As we bridge from one year to the next, we celebrate the incredible progress made possible through the 2024 Build Your Own Bridgewalk efforts. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in bringing to life these transformative projects, including clean water, solar energy, internet access, cleaner burning stoves and micro-business development. Your support has been truly life-changing! Be sure to check out the latest updates in News from Kantolomba.
One of the greatest, hard-earned milestones is the arrival of solar power! Previously, the electric company supplied only three hours of power daily, from midnight to 3 a.m. There are innumerable ways solar power will transform the project, and we shall continue to highlight those as we go. This past Saturday we got to experience the beginning -- perhaps the most exciting -- of those transformations!
In the wee hours of Saturday morning here, a time that overlaps with the afternoon in Zambia, when the young women are on the property in Kantolomba, we held our first meeting—with Felistus and Edna, two remarkable young women. Felistus, who performed well on her grade 12 exams, is exploring a significant decision: transitioning from medical school aspirations to pursuing a career in engineering. Our discussion delved into the nuances of this choice, including her courage in navigating uncharted territory without peers who have taken a similar path. One of the most remarkable aspects of the conversation was that we could have it—in English!
Equally inspiring was our conversation with Edna, who initially lamented her performance on recent exams. To our surprise, her “poor performance” was coming in second in her class—a first in her outstanding academic career! With a beaming smile, she declared, “I will do better next time; you will see!” We offered her a version of one of our favorite reassurances: “I love you exactly as you are, and I want to help you be whoever you want to be!”
These conversations are building incredible momentum. With consistent and meaningful interactions, the possibilities are endless—English language practice, tutoring, group research projects, online learning, job preparation... And the most exciting part? The opportunities we haven’t even imagined yet, sparked by the creativity and collaboration on these calls.
Stay tuned as these new chapters unfold!
Gasshō,
Jen
