Zambia-US Exchanges Alumni Association

18/08/2026

Congratulations, President-Elect Hakainde Hichilema

The Zambia–USA Exchange Alumni Association (ZUEA) congratulates President-Elect Hakainde Hichilema on his election and the trust placed in him by the people of Zambia.

As our nation moves forward, we look to a new chapter of leadership anchored in unity, inclusive development, accountable governance, economic opportunity, and improved livelihoods for all Zambians.

ZUEA remains committed to contributing to Zambia’s development through leadership, civic engagement, innovation, entrepreneurship, community service, and stronger people-to-people partnerships.

We wish the President-Elect wisdom, strength, and success as he prepares to serve the people of Zambia.

Congratulations to Zambia and its people. 🇿🇲

31/07/2026

Freedom250 🇺🇸
ZAMBIA’S NEXT GENERATION OF STORYTELLERS TAKE THE STAGE 🇿🇲

The Meet My Mentor (MmM) StoryLab – Freedom250 program supported by the U.S. Embassy Zambia through the American Spaces program, the initiative was designed to empower emerging Zambian creatives with the skills to produce professional documentary work, building toward a short film, “250 Frames of Freedom,” that would explore the shared history and symbolism of freedom between Zambia and the United States.

The call for participants had drawn an overwhelming response, with hundreds of passionate and qualified applicants competing for a limited number of spots, making the selection process highly competitive. Recognising how much enthusiasm remained among early-stage storytellers who hadn’t made the cut, the program team decided to open two additional information sessions, one on the creative and conceptual side of documentary filmmaking and another on the technical craft of camera, audio and post-production, so that more aspiring creatives could still find a way in.

Since training began, the cohort had moved steadily through an intensive curriculum. In the first week, mentors Yoweli Chungu and Tony Meba introduced participants to the different documentary genres, drawing on their own past work as well as American documentaries such as The Man Who Built America and Nanook of the North to illustrate how real events are shaped into compelling non-fiction narratives.
The following week, Lee Sendford spoke about visual storytelling, describing how creative chaos could be bridged with structured narrative through a handful of established writing techniques, while Kafwa Sichilima led a session on turning documentary work into a sustainable business, walking participants through setting up a production company, meeting compliance requirements, and responding professionally to a request for quotation.

Mentees were then split into two groups and challenged to cost a project against a mock terms of reference. In the third week, those proposals were presented back and reviewed by Kafwa and Lizu, who offered feedback on common pitfalls, before Tamani Phiri took the group through cinematography, unpacking what the overused word “cinematic” actually means in practice by examining how shadow builds depth, how foreground and background create dimension, how framing communicates emotion, and how colour theory can make an image feel intentional, even when shot on a phone.

The program was being carried by an impressive roster of mentors and speakers drawn from across Zambia and the region, including Lizu Chinyama, Kafwa Sichilima, Kabinda Lemba, Jason Mulikita, Wrightwel Nyrienda, Tamani Phiri, Justin Zonde, Becky Ngoma, Yoweli Chungu, Tony Meba, Lee Kabongo Sendford and Mubanga Kafwimbi, each contributing hands-on industry expertise to the mentees.

Jurgen Chilala
Communication Liaison,
ZUEA.

24/07/2026

FREEDOM 250 🇺🇸🇿🇲
SIX Weeks That Changed What’s Possible.

DIGITAL FUTURE LAB· American Corner CBU.

They came with questions and left with businesses. Over six weeks at the American Corner CBU, 37 young people moved through a curriculum that covered everything from building a brand on social media to deploying artificial intelligence in a small enterprise. By the final day, several of them were pitching for real funding.

The Digital Future Lab opened on 13th April 2026 with Mr Christopher Kangombe as Guest of Honour. What followed was not a series of passive lectures. It was a bootcamp structured around doing assignments, debates, prototypes, and pitches that forced participants to use what they were learning before they’d had a chance to forget it. Sessions drew between 15 and 20 participants, and the energy was consistently high.

The first week belonged to digital marketing. Mr Nathan Mukalula ,a chartered accountant turned digital marketing consultant – guided participants through the mechanics of building a brand: content creation, social media strategy, and making a business findable online.
Then came the session that most participants likely didn’t expect to enjoy: AI for small businesses. Facilitated by US Alum Tutashalesa of Tuta Technologies in collaboration with Evoke, it stripped away the mystique around artificial intelligence and replaced it with something more useful — specific tools that can make a one-person operation run like a team of five.

The heart of the programme was the entrepreneurship module. Tamara Hara and Sunga Ngambi spent three weeks working with participants on the craft of building a business from the ground up: financial literacy, planning under uncertainty, solving real problems, and pitching your idea to a room full of sceptics. Every participant developed a real business concept. The programme closed with a web design intensive led by Withu Singogo and Mpatso Singogo of HelloHoster and Project Delta Tech — four days that taught participants how to build, host, and launch a website, giving every business idea a home online.

On 22nd May, Demo Day brought it all together. Selected participants pitched their ideas to an audience with real stakes — one project walked away with a cash prize grant to carry it forward.
All 37 graduates will receive certificates of completion.

What they do with what they’ve learned is, as always, the part nobody can teach.

Jurgen Chilala
Communication Liaison,
ZUEA.

24/07/2026

This August, Zambia Decides 🗳️
What positions are on the ballot?

On election day, August 13, 2026, you the voters will cast your ballots for several key positions.
These include;
1. President
2. Members of Parliament
3. Mayor or Council Chairperson
4. Councillors.

Each vote that you cast helps determine the leadership that will guide both national and local development.

23/07/2026

ALUMNI IN ACTION 🚀
NATSHA LINDA CHILESHE: Championing Inclusion Through Sport

Natasha Linda Chileshe is a passionate disability rights advocate, sports leader, mentor, and community empowerment champion whose work has transformed the lives of children and persons with disabilities across Zambia. Born on 2 September 1985, she has dedicated her journey to promoting inclusion through sports, education, arts, and entrepreneurship.

Her path in community sports development began in 2019, when she started working with vulnerable children and persons with disabilities in communities including Chawama, Jack Compound, Kuku, Chongwe District, and Chisamba District. From the outset, her commitment to equal participation and inclusion in sport stood out, earning her recognition both locally and internationally.

Natasha’s leadership has been shaped by continuous learning and international exposure. In 2019, she was trained by Japan under the I’mPOSSIBLE – Sports for Tomorrow Program, a global initiative that promotes inclusion and disability awareness through sport. She later advanced her expertise in 2021 after being trained by the International Paralympic Committee as an I’mPOSSIBLE Educator, strengthening her ability to design and implement para-sport programmes that challenge stigma and discrimination.

Driven by a deep belief in community empowerment, Natasha founded the Chawama Fitness Movement in 2020. The initiative focuses on advancing the rights of persons with disabilities while empowering them through sports, arts, and entrepreneurship. Through this work, many young people with disabilities have gained confidence, life skills, and opportunities for meaningful social inclusion.

Her impact in education and institutional partnerships has also been remarkable. In 2021, she signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bauleni Special School to train pupils with disabilities in sports and co-curricular activities, responding to the need to ensure that learners with disabilities were not left out of school-based recreation. In 2022, she extended this work to the University of Zambia, where she supported students with disabilities and remained committed even when communication challenges arose after leadership changes, later re-engaging to continue the programme.

Natasha’s influence grew even further in 2023 when she founded the Amputee Football Association of Zambia and became its first President. Under her leadership, amputee football expanded to all ten provinces of the country, creating new opportunities for athletes with disabilities to participate competitively and socially. She also serves on the women’s committee of the Confederation of African Amputee Football, contributing to the growth of women’s participation in the sport across Africa.

That same year, she signed another MOU with Kabulonga Boys Secondary School to support learners with disabilities through sport and was trained by Special Olympics Zambia as a coach for special sports. She further strengthened her leadership through participation in the Global Sports Mentorship Program, which enhanced her skills in sports development and inclusion.

In 2024, Natasha added another achievement to her growing profile when she obtained the Football Association of Zambia E Coaching Licence, further expanding her professional capacity in football coaching. Today, her programmes and centres have reached districts and provinces including Chipata, Lundazi, Choma, Livingstone, and Mansa, among others.

Through her dedication, vision, and unwavering commitment to inclusion, Natasha Linda Chileshe has emerged as one of Zambia’s leading voices in inclusive sport and disability empowerment. Her story is one of service, resilience, and impact—one that continues to inspire hope and create opportunities for countless children and persons with disabilities across the country.

By
Jurgen Chilala
Communication Liaison,
ZUEA.

22/07/2026

TechGirls Alumni Partner with TC Academy for STEM Career Mentorship

🇺🇸 U.S. Embassy Lusaka recently hosted TechGirls program alumni for a career guidance and networking session. Thandi Nkole, Founder and Coach of TC Learning Academy, shared insights on navigating resources that help students connect with their interests and strengths. She emphasized developing a problem-solving mindset when approaching STEM careers, entrepreneurship opportunities, and emerging industries. The participants expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity and look forward to working with TC Learning Academy. YALI Mandela alumna Thabo Masiye, who has been supporting the girls with their exchange program follow-on activities, coordinated the meeting. Deputy Public Affairs Officer Max Arcand expressed his excitement about the opportunity provided to the TechGirls alumni and wished the participants success in their future endeavors.

22/07/2026

Good Morning citizens 🇿🇲
Zambia goes to the polls next month 🗳️.

👇🏾Here are some of the things you need to know beforehand.

21/07/2026

Dear members,

The 5th edition of our newsletter is now out.
It showcases the remarkable work, achievements, impact stories, and opportunities across our alumni community.

We invite you to take a few minutes to read it and celebrate the incredible contributions being made by fellow members.

Regards,

Jürgen Chilala
Communication Liaison,
Zambia U.S Exchanges Alumni Association

27/06/2026

Some of the best opportunities don't come from a job advert or an application form. They come from conversations.

A conversation at a table.
A conversation over a meal.
A conversation with someone you've never met before.

That's the spirit behind One Table. Many Leaders.

Join us for the inaugural gathering of the RLC-SA Zambia Chapter as we bring together alumni, professionals, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders for an evening of connection, collaboration, and inspiration.

Whether you're looking to expand your network, share ideas, explore partnerships, or simply meet people who are passionate about making a difference, this gathering is for you.

We're also excited to have a special surprise guest joining us for the evening.

You never know who you'll meet or what opportunities may come from a single conversation.

Let's meet. Let's connect. Let's build.

📅 1 August 2026
📍 The Library, UNZA
⏰ 16:00hrs

Investment:
K350 – Alumni
K500 – Non-Alumni

Seats are limited. We look forward to welcoming you to the table.

26/06/2026