Many years ago, due to a difficult family situation, Dominic was selected as a Life Trust sponsored child, and despite the precarious conditions at home, he managed to complete up to the 9th grade. Unfortunately, he was unable to continue his education because he did not pass the final exams.

In the meantime, a Life Trust social worker and a teacher from our Life Trust School Waya kept in touch with Dominic.

When we started an empowerment tailoring course in the spring of 2023 and still had some spots available, Dominic also applied. During the course, Dominic stood out above all other participants. We were impressed by his quick grasp and his ability to work extremely accurately. So much so that we offered him the opportunity to attend a government vocational school for training in tailoring and design.

Dominic shares his journey:
"At first, the opportunity to learn sewing didn't appeal to me so much because I always considered it a job for women. I went a week later than everyone else, but soon after, I developed an interest in it. I was also glad that we got lunch every day during the course because often it was the only meal I had that day.
When the tailoring course ended, I was afraid because I had no idea what to do next in my life. I fear I would have definitely made wrong decisions in my life if I hadn't been given this opportunity. Now I will even go for further training at a vocational school. I look forward to working independently and earning my own money."

Natasha is a noticeably determined and resolute young woman. She is 20 years old and has two younger siblings. She completed her high school education in 2021. Following that, she participated in a discipleship training program with our partner organization OM in Kabwe last year.

In 2023, she was eagerly awaiting an opportunity to continue her education. In the meantime, she did not remain idle but instead participated in a four-month basic tailoring course in our empowerment project. She performed really well in this as well and showed strong determination.

Even while Natasha was still in school, she expressed her desire to work in the medical field. Now she has applied for a study placement in Project Jonathan. Together with her, we searched for a suitable university. Northrise University in Ndola, about 4 hours north of Kabwe, stands out above other institutions in the country with its great buildings, beautiful campus, Christian values, good teaching staff, and well-equipped laboratories, libraries, and study rooms.

We are delighted that Natasha is expected to study "Clinical Medicine & Nursing" at Northrise University from January 2023 onwards. 👩🏾‍🏫

She shares about the day she received her scholarship acceptance:
"On that day, it became clear to me that the journey to my dream career had just begun. When I came home, my family rejoiced with me, and I remember not being able to fall asleep and reading the letter over and over again.
I am so grateful to God for enabling me to begin my dream studies."

Josphat has a long history with Life Trust, which resulted in him completing the agriculture basic course at Life Trust Empowerment last year after finishing high school and the discipleship training as part of Project Jonathan. Working in the fields brought him much joy and provided us with a great opportunity to get to know him even better. We are delighted that we could offer him funding for vocational training as an office clerk, which will provide him with a solid foundation in administrative skills.

What sets Josphat apart for us is his openness in facing challenges and admitting his own mistakes, earning the trust of the Project Jonathan staff through his honesty.

It touches us deeply when he shares:
"Luke 7:41-50 tells the story of the parable of two men whose different levels of debt were forgiven. I feel like I identify with the one who would have had to repay more because I have been shown so much grace, even when I made mistakes on my journey of growth. That's why I am very happy and grateful for what Life Trust has done and continues to do for me, especially for supporting me in pursuing proper vocational training."

Thanks to Project Jonathan, Mwanza completed his high school education in 2021. Last year, he completed the discipleship training program at OM, and this year he participated in the tailoring basic course at Life Trust Empowerment.

Recently, Mwanza successfully applied for a senior spot in Project Jonathan with us. His interest lies in the field of digital technologies and computers. Together, we considered several universities and decided on Northrise University. After his successful application there, he will begin his "Computer Science" studies in January 2024.

Mwanza shares: 👨🏿‍💻
"Currently, I walk several kilometers multiple times a week to get to the Life Trust office. Here, I am already receiving lessons from the Life Trust team on a PC to learn the basics of computers before starting my studies. I don't mind the walking because I am excited to start my studies in January. I am incredibly excited and motivated to start and successfully complete my studies. I even dream of obtaining a PhD in my field in the future."

Reuben has been part of Project Jonathan since 2018, which has enabled him to attend a local high school. Three years have passed since he completed his high school education. In September of this year, we were finally able to offer him a place at university. Since then, he has been studying medicine and loves every moment of his student life.

Reuben shares the moment he received the scholarship acceptance from Project Jonathan: 👨🏿‍💻
"The opportunity to be sponsored for my studies was a true answer to prayer for me. The joy and excitement were so overwhelming that I didn't know whether to cry or laugh with happiness. It was truly a special moment for me.
As I opened the letter and read the message, I felt acknowledged and affirmed in my self-worth. The fact that my efforts and abilities were seen boosted my confidence. I felt genuine relief, which reduced my fears about the future. The burden was lifted not only from my shoulders but also from those of my family because we could hardly imagine how we would afford to send me to university. In that moment, I knew I would be the first in my family to attend university. This fact not only motivates me to work hard, succeed, and continue to grow, but it also fills me with a sense of peace and tranquility.
I am grateful to God and Life-Trust for considering me for further education. I will work hard and always be grateful. My goal is to make everyone proud who selected me as one of the sponsored students."