Barbara’s Success Story:The Journey to Becoming a Nurse
By Annabel Mumba
Annabel Mumba is AYC’s Donor Relations Coordinator. She is a Scholarship Fund recipient, and a graduate of Mulungushi University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Journalism), and also one of our Success Stories.
Co-written by Pamela O’Brien, African Education Program’s Development Director, who is mentoring Annabel.
Barbara wears her uniform proudly.
When Barbara first walked through the doors of the Amos Youth Centre (AYC), she had just one goal in mind: to find a safe place to spend time after school. That simple decision became the foundation to her fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a nurse. Today, Barbara is a Registered Public Health Nurse and a proud graduate of Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, thanks to the College Scholarship Fund at AYC’s Learning & Leadership Centre in Kafue, Zambia.
Barbara was introduced to AYC in 2015 by her friend who spoke passionately about the extra classes offered in Mathematics and Science, the nutritious meals provided before lessons, and the One-Up-For Girl Power Club—a safe space for girls that helped build confidence and self-esteem. Intrigued by what she heard, Barbara decided to visit the Centre and see for herself if it truly matched her friend’s description.
After becoming a member at AYC, Barbara found more than academic support. She actively participated in the JETS Club, which focused on careers in science, mathematics, and technology, as well as the Leadership Club, where she learned about the qualities of effective leaders and took part in leadership engagements. She was also a member of the Reproductive Health Club, where she was empowered with knowledge about her body and received menstrual products, such as reusable pads and a menstrual cup, to help her manage her period with dignity and confidence.
Together, these spaces helped her overcome her fear of failure and build lasting confidence. Through the guidance of close role models at AYC, including Lumuno Mweemba, AYC’s Co-Founder and Director of Programs, Barbara discovered her voice, built her confidence, and began to believe she could achieve more than she once imagined.
“I was very shy and often avoided crowds. I kept to myself most of the time, but as I continued coming to the Centre, I began to open up. I found the confidence to speak more and participate in group discussions, which were very common during our club meetings.”
Barbara is the third-born in a family of five—two boys and three girls—raised by a single mother. Her father passed away while she was still in primary school, leaving her mother to raise the children on her own. She and her family relied on small-scale farming, barely growing enough food to feed their family each day.
Barbara vividly remembers the moment she passed her grade nine exams to proceed to grade 10, a milestone that should have marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Instead, it came with uncertainty—her mother was unable to afford the school fees and basic necessities needed for her to start the term. She feared that this could mark the end of her school journey.
In Barbara’s early days at AYC she smiled for the camera.
When Barbara was in secondary school, school fees were still required in Zambia, which made it difficult for many students from low income families to continue their education. AYC offered a High School Scholarship Program, and Barbara applied. The selection process was intentionally thorough to ensure scholarships reached those most in need. It included a home visit with the student’s parent or guardian, along with separate interviews with both the student and caregiver. This helped AYC better understand each family’s situation and the student’s commitment to school.
Through this program, Barbara received a scholarship that covered all of her secondary school fees, allowing her to stay in school and focus on learning without the constant stress of financial pressure.
“The sponsorship from AYC made it possible for me to complete my grade 12 education, I thought I was not going to complete school,” she shared.
After completing high school, Barbara began giving back immediately. As part of AYC’s requirements for qualifying for the College Scholarship Fund, students must complete the College Prep Program and give back to the organisation—either through tutoring, facilitating clubs, cooking meals in the kitchen, or interning in any AYC department.
Barbara fulfilled this commitment by teaching Grade 1 and 2 Mathematics and Science, the very subjects that had once shaped her own learning journey. Motivated by gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility to AYC, she was eager to pass on to her younger peers the lessons, encouragement, and support that had helped her succeed.
Alongside teaching, Barbara also took the College Prep Class, a one-year program designed to equip AYC high school graduates with the skills needed to navigate college and university life. Her favorite topics included budgeting, balancing academics with personal life, and learning how to write assignments and conduct research. These skills became invaluable throughout her university years at Levy Mwanawasa Medical University.
Barbara is the first female in her family to graduate, a milestone she believes would not have been possible without the support she received at AYC. Her nursing career was inspired by her love for health and inspiration from nurses she grew up seeing from her childhood.
“Looking back, I see the big role that AYC played in my life. The Centre gave me so many opportunities and inspired me to pursue my dreams. The support found from the many role models such as the staff and past graduates inspired me to reach for my dreams and achieve them.”
Today, Barbara is a volunteer nurse at Shikoswe Community Clinic, where she works in the Mother-to-Child (MCH) Health Section, ensuring that expectant and nursing mothers receive the quality care they need. She also attends to children under five years by ensuring that they are fully immunized and are growing up healthy. This opportunity is providing her with hands-on experience as she prepares for professional deployment in the future.
“I always wanted to become a nurse but I never imagined that it would happen to me because I feared that my mother would not manage the expensive fees,” she shared. “I really enjoy working at the clinic and I am learning so much. I am happy to be living the dream I once had as a young girl and being able to do so is truly a dream come true. Thank you, AYC, for supporting my dreams.”
Her advice to young people is that they should work hard, be determined and achieve their dreams for they are the only limitation to their success.
