STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Mr. Mwila, aka “Banana”

Mwila greets the modzi team with a giant smile, dawning a new school uniform. His familiar gray trousers, white shirt, and yellow tie have now been replaced by black pants, a black sweater, and a red tie, signifying his newly appointed position as School Prefect. Mwila’s most recent accomplishment of being selected as a prefect can be equated to being nominated a class officer, by both teachers and school administration. A Grade 9 student, he has continued to excel since entering modzi’s programs last year.
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With Mwila’s new title comes new responsibility. Everyday, he is entrusted to supervise peers, ensure that the school grounds stay clean, and see to that every student is dressed in proper uniform. Mwila was handpicked for this prestigious position by his teachers due to his excellent academic performance, strong leadership skills, and kind demeanor. When asked if he was excited about the promotion, Mwila laughed and replied, “Yes I am very much excited. I want to help get things done the right way. I am there to learn and do my job, and I am happy for that.” 

While being designated a class prefect is an honorable achievement, it can at times be difficult. Some students shy away from the duty of monitoring their peers, but Mwila says that he is up for the task. “To be a prefect, it is not easy because you will be facing different challenges. People are coming from different backgrounds. You have to work hard to become a prefect, and stay one.”

​Mwila’s improved marks (grades) have caught his head teacher’s eye, but his exceptional behavior has also gained him respect elsewhere. Mwila often volunteers his time with Barefeet Theatre, an organization that uses theater and performing arts to educate vulnerable youth on issues affecting children in Zambia. Mwila has recently been elected as the Financial Controller on the Barefeet Children’s Council, a position he has had his eye on for over a year. Due to his continued attendance, distinct involvement in meetings, and a clear desire to help, Mwila is now being entrusted with raising issues to the Council for discussion, creating program budgets, and distributing transport money to fellow activists. “I was very excited. I have never been this excited in my whole life. When I learned that I was elected, I jumped!”

Not only has Mwila taken up leadership positions at school and with Barefeet, but he has also started his own community program in which he and his peers use performing arts to educate vulnerable youth on different social issues. He calls it Maziyo, meaning, one voice, many people. Currently, as the president of Maziyo, Mwila organizes theater performances and acts in plays at different children’s organizations in Lusaka. He is following his passion for both drama and education, while doing what he can to give back to his community.

Mwila’s apparent leadership and drive both in and out of the classroom have helped him to improve his grades, and his English. As he is currently in Grade 9, Mwila is preparing to write a national exam at the end of the year. When asked about it, he said, “I am not nervous, I am just excited and preparing.” While English and Science were once his weakest subjects, Mwila’s progress over the past year has changed his take on them. “English and Science are now my favorite subjects because they are things I always need to use. People are always speaking English. My teacher told me, whenever you become good in English things will change. I wasn’t very good in English, so I didn’t used to talk much. I would just listen. I got better at English because I never gave up, and I did my best. I used to fail Science, but my teacher told me whenever you love something, you will do it well. I love science, so now I can’t fail.”

​Mwila’s persistence in academics and dedication to his extra curricular activities is exactly the type of holistic development modzi supports. Individualized mentoring of extraordinary children like Mwila creates opportunities to expand students’ interests, succeed in the classroom, and become responsible role models. Please join us in supporting these incredible children, and stay tuned for more updates on modzi students as they continue to discover their passions! ​​