WISE Zambia supports the empowerment and economic independence of vulnerable children and women in Zambia through targeted educational initiatives. Currently, our mission is realized through our 'Empowerment Through Education' program, which is grounded in the following six core pillars:
high-hanging-fruit-our-mission

High Hanging Fruit

We serve underserved or unserved communities.

WISE Zambia provides educational opportunities to children and families in rural, agrarian regions that are typically unserved or underserved. More often than not, our students come from schools that do not have electricity, internet access, or basic school supplies.

high-hanging-fruit-img-1

Currently, WISE Zambia activities are focused in rural districts of Zambia's Western Province. Ours clients come from households earning less than $2 per day. The Zambia Ministry of Finance and National Development notes that the Western Provice has the highest poverty rate in Zambia, as well as high rates of child marriage, adolescent pregnancies, and unemployment.

high-hanging-fruit-img-2
360-degree-support-our-mission

360 Degree Support

We provide our students and their families with all of the support they need to succeed.

WISE Zambia strives to ensure that every one of our students successfully completes their educational journey. This requires far more than just money. WISE Zambia is committed to providing all support services our students may need, from mentoring to transportation to career and mental health counseling, as well as support for our students' families.

360-degree-support-img-1

WISE Zambia interns, along with current college scholarship students, load personal and school supplies for the start of the year. These supplies are essential to our students but beyond their financial means. We deliver these supplies throughout the seven districts in the Western Province in which we work as of 2024.

360-degree-support-img-2

WISE Zambia provides mentoring and counseling services for our students that is critical to our commitment to student support. Here, a local teacher volunteers to provide turoring to WISE Zambia students in chemistry.

360-degree-support-img-3
no-ceilings-our-mission

No Ceilings

Our support does not end until our students have achieved their full potential.

WISE Zambia Too often, organizations and entities believe that transformational change occur in just one year. Or that this change will happen through the construction of buildings or provision of physical things. WISE Zambla believes change occurs when people are given hope and opportunity. This requires long-term commitment, both to communities and individuals. Our students are aware that, upon receiving a scholarship, WISE Zambia will support them through high school and beyond. The schools with whom we work also know that we will support their students for the long haul and a journey of success. We never place a ceiling on what our students can achieve or who they can become

no-ceilings-img-1

WISE Zambia currently serves 700 students, with more than 60 in college. Our dedicated and supported students have completed secondary school and are now in post-secondary education. They attend 22 different colleges and universities throughout Zambia.

stduent-1-img
Stella Environmental Science Evelyn Hone College
stduent-2-img
Gift Education Nkrumah University
stduent-3-img
Brian Telecommunications engineering copperbelt university
stduent-4-img
Maria Carpenty & Joinery Kaoma Trades Institute
stduent-5-img
Auditor, Pelekelo, Ellah and Pamela Midwifery, Public Health Nursinng, Lewinaka Nursing College
stduent-6-img
Nasilele Business Administration/Economics University Of Zambia
beyond-the-classroom-our-mission

Beyond The Classroom

Education does not end in the classroom, particularly for our scholars who have limited world experience.

WISE Zambia Education should never be limited to the classroom, and this is even more true with students from rural Western Province, where there is no electricity or internet, and even basic mobility is limited. Many concepts from school are theoretical only, with no exposure to the principles in real life. Thus, WISE Zambia engages in numerous extracurricular activities for our students

beyond-the-classroom-img-1

"Reading Is Fun": Like bookmobiles of old, WISE Zambia brings books to its students throughout the rural communities of the Western Province, encouraging them to read after school hours or during term breaks with small cash awards. This program not only instills the love of leisure reading, but also expands each child's world and improves her or his English skills

beyond-the-classroom-img-2

Field trips. WISE Zambia leads teams of students to various learning opportunities, such as the nation's capital, where student can observe the National Assembly of Zamia in progress, tour the National Museum, and check out colleges and universities

beyond-the-classroom-img-3

Creative Writing WISE Zambia sponsors creative writing programs for its students, expanding both their creative and critical thinking skills.

beyond-the-classroom-img-4

On September 8th, 2023, the US Library of Congress awarded WISE Zambia one of the ten annual distinction of excellence in literacy programs.

beyond-the-classroom-img-5
teamwork-our-mission

Teamwork

WISE does not operate in a vacuum, rather we work collaboratively with key stakeholders, and we also encourage our students to work collaboratively with each other.

WISE Zambia works closely with government officials and agencies, traditional leaders, church and community leaders, and other stakeholders to provide the best opportunities for its students, as well as their communities and country as a whole.

For example, WISE Zambia does not build schools; that is the responsibility of the Ministry of General Education. However, WISE Zambia works closely with the Ministry for purposes of identifying scolorship students, providing adequate school resources, and student assignments.
teamwork-img-1

WISE Zambia also encourages team work among its own students. Within each of the more than two dozen schools where WISE Zambia students matricu- late, the students support each other academically, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

giving-back-our-mission

Giving Back

Finally, and most significantly, every one of our students pledges to give back to their families, communities, and country.

Perhaps the most important pillar we instill in our students a spirit of gratitude and the desire to give back to others in their communities by "paying it forward" or "giving back". This commitment to Give Back begins in secondary school, where most of our students volunteer. Our post-secondary school students sign an individualized contract pledging to give back to their families, communities, and country following graduation. This creates a truly sustainable approach to building stronger communities Here WISE Zambia student Chris- tine providing career counseling to high school students during her gap year before college. She is giving back by sharing knowledge with her community. Giving back to family, community and country is the hallmark of WISE Zambia.

giving-back-img-1

Humphrey has been a WISE Zambia student since the 8th grade, and in 2022 graduated he from the University of Lusaka with a degree in community development. His senior thesis at the University of Lusake was "The Causes of Stunted Growth in the Kaoma District." This study offered proposed interventions intended to "give back" to his community

giving-back-img-2

Humphrey has been a WISE Zambia student since the 8th grade, and in 2022 graduated he from the University of Lusaka with a degree in community development. His senior thesis at the University of Lusake was "The Causes of Stunted Growth in the Kaoma District." This study offered proposed interventions intended to "give back" to his community