Born and Bred in a poor family in Western Province. Did well at G12, I came across a Facebook page of an institution that offers scholarships and saw an advert for fully funded scholarship. My Father and I worked hard to ensure the requirements were in order.

I applied for Nuclear Engineering and Thermal Physic to study in Russia and within a month I received good news, I was among the selected to attend the interview. I travelled from Western Province to Lusaka for the interview.

On the set date for the interview, I reached the offices 37mins before 08:00hrs. The interview went so well, I remember like it’s yesterday because the panel wanted each candidate to provide for the following;

Tell us more about yourself?

Why Would you want to study abroad not here in Zambia?

Why that course other than the rest?

Why is it important for you to study the course?

How will the course you wish to study help in the development of our country?

These are the things that have been in my mind since the beginning of senior secondary school, which I believe I was ready enough to provide what was needed. We were told to wait for the feedback. We created a WhatsApp group for updates.

They only wanted the best 10 out of 16 who attended the interview. Within 3weeks, in our WhatsApp group we heard some of which were called, and they were only 6.

I was called as well, the conversation was going smoothly especially when I learnt it was from a government institution. To my surprise I was only asked for my dad’s number I sent it while still talking.

They called him to only tell him; “It’s not only that your son has passed the interview, also you need to make us smile as he’s going to study abroad. We can only include him on the list if a TEN THOUSAND KWACHA ($448.57) is provided”.

We the poor failed their selfish deal, all the labor ended in tears.

Lusaka Province