From Refugee Camp to Pharmacy Technician
In the heart of Meheba refugee camp in Zambia, amidst the challenges and uncertainties that define refugee life, Olive’s story emerges as a testament to resilience, determination, and the transformative power of education.
Olive, a child of a Rwandan refugee family, has known the camp as her home since she was a year old. As she navigated through the confines of the camp, her journey took an unexpected turn when, despite completing secondary school with flying colors, she found herself unable to pursue a university education due to the absence of scholarships.
Undeterred, Olive returned to her roots and became a farmer, working alongside her parents on a farm not far from the refugee camp. Over the next three years, she toiled tirelessly, selling farming products and saving every penny with a singular goal in mind – to break free from the cycle of limited opportunities.
However, Olive’s dreams faced a roadblock when she was enrolled in Evelyn Hone College in Lusaka to study to become a pharmacy technician. While she was initially assisted by well-wishers to cover her expenses for the first year, their support did not continue, compelling her to return to the refugee camp.
A turning point arrived a year later when the Bamukunde Foundation entered Meheba camp, seeking academically brilliant students who, despite having secured school or university placements, struggled to continue their studies due to financial hardships. Olive’s potential caught the attention of the Bamukunde Foundation team, and she qualified for their scholarship.
With the Bamukunde Foundation’s support, Olive returned to Lusaka, completing the remaining two years of her course with full financial backing, including school fees and accommodation. Her dedication and resilience shone through as she triumphantly graduated, not only as a pharmacy technician but also passing the national test for health professionals by the Health Professional Council of Zambia.
Today, Olive stands proudly as a qualified professional, having secured a full-time job within the local health sector in Zambia. Her gratitude echoes in two messages: the first, a heartfelt acknowledgment to the sponsors who enabled her to realize her dream of education, and the second, is that she can’t wait to get her first salary so that in turn she can be able to sponsor a refugee child from Meheba refugee camp to get an education.
Olive’s journey is a poignant example of what can be achieved when individuals and organizations come together to uplift the lives of those in need. Her success underscores the transformative impact of education, not only on an individual level but on the broader community as well. This is a powerful invitation to consider sponsoring other children like Olive through the Bamukunde Foundation. This story emphasizes the collective ability to bring about positive change and reminds us that, together, we can empower individuals like Olive to overcome adversity and shape a brighter future.