.  Although I had many dark days while at University, what made me hang was hope. The Hope that things would get better. And hope that God was walking with me. And I would like to think that it’s because of that hope that my mental disorder stopped during my period at University, but its aftermath is something I have continued to fight over till this day.

This Challenge taught me to fight and to hold on to hope. Someone once said, “people with the greatest hope, are the greatest influencers.”  And this why I often find myself fighting and hopping into impossible situations. I told myself if I could overcome this, I could do anything with my life. 

Sometime, after graduating from University, I set up seemingly three impossible goals for myself: Attending the YALI program in South Africa, the Mandela Fellowship in the USA, and the African Union Youth Volunteer Corps in Rwanda. All these three goals came to life in a space of three years. And through the African Union Youth Volunteers corps, I worked for a year for an international organization, Ashoka Africa. The impossible didn’t seem impossible because of hope.  My actions were driven by hope, faith, and hard work. Impossible didn’t mean I was never afraid, but that my dreams and my hopes were bigger than my fears and challenges. And I knew living beyond my fears I could do anything with my life, and being part of these three international youth programs grew my leadership skills to be able to add value to my community. And to face my fears with connecting with the world, and meeting and making new friends from almost all corners of the world.

Being part of the Nyuma Harrison foundation means something to me knowing that I can help other young people to live beyond their current boundaries. Often young people, especially in marginalized communities have little or no resources to support their daily competing needs including access to healthcare. 

Despite my health challenges and the effects, they had on my social life and education, I was fortunate to have the support I needed to meet my healthcare needs. Without this help, my health could have easily gone down to its worst, my relationships with others nonbonding and a big question mark about my performance in school and my future.  

Getting support is not always the case for vulnerable children. You and I have the power to change that. We have the power to create a system that will enable early, affordable and sustainable health for children who might be prone to different health risks.

By helping kids to stay healthy and happy, we are also giving them a future to stay in school, be productive, have healthy relationships, allow kids to simply be kids and not carry burdens of life; and we have an opportunity to shape their life to be change-makers where ever they are. 

My name is Mulonda Namiluko and I am 23 years old. I have been at The Home of David and Faith for five years operating the capacity of General Worker. My duties include assisting with the care of the male children, as well as managing basic errands as needed at the home. The work I do is rewarding and fulfilling, and I consider myself privileged to be a small part in the dream that is to bring purpose, value and love to young people who would have otherwise been disenfranchised and lost to destructive and sometimes life threatening environments.

The home is particularly restricted in its ability to cater to the medical needs of the children as we have and tend to some who have unique conditions. Though we are centrally located, the distance to the nearest health facility may mean life or death for any of these precious ones.

I remember when the Nyuma Harrison Foundation and the Fijan Design team started preparing for onsite construction, I knew something big was about to happen.  I initially had no idea that the project was a clinic, but as it took shape, I couldn’t keep back my joy and excitement at what the space would mean for the children and for those of us with the privilege of caring for them. 

The construction process allowed me to assist in the growth of this great work, I helped with bringing people to the site and helped with material movement and any menial tasks that the team allowed me to engage in. Of all I got to observe one thing stood out; the determination to see the project succeed and succeed on time. The team saw the work as a way to do their part in the lives of the children at the home and that spoke volumes to me. 

Launch day was a colorful event decorated by the sound of excitement and joy, with smiles as far as the eyes could see. The children particularly looked radiant in their yellow shirts which were brightened by the wide smiles and laughs that were ringing from their grateful hearts. The finished building meant the realization and actualisation of what seemed to be a dream. The building literally spelled the end of certain concerns and worries.

The mixture of emotions I experienced was such that my life was deeply impacted by the great work done by the team and the events of that day are forever etched in my memory.

I look forward to being the change I want to see at the HODF and in the world – a mantra vividly demonstrated by your team. The opening of the clinic will also give me a chance to ensure to first of all learn and find ways to improve my care giving to these deserving young people.

Going forward I see this clinic being a centre not only where the children of the home are helped but those in the community as well, I see a sense of relief as medical care is catered for and the children can be attended to 24/7. I see the home being able to reach out and have awareness campaigns to sensitize the community on hygiene and correct child care for even children affected by diseases like HIV, AIDS, TB and many others. I see the reach of HODF increase to also cater to more vulnerable and challenged children because of the availability of health facilities and personnel. One day (and I hope one day soon) I hope to be a part of a team that will even have a lifesaving or life changing procedure being performed at the clinic at HODF such as the correction of a cleft lip and such.