“For three years, I knocked on different doors looking for a chance to study nursing. Today, I am living the dream I refused to give up on.” – Chiluba Lungu
When Chiluba Lungu received a phone call informing her that she had been selected for the Mastercard Foundation Bursary Support Programme implemented by FAWEZA, she could hardly believe it.
Just a day earlier, the 24-year-old from Lusaka had been pursuing yet another opportunity, determined not to let years of rejection and financial hardship stand between her and her dream of becoming a nurse.
Born with a disability, Chiluba completed her secondary education at Kamwala South Secondary School in 2021. Like many ambitious young people, she hoped to immediately continue her education. However, for Chiluba, the journey was far from straightforward.
For three years, she applied to various colleges and universities to study nursing and clinical medicine. In 2022, she was accepted to a nursing programme, but financial challenges prevented her from enrolling.
“I never lost hope,” Chiluba says. “I knew one day I would find a way to achieve my dream.”
As Vice Captain of the Zambia Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball Team, she travelled across the country for competitions and continued searching for opportunities that could help her pursue higher education. Along the way, she faced discrimination and discouragement.
“Whenever I told people I wanted to study nursing, many looked down on me because of my disability,” she recalls. “But I believed in myself.”
Determined to keep trying, Chiluba posted on Facebook seeking information about bursary opportunities. She also reached out to her former teacher, asking to be informed if any educational opportunities became available. That decision would change her life.
Through a series of referrals, she was connected to Lewanika College of Nursing and Midwifery and encouraged to apply for the Mastercard Foundation Bursary Support Programme through FAWEZA.
Today, Chiluba is a second-year nursing student at Lewanika College and the first student with a disability to be enrolled in the nursing programme at the institution—a milestone that challenges long-held perceptions about who can pursue a career in nursing.
The bursary has removed the financial barriers that once threatened her future. Beyond paying tuition fees, the programme provides the support she needs to fully participate in her education, including a monthly stipend that also enables her to assist her parents at home.
“This bursary means that my goal has been reached,” she says. “Now my responsibility is to work hard and succeed in my studies.”
Through the programme, Chiluba is also an active member of the TUSEME Club, where she has gained confidence to speak out against discrimination and advocate for herself and others. She has learned about gender-based violence, entrepreneurship, leadership, and where to seek support when faced with challenges.
“TUSEME has taught me to be courageous and to speak up. Today, I know my rights and I know that my voice matters.”
Looking ahead, Chiluba hopes her story will encourage other young people with disabilities to pursue their dreams without fear.
“Disability is not inability,” she says. “But how will people see our abilities if we do not give ourselves the chance to show them? I encourage other young people with disabilities to apply for opportunities and believe in themselves.”
Chiluba’s journey is a powerful reminder that when barriers to education are removed, young women can thrive, lead, and inspire others. Through the Mastercard Foundation Bursary Support Programme implemented by FAWEZA, she is not only building a career in nursing—she is helping create a future where disability is no barrier to opportunity.
