(By Elizabeth Mupanga – Chinsali Municipal Council Public Relations Officer)
Andrew Ng’andu, a beneficiary of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Skills Development Bursary, was born on 16th August, 2000 to Mr. Andrew Ng’andu and Mrs. Mary Mutale, small-scale farmers of Mwalala Village in Nkakula Ward, Chinsali District.
In an interview, Andrew shared his educational journey, stating that he began his primary education in 2007 at Mwalala Basic School, where he studied until completing his Grade 9 examinations in 2014. He later proceeded to Ilondola Secondary School, where he completed his secondary education in 2020.
Driven by ambition and the desire to build a better future, Andrew relocated to Kitwe in 2021, where he briefly worked as a barman. He later moved to Lusaka and learned shoe-making skills under the mentorship of his brother, Mr. Robert Ng’andu.
“In 2022, I returned to Chinsali to visit my parents and heard a radio announcement about the CDF Skills Development Bursary sponsorship. I applied and was shortlisted to undergo training as an excavator operator in 2023 at the National Council for Construction,” he narrated.
After successfully completing his training, Andrew applied for an industrial attachment at the Lusaka City Council, which commenced on 25th March, 2024 at the Lusaka Landfill Management. He worked for eight months on attachment before applying for the advertised position of Excavator Operator.
On 16 January 2025, Andrew was offered permanent and pensionable employment. He has since encouraged fellow CDF Skills Development Bursary beneficiaries to undertake industrial attachments after training, noting that attachments help refine practical skills and significantly improve chances of securing formal employment with reputable institutions.
Andrew expresses profound gratitude to the Government for empowering him through the Skills Development Bursary sponsorship. He has further appealed to the Government to sustain the programme so that more young people can access similar life-changing opportunities.
Andrew’s journey from CDF Skills Development sponsorship to full-time employment stands as a powerful testament to the transformative impact of the Constituency Development Fund on the lives of young people in Chinsali District and Zambia at large. Indeed, the Constituency Development Fund continues to revolutionize local communities and remains a true game-changer for youth empowerment.