In conversation with LearnServe alum Mwansa
Mwansa Sunga is a second-year student at the University of Zambia studying chemistry and geology. As an alum of Fellows Zambia ‘23, Incubator ‘24, and Global Zambia ‘24, he has designed ventures addressing electricity shortages and promoting economic opportunity. We caught up with Mwansa to better understand his LearnServe experience and his current studies.
How did you hear about LearnServe and Njira Youth Skills Training Center, one of LearnServe’s partner organizations?
I first heard about Njira through Japhet (director of Njira Youth Skills Training Center), who visited my school Twin Palm Secondary School. At that time, I wasn’t familiar with LearnServe’s program. A friend introduced me to the Fellows program when there was a shortage of people in the cohort. I applied and got accepted, but I didn’t know anything about social enterprises or what LearnServe was all about.
The Global Zambia ‘24 cohort met up with Zambian Fellows at Twin Palms Secondary School, one of LearnServe’s and Njira’s school partners in Lusaka.
My experience in LearnServe was good but challenging because I joined in the middle of the program. Most of us were paired into teams. Luckily, my teammate Nathan had already joined the program, and he helped me catch up with everyone. Together, we worked on creating a small hydroelectric power station. Here in Zambia, we experience challenges with power outages and load shedding. Nathan and I wanted to create a venture to help the people of Zambia. We actually ended up winning the pitch competition.
Our model used a 20-liter bucket and a tank with turbines. Water would flow from a tub of water into a turbine, spinning the turbine to generate electricity and falling into a bucket below. A pump would pump the water in the bucket back into the tub. Our innovation was meant to charge phones, use it for lighting, or other small uses. When there is no power at night, students are not able to study, for example.
How did your venture or experience change in our Incubator?
My Fellows partner didn’t continue in the Incubator program, so I had to think of another project. I designed a new organization to help my community by providing more economic opportunities to reduce hunger and poverty.
I’m really focusing on Zambia, but my long term goal is to help other countries as well. A lot of people are living in poverty in Zambia, and there are people who don’t go to school because of a lack of funds. Even though the government has a free education policy, students still pay for books and uniforms. Then, some students go to school without food to eat, so they can’t concentrate on their studies.
I feel like through the organization that I’m developing, I can help. I have other business ventures right now, and I have learned more about business while in university. I am a tutor; I teach people. I am also an electrical engineer, sign language interpreter, mentor, and counselor. So, I have a lot of skills. With my new venture, we’ll be providing these services to others and then training them. But for us to start, we need funds to make a social media and website first. After we raise the funds and have financial stability, I can mentor the people helping me.
At the moment, I have three students working with me from the University of Zambia and secondary school. One of them is a graphic designer, another works with databases, and another is helping me research more business opportunities.
How do you think your LearnServe experience shaped your career aspirations?
LearnServe has really helped me look at things in a different way. I used to feel bad about issues in our world, because I’m one who likes helping people.
LearnServe taught us how to look for problems in society and fix those problems. From the time I received LearnServe’s training, such as how to conduct surveys, I began looking at things in a different way. Back then, I thought, Why should I help those people? LearnServe taught me that every person has a part in changing the world.
During the Global Zambia exchange, I talked about careers with Niyea, one of the US Incubator students. I loved chemistry, but also engineering, and also aviation. I was so undecided about how to pick one. Niyea also had a similar problem. We came to the conclusion that we need to do what we love.
What made you decide to participate in the Incubator and the Global Zambia exchange?
The Global Zambia exchange was amazing and really inspired me alot. I was amazed looking at the young people trying different ventures, but our goal was one: bringing change.
We were also not only talking about the ventures; we were friends. As we continued chatting, I got to know them on a personal level.
I would encourage every Fellow to stick around. Learning does not end at the Fellows program; they should also proceed to the Incubator. At the Incubator level, they get to look at their ventures and how they can be applied in real life. In Fellows, we get training on how to look at the problem, create a problem statement, the basics. The Incubator is a really important part of the program because it brings together young people to actually apply our ventures.
As for the Global Zambia fellowship, I encourage people to participate because it allows you to meet students in person. You can learn things online and on Zoom, but it’s amazing to meet Incubator students in person. The Global Zambia exchange helps the growth of your project. If you’re just alone, you cannot grow, but when you’re with other people, you can grow. Their ideas and contributions help your project.
Before the Global Zambia exchange, I didn’t have a lot of experience with my venture. The students on the exchange helped me better understand customer discovery. I had learned about customer discovery in the Fellows and Incubator program, but didn’t understand it well.
I also found public speaking challenging at first. But as I got to interact with students on the exchange, I asked them about how they managed to speak in public, what techniques they used, and how I can be a better public presenter. Due to my fellow Incubator students and the trip leaders, now I’m not too shy to speak in public.
Where we are lacking, we can get help.
As a university student yourself, what advice would you give to current students applying to college?
During the Global Zambia exchange, we had a lot of time to talk about our ventures, our schools, and also got to talk about career guidance. As young people, it’s hard to choose a career.
Whatever you do, you need to choose what you love. A lot of students in Zambia choose a career to please their parents. But if you don’t love your career, you don’t show a positive attitude toward it, and that leads to bad services provided. It does not enhance growth or development. If they have a dream, they need to pursue it. When you do something you love, you’ll always be happy.
We’ve talked alot about what you’ve done and how you’ve grown these last two years in Njira and LearnServe’s programs. Looking forward, where do you see yourself in five years?
I met a friend who told me whenever we ask people what their dream is, we ask people about the end, but we don’t ask them about the beginning.
We have 10 provinces in Zambia, and I am in Lusaka. In the first year, I want to reach out to communities in Lusaka. In five years, I see my organization reaching out to other provinces, and in 10 years, maybe even other countries.
I really want to see this dream become a reality. I see my organization helping a lot of people. I see my business becoming established. I’m seeing myself partnering with a lot of organizations and helping a lot of people – reaching out to different places in Zambia.
I’m trying to work out my schedule as I’m doing a double major. My schedule is quite tight, but I’m planning to work with my friends from different universities. The work should not be stagnant just because I’m not around. Whatever time I am free, I will try to sacrifice time for my organization. It’s worth sacrificing for.
One way to support me is enrolling or recommending people to help me. This kind of project you can’t do alone.
Do you have any final thoughts for our community?
It does not only depend on the government or higher officials to bring change to society or our world. It depends on each individual. Each individual has got a role to play. Everyone can help by donating, volunteering, and brainstorming.
Let’s join hands and work together because the world cannot be a better place when only some people are trying hard and others aren’t.
Everyone putting in an effort…things will change.
Opposition puts people down. But when people come together, then we are going to create a better world together. The change of the world doesn’t depend on special individuals, but depends on each and every individual. It’s never too late to start working on ideas that will change our world and communities. They can start right now. Because change begins with us.
To support Mwansa’s work, see his contact information below:
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📧 mwansasunga54@gmail.com
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