As it appeared in The Mast Newspaper of Friday January 11,2019
 Thando (r) with her mother A 14-YEAR-OLD girl who hopes to be a neurosurgeon one day is on the brink of never ever making her dreams a reality as there is no-one to pay for her school fees at Njase Girls Secondary School.
Thando Ngwenya obtained 511 from her Grade 9 examinations.
In a her appeal for assistance, Thando whose father died when she was only a year-old said she is failing to sleep always thinking that she will never see the inside of a Grade 10 classroom.
“At school, I used to frequent the library and liked to research on science related jobs, because I love staff to do with science…this gave me courage that I should pursue this career path (neurosurgeon). I want to save lives because most people don’t survive such surgeries. I like challenging issues but it is sad to think that I may never be able to do this,” she said with a smile but visibly emotionally disturbed.
She began her primary education at Malima School up to grade 2 and then moved to Starlet Private School for her Grade 3 stint.
Thando the 3rd born out of a family of four, did her Grades 4 and 5 at Indeco Primary School but was fortunate to have been taken up by later father’s sister to continue with her studies in Lusaka.
“In Lusaka, I had to repeat Grade 5 at Ndabeni Academy where I completed my Grade 7 and qualified to Njase Secondary School in Choma where my auntie continued to pay for my school requisites,” she revealed.
Thando said she knows some of the ex-Njase Girls pupils were now prominent women in society and appealed to any of them or as a group to assist her.
“If people that have been at Njase such as Honourable Sylvia Masebo and others that I don’t know by name but are respected in society and may have the means to assist me with my school fees, I would be the most grateful girl on earth. I just want them to or even men and women who may have never been to Njase Girls to find Grace in God and assist me get back to Njase,” she said holding back tears.
“I promise never to fail them and I will work very hard to ensure that I grow up to save my country and also be able to help other girls in need, who may be in my situation. It is sad for me having lost my
father when I was only 1-years-old,” Thando lamented.
However, her mother Mampi Salome Simwanza, aged 45, who was looking more devastated, said her sister in-law has since indicated that she also wants to educate her children and would thus not be able to help the brilliant young Thando.
On Wednesday, Thando’s mother visited Response Network an NGO that assist vulnerable girls through the financial assistance of Sweden’s Academic Work, but was turned down on grounds that the organisation was only focusing on vulnerable girls eligible for Grade 1’s so as to have up to 50 girls up to grade 12 by 2025, but will continue to assist those it had enrolled earlier for further studies and not new entries such as Thando who has never been the organisation list of supported girls.
Simwanza said that she is appealing for assistance for her daughter because she currently is not in any gainful employment and takes care of her children through selling flitters once in a while.
“The cost of doing business is too high and sometimes I don’t make ends meet, it is by the Grace of God that I get on by daily life,” she said.
Simwanza of Namatama residential area said her eldest child is not in gainful employment, while her second born has just completed a teacher training course but was yet to get the results.
“My youngest child is in grade 2,” Simwanza said.
Since the publication of this story in Zambia’s independent newspaper (The Mast) Thando has recived assistance from well wishers and has since reported for school.
LIVINGSTONE AFFECTED BY THE ZIMBABWEAN RIOTS
DESPITE the heavy security forces in major towns of Zimbabwe, the neighbouring town of that country with Zambia, Victoria Falls is relatively calm.
However, the town has had no fuel for weeks now forcing many Zimbabwean motorists including government officials to drive into Livingstone to purchase the commodity.
The other calamity that affects the residents of Victoria Falls town is that there are no shops stocking school requisites such as books and also there are no stationary shops to service the business community and offices.
This scenario has led to an increased influx of Zimbabweans into Livingstone causing long queues as at last week into this week at a major stationary shop in Livingstone called Bhukhans.
It is reported that Zimbabweans resale the school books for as much as US$ 3 to 10, while a ream of paper is fetching as much as US$30.
Many of the Zimbabweans have also found it easy to buy food from some take away restaurants such as Hungry Lion and also buy some groceries from Shoprite Chain stores in Livingstone as most shops in that city are either closed for fear of looting or have no products to sale at all.
As it appeared in The Mast Newspapers of Sunday, January 20,2019
ZAMBIA Army is the 2018 best judo team after beating Zambia Police by 478 points.
And Livingstone’s Judo for Fred youths Thabo Sitali and Fillet Musonda are 2018’s best male and female cadets respectively after having not lost any bout last year.
In an interview, Livingstone Judo for Fred coach Mama Hamoonga said her team was forth behind Zambia National Service.
“At the grand finale held in Lusaka, Zambia Army amassed 811 points to be the nation’s best judo team followed by Zambia Police with 333 points, ZNS had 218 while we had 119 points,” Hamoonga said.
In fifth position was Central Sports Judo Club with 53 points while Ipon, Sable of Kabwe, Mazabuka and Maheba Judo Clubs had 30, 23, 16 and 10 points respectively to take up the sixth,
seventh, eighth and ninth positions in that order.
And Hamoonga said the Norwegian- sponsored Livingstone outfit through Response Network will this year embark on a massive recruitment exercise targeting school children.
“We will embark on a recruitment drive by visiting schools so that we can have many young girls and boys joining Judo. We are tired of always settling for either third or fourth position. We want to go for the top slot this year,” she said.
Hamoonga, who was also awarded the best judo coordinator trophy, and for being committed to the sports activities by the Zambia Judo Association (ZJA), praised Sitali 13 and Musonda 14 for not losing any of their bouts last year.
 Livingstone Judoka Fillet Musonda  Zambia's best male cadet Judoka
RESPONSE Network director Håkon Spigseth says he belives his main purpose in life lies in doing well to other people.
And Spigseth says that it is never worth it to be proud because one’s purpose of life and work is above that.
Addressing workers of his organisation in Livingstone to preview the organisations 2018 challenges and successes, Spigseth said he was lucky to come to work in Zambia, an environment where people are God.
“I co-started RN because I believed that my main purpose in life lies in doing well to other people, and to put that first. The other things in life I feel is rather of smaller importance… one result of
that thinking is that as long as we focus on the main purpose of life, other things become of much smaller importance. It is never worth it to be angry with someone, because love is our mission. It’s never worth it to look down at someone else, because love is our mission,” Spigseth said.
He added that RN workers needed to remember that whenever sorrow and challenges come, they need to be kind to it, because God had placed a pearl in sorrows hand.
“I was lucky to come to work in an environment where people are God believers, and many therefore also have the same outlook on life, that: ‘To do to others what you want others to do to you’ is so
important in life. So we became the Response Network family,” Spigseth added.
He, however, indicated that life was difficult, and challenges and disagreements will come.
“We need to remember the above purpose of our being here. It’s never worth it to be proud, because our purpose of life and work is above that. It is never worth it to talk very strictly to anyone, because our purpose of life and work is above that,” he said.
“It’s never worth it to be bossy because our purpose of life and work is above that. If you are bossy you are failing on our love goals,” Spigseth said.
And Spigseth informed the workers that whatever difficulties are there, whatever they thought their
colleagues were doing wrong, all they needed to do is: “say it with love.”
“We need is to ‘say it with love’ and then she/he will accept to be talked to and corrected. If we have talked something negative about someone, all we need is to swallow our pride and go and say ‘sorry my brother/sorry my sister.” Spigseth advised.
RN receives assistance and collaboration from the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympics Committee and Confederation of Sport (NIF), Support Centre for Survivors of Incest and Sexual Abuse (SMISO), the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (NOREC) formerly Fredskorpset (FK), the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and Academic Work of Sweden among other organisations and individuals.
 Spigseth
A three man delegation from the Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) this morning and afternoon (November 19,2018) conducted a technical support visit to Response Network office near the Wildlife Department offices formerly ZAWA to strengthen the cooperation that exists between the two non-profit and non-governmental organisations. Response Network is a sub-grant organisation which is implementing some programmes in 45 schools in Livingstone under the DAPP-ZAMFAM Project teaching children using sport to mitigate HIV and AIDS. The DAPP delegation was led by the sub-grant manager Timothy Kipembele while the Response Network team was headed by the director
 Response Network Director Håkon Spigseth (l) with DAPP Sub Grant manager Timothy Kipembele  DAPP and Response Network members of staff after a meting in Livingstone Spigseth.
LUSAKA based Green Buffalos Judo Club sponsored by the Zambia Army on Saturday November 3 won the Livingstone National League Tournament after amassing 64 points
And only four Judo clubs managed to fulfil the Livingstone fixture out of the six that had confirmed their attendance with the Zambia Judo Association (ZJA) secretary general Mabvuto Nguni.
According to Livingstone Judo for Fred coach, Mama Hamoonga the Livingstone based Judo for Fred Club sponsored by a Norwegian through Response Network a non-governmental organisation working to improve the lives of Zambia’s rural communities in Zimba, Kazungula and Kalomo using the self-help concept was third with 24 points.
“Green Buffalos (Zambia Army) of Lusaka were first with 64 points followed by Green Eagles (ZNS) with 29 points, we were third and Mazabuka Judo Club was fourth with 1 point,” Hamoonga said.
Last week Nguni announced that six teams had confirmed their participation in the league tournament.
The teams that missed the Livingstone Judo tournament were Sable Nua of Kabwe, Zambia Police and the Lusaka’s Central Sports Club.
 ZAMBIA judoka Simon Zulu (right) battles with Georgios Balarjishvili of Cyprus during the last Youth Commonwealth Games 60kg category event-Picture courtesy Getty Images
As appeared in The Mast Newspapers of Saturday October 28,2018
RESPONSE Network says Zambia shall continue to lag behind with regards international sporting events as long as talent in rural areas is not tapped.
And Kazungula’s Situwa and 11 Champions FC’s of Sikaunzwe and Ngwezi villages respectively have been clowned this year’s Response Network Independence Cup football champions.
In an interview, Response Networks sports coordinator Annet Sonko said the tournaments under the theme ‘Together as One’ held in the two villages were preceded by some educational lectures on sports development and disability and HIV/AIDS awareness.
“We held two Independence Tournaments on Wednesday and Thursday in the two villages in Kazungula districts. The aim of the tournaments was to enhance sports development and awareness on issues to do with disability and HIV and AIDS. We at Response Network have realised that as long as talent in rural areas is not tapped Zambia’s participation in international events will continue to lag behind,” Sonko said.
She gave an example of Zambia’s failure to make a mark at this year’s Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina held recently.
Sonko added that Response Network with the assistance of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympics Committee and Confederation of Sport (NIF) shall continue to host sports tournaments in rural areas of Kazungula, Zimba and Kalomo districts and appealed for sponsorship partnerships.
Sonko said in Sikaunzwe Situwa FC beat Shooting Stars FC 2-0 to lift the gold trophy, while in 3rd and 4th positions was Mwine United FC who beat Zambezi Eagles 1-0.
In Netball Sonko said Mwine United beat Zambezi Eagles 6-4, while Kingfisher was 3rd after beating Shooting Stars 4-3.
In Ngwezi, Amon Kasweka also of Response Network’s sports team announced that 11 Champions FC thrashed Vegetable Growing FC 4-0 to lift the gold Independence trophy, Super Stars FC were in third
position after beating Power United 2-1.
And Kasweka said God Knows Queens beat Rhino Swimmers 8-6 to be crowned champions while Wipers beat Queen Lions 4-2 to be in 3rd and 4th positions respectively.
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
TWO Kalomo youths who have just returned from Norway plan to set up a football league for under 17’s in Kabanga area.
In an interview, Tandi Siavuta 26 and Edwin Habasonda 27 who recently returned from Norway on a Youth Sports Exchange Programme (YSEP) under Response Network a non-Governmental organisation based in Livingstone said they also plan to hold an Under 17football tournament. To be held in Kabanga in chief Siachitema’s area in Kalomo district.
“We want to form a football league for the youths especially those who are under 17 so that we can help promote the development of football in Zambia. We have noted that most of the football teams even in villages are more concentrated on adults,” Habasonda said.
He and Siavuta left for Norway last year on September 1st and returned on May 19.
He said while in Norway, they underwent football coaching programmes.
Habasonda said he was trained in football coaching in Akset while Siavuta was trained in football coaching in Steinkjer.
And Siavuta said she specialized in coaching people living with disabilities.
“After training, I did my training practicals with people living with disabilities between the ages of 12 and 14. I used to commute from Inderøy to Steinkjer,” she said.
She added that at first it was a challenge to coach football to people living with disabilities but soon adopted.
Siavuta said she would love to continue training people living with disabilities in Zambia.
Norway and Zambia has been running the YSEP programme with the collaboration of Response Network under the assistance of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF).
 (l to r) Edwin and Tandi at Response Network office in Livingstone on June 6, 2018
As published by The Mast Newspapers, Zambia on Sunday June 3, 2019
SHE has seven distinctions in Mathematics, English, Science, Biology, Geography, Commerce, Food and Nutrition at grade 12.
But opportunities for the 21-year-old Livingstone girl to study medicine hang on a thread unless she gets over £10,300.00 financial assistance. This is the story of Tivwale Nyirenda of Livingstone’s Maramba Township who needs over £10,300 to study medicine. In this interview, the emotional Tivwale promised that if assisted, she would use her career to empower other vulnerable girls who could not access educational funding to attain their dreams.
“I want to be helped so that I can go to university and pursue a career in medicine. If assisted, I will ensure that I assist
others like me get financial help to pursue their dreams,” Tivwale says.
She says her mother, Astridah Zulu Nyirenda, has been to various private and public institutions in a quest to get help but to no avail. Tivwale says her effort to get financial assistance from Response Network, a non-governmental organisation working in Livingstone, Kazungula, Zimba and Kalomo, that is currently assisting vulnerable girls attain their education also hit a snag as the organisation is this year only assisting Grade one vulnerable children.
She says life for her and her two younger siblings is not easy as her mother, a house maid, is not financially stable. Tivwale, who was with her mother during the interview, says she would dedicate most of her time attaining her dream to be a medical doctor.
“I want to dedicate my free time as a volunteer and also strive to offer scholarships to other vulnerable girls and also offer ideas on how to improve rural health care delivery to the government instead of just relying on mobile hospitals that are currently being used,” she says.
Tivwale, who was born in Mufulira on December 9, 1997, did her primary education at Namatama Primary School in Livingstone where she scored Southern Province’s second highest mark at Grade 7 and was selected to go to St Josephs Secondary School where she wrote her Grade 12 examinations in 2015. Holding back tears, she says attempts to get government bursaries had failed.
Tivwale has an acceptance letter from Cardiff Metropolitan University in the UK to study health sciences effective September 2018, but needs to raise the fees as the university has only awarded her a £ 1,200.00 scholarship. Nyirenda also has valid International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requirements issued by the British Council in Lusaka with an
overall band score of 7.5. And her mother, Astridah, says she has been to the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Finance, Home Affairs and the Bursaries Committee only to receive assurances of possible assistance.
“I have tried all avenues apart from State House but I only receive assurances. My fear is that she is growing up and if no assistance for her to pursue her studies comes soon, she will not attain her dreams. I am a house maid and I can’t afford to meet her university requirements in terms of fees. I don’t want her to miss this chance of wanting to be a medical doctor,” says Astridah.
A World Bank report reveals that girls’ education is about ensuring that girls learn and feel safe while in school; complete all levels of education with the skills to effectively compete in the labour market; learn the socio-emotional and life skills necessary to navigate and adapt to a changing world; make decisions about their own lives; and contribute to their communities and the world. The World Bank adds that poverty remains the most important factor for determining whether a girl can access an education.
 Tivwale at Response Network
As published by The Mast Newspapers Zambia on May 25, 2018
Sport can empower girls to fight poverty – Sonko
A 31-YEAR-OLD sports facilitator says sports can be used to empower young girls to fight poverty.
Annet Nakiwala Sonko from Response Network says the organisation will embark on a project starting next year until 2020 to empower girls and young women with sports and entrepreneurship, and life saving skills.
In her power-point presentation at the just ended International Working Group for Women in Sport (IWG) and after attending a Women Sports Leadership Academy (WASL) in Gaborone, Botswana from May 14 to 20, Sonko said Response Network was adding a component of entrepreneurship and life saving skills to sports to help young girls become self-reliant.
“We at Response Network are aiming at empowering girls and young women with sports, entrepreneurship and life saving skills so that they can be self-reliant. These will help young girls to develop personal and social decisions that help them come out of poverty, have self direction and respect for one another,” Sonko said.
She noted that Response Network works in Kazungula, Zimba and Kalomo districts where girls and young women do not have the necessary knowledge and platform to articulate their challenges with regards to sport, entrepreneurship and life saving skills.
“We work in areas where young girls and women do not have a space to express themselves and participate in leadership programmes and are not given platforms to apply their entrepreneurship skills. So beginning next year until 2020, we will embark on a project to empower girls and young women with sports, entrepreneurship life saving skills so that they can be self-reliant,” said Sonko.
“We basically want rural girls and young women to have the ability to articulate and practically apply and encourage entrepreneurship skills amongst their peers and families. Since young girls and women in the rural areas are farmers, it is very important for them to have entrepreneurship skills that will help them realise their potential to start up save and borrow groups through sports and life skills.”
In her abstract to the WSLA and IWG, Sonko indicated that young people are the fastest growing segment of the population in Zambia and their welfare is fundamental to achieving key economic and social goals
 Annet Sonko
|
|
