Wankumbu Simukonda, fondly referred to as ‘Scholar’ among his peers, is a University of Zambia (UNZA) Mass Communication graduate. While at UNZA, he worked for UNZA Radio as a presenter and producer of various shows, taking a keen interest in health related programs. His interests resulted in recommendations by UNZA Radio Station Manager to attend a training organized by Copper Rose Zambia (CRZ), aimed at equipping youths with information and skills for delivering Peer Education to adolescents on HIV prevention and care. Following the training, Copper Rose Zambia came up with a series of radio discussions dubbed Zambia Universities Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (ZUPPI). “After the training, I became a volunteer Peer Educator and was involved in a number of activities, which included but not limited to community sensitizations and outreaches as well as capacity building training”, Wankumbu mentioned.
“Apart from that, I remember this one time when I was in Ndola, Copper Rose Zambia invited me to come to Lusaka and join a team of vibrant youths to discuss submissions to the Ministry of Health on the upcoming International Conference on Family Planning. At this meeting, I got the chance to meet people who are passionate about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) just as I am”, he added. Wankumbu was highly motivated to continue with the advocacy work with the organization. Additionally, he has stayed close to most of the peers he met during the activities and together they continue to motivate one another. “Thus, it has been my prayer to see CRZ grow so that it can help many adolescents and young people out there with information and skills to enable them live meaningful and healthy lives. Not only that, but also the fact that certain trainings, for example, how to prepare for a job interview and how to write an appealing Curriculum Vitae (CV) writing, has helped me to handle job interviews and design a professional CV”.
“Lastly, I just want to encourage the team at CRZ to continue empowering young people like they have done with me and other volunteers and peer educators in realizing our value in society. I am eternally grateful to the organization” – Wankumbu ‘Scholar’ Simukonda.
