When Grace first came to the Amos Youth Centre (AYC) in 2017, she was a shy Grade 6 learner simply looking for a place where she could improve her studies. A friend had told her about the free tutoring classes and the Spelling Bee Club, and with her family struggling financially, the possibility of educational sponsorship gave her hope.

Five years ago, during one of the most uncertain periods in recent history, Amos Youth Centre (AYC) launched a simple but powerful idea: if women were given the right skills, support, and opportunities, they could transform not only their businesses but also the future of their families. 

Kelvin Banda is a Young Learners Teacher at Amos Youth Centre’s Learning & Leadership Centre in Kafue, Zambia. He is responsible for teaching Grade 5, 7, and secondary students in Mathematics. He arrived at Amos Youth Centre (AYC) in 2013 as a Grade 9 student, facing challenges such as low self-esteem, unstable housing, and a need for tutoring support. This is his story that represents a decade of growth in a young person’s life.

Every young person who walks through our doors comes with hope, hope to improve in school, to be supported, and to dream a little bigger. But what unfolds goes far beyond academics. It becomes a journey of growth, resilience, and self-discovery. Kelly’s story is one of those journeys: a powerful reflection of determination and the life-changing impact of opportunity.