– Mufulira Pupil Defies the Odds
For nearly eight years, Jane Banda’s life stood still. After falling pregnant in Grade 8, she dropped out of school and retreated to her village in Kashikishi, Luapula Province, her dreams quietly slipping further out of reach with each passing year.
But today, at 25, Jane is rewriting her story.
Now a Grade 11 pupil at Chibolya Secondary School in Mufulira District, she is determined to complete her education, no matter the cost.
“I stayed in the village for almost eight years after getting pregnant,” she recalls. “But when I heard about free education, I told my family that I had gone to fight for my life.”
That decision changed everything.
Driven by a second chance she refused to waste, Jane left behind her family, and her child, and travelled to Mufulira in search of a better future. With no safety net, she took up piece work to survive, saving every ngwee she could.
Eventually, she raised K2,500, enough to buy a deep fryer and start a small chips business. But when the opportunity to return to school came, she made a bold sacrifice.
“I stopped working and went back to Grade 8 after hearing that education was now free,” she says.
Since then, life has been a delicate balancing act. By day, she is a student. In her spare time, she sells chips to try and cover rent and basic needs. The business, however, is small and unreliable, often forcing her to choose between studying and earning.
Yet, even in her most difficult moments, she refuses to give up.
“The school feeding programme helps me a lot,” she explains. “Even when I don’t have anything, I know I will eat at school.”
Living alone, far from her child and family, Jane has had to grow up quickly. Every decision she makes carries weight, and every sacrifice reminds her why she started.
“The life of a woman is hard,” she says quietly. “If I don’t work hard, I might find myself in bad situations. I have to stay focused.”
Her determination is evident not only in her words, but in her actions. Jane now serves on the school’s student council, earning the respect of both her teachers and fellow pupils, who describe her as disciplined, focused, and exceptionally hardworking.
Her story has also reached beyond the classroom.
Mufulira District Commissioner Evaristo Chilumba says he was deeply moved after hearing of her struggles.
“The story touched me,” he said. “I imagined if she were my daughter or a relative, so when I got home, I told my wife, and she was also touched.”
In a gesture of personal compassion, Mr. Chilumba has pledged to support Jane’s small business with essential supplies such as cooking oil and potatoes.
Jane has thanked the DC for his kind gesture, and everyone that is willing to support her in any way. Her resolve remains her greatest strength. Each day she walks into class, she carries more than books. She carries the weight of years lost, the responsibility of motherhood, and the determination to build a different future. And this time, she is not turning back.
Author: Jotham Kayombo Likomeno
