FROM STREET CHILD TO CARETAKER

Misheck Muyemba, Former street kid and founder of Mukoza Orphanage Center.

Several children at Mukoza Orphanage Center, along with  Ms Shiku (Wearing white in the background) and the Center Mother (Far rights in black T-shirt).

ABIGAIL CHIFUSA

As I navigated through the winding paths of Ngombe Township, a gravel road led me to a modest house that conceals a heartwarming narrative of hope, redemption, and unwavering love. 

Little did I know that this modest home shelters 18 children between the ages of five and 15-years-old, each with a unique story, taken under the wing of a once-homeless child turned caretaker. 

The vibrant laughter of children playing outside the home welcomes me, a harsh contrast to the difficult pasts they have overcome. 

The playful laughter of children fills the air as they dash indoors, seemingly aware of the approaching visitor.

Inside, the living room is filled with the sweet melodies of young voices, harmonising a song that embodies their newfound joy. 

With delight radiating form their faces, the children sang out, “Welcome to our humble abode, dear visitor.”

The room felt alive with their energy, and as I stepped forward, I was enveloped by the warmth of their smiles. 

28-year-old Misheck Muyemba, once a young boy abandoned to the streets, and Priscilla Phiri, aged 53, stand as the pillars of this haven called the Mukoza Orphanage Center.

It is here that these two extraordinary individuals have taken it upon themselves to care for the 18 children who now call this house their home. 

Mr Muyemba's journey to this point is a remarkable one, born out of hardship and transformed by resilience. 

Once a street child himself, Mr Muyemba, now a role model and caretaker, shares his own heartfelt journey from the harsh streets of Lusaka. 

After escaping an abusive home at the tender age of 12, he found comfort among friends who introduced him to the streets, and life there offered an appearance of consolation.

“I chose the street of Lusaka as my home,” he recounted, his voice carrying a mix of vulnerability and strength. 

Life under the Mandahill Bridge along Great East road, makeshift shelters during the rainy season and a growing reliance on substances to cope with the harsh realities of street life and for warmth.

However, a visit from a kind-hearted individual changed the course of Mr Muyemba’s life. 

“The man came up to my friends and me, sharing the word of God. He presented a chance to escape the streets, leading to a new chapter of my life at his orphanage,” he narrated.

Swimming became his comfort, a skill that not only helped him heal but also paved way to national recognition as part of the Zambian swimming team. 

In 2015, Mr Muyemba and his friends aged out of the orphanage that had given them a fresh start. 

Determined to make a difference, he joined forces with Priscilla Phiri, who had cared for him during his time in the orphanage. 

The memories of street life, with its hardships and dangers, drove Mr Muyemba to initiate the orphanage.

“My determination pushed me to the rescuing of other children from the same fate I went through as a child on the street,” he said. 

With the help of Ms Phiri, who welcomed the children into her home, Mukoza Orphanage Center was born, making a dream of nurturing children from the streets become a reality. 

The house, despite its modest size, has become a sanctuary for these children. 

Their lives, once strained with uncertainty, are now filled with love, structure, and opportunities. 

“At Soweto market, we encountered four young girls wandering aimlessly, in a distressing condition. Following a conversation, we decided to welcome them in my home three years ago. They have been under our care ever since and currently, two of them are in grade nine, one is in grade seven, and the other is in grade six. These girls have become our oldest charges at the center,” Ms Phiri elaborated.

Among those embraced by the 28-year-old former street child were boys who used to linger around the Great East Road and Mandahill Bridge, creating uplifting music with makeshift drums crafted from plastic and buckets, while also seeking donations.

“The two boys overheard our conversation with other children, prompting them to approach us and share their circumstances of living beneath a bridge,” Ms Phiri recounts.

“Some of the children were brought to us by people who are impressed by our care. A notable example includes three siblings recently welcomed here due to their father’s incapacitation, leaving him unable to provide for them since their mother passed away,” she clarified.

The duo’s commitment to education led the children to Kachele Private School, where individual attention ensures their academic success. 

“I opted to enroll all the children in a school called Kachele Private School in Foxdale, where they provided a favourable arrangement. I pay K4,000 for all the children per term,” shared Mr Muyemba.

“When transitioning someone from a street life and their lifestyle changes, they require a certain motivation that encourages them to persist daily. That is why I made the decision to maintain the children’s enthusiasm for their schoolwork. While public schools offer free and quality education, the foundation of children require focused attention. Often, public school classrooms are crowded, resulting in less individualized help for specific children who need it and private schools on the other hand, offer tailored assistance to address individual learning gaps,” he explained.

Given the fluctuating prices of mealie meal in the country, it raises questions about how the children’s meals are managed.

“At times, providing meals can be challenging. In a span of three days, we consume a single bag of mealie meal, and in a month sometimes, we require as many as 10 bags,” Ms Phiri explained.

However, Ms Phiri, with her job as a maid in Meanwood, and Mr Muyemba, employing skills acquired during his orphanage days, work tirelessly to provide for their 18 charges. 

The children’s smiles and dreams are their greatest motivators, driving them to seek side jobs, perform home maintenance, and even clown around to make ends meet. 

As I continued my exploration of the house, the guided tour led me to a room that appeared as a connecting corridor, neatly dividing one portion of their five-room house from the bedrooms.

At first glance, the images adorning the walls could easily be mistaken for mere decorative elements.

However, this modest space had been resourcefully transformed into an office.

Here the walls proudly displayed certificates of the orphanage’s harmoniously coexisting with files containing thoroughly organized records of the children under their dedicated care.

The heart of the Orphanage lies not just in its commitment to education and material needs, but in its ability to mend broken spirits. 

Children once devastated by the streets now thrive in an environment of love and structure. 

These children are evidence to the fact that while the material challenges may persist, the strength of community and compassion can conquer all. 

Nelly Shiku, founder of Serene Life Organisation and a collaborator with Mukoza Orphanage Center, echoes this sentiment. 

According to Ms Shiku, the loss of parents constitutes a profound emotional challenge for children, often leading to a psychological disruption.

“For both Mr Muyemba and Ms Phiri, they have bestowed these children with parental figures, offering not only shelter and an education but also cultivating a nurturing environment plays a pivotal role in shaping their future, aiding them in growing into individuals they aspire to become,” she said.

Ms Shiku further added that the protective environment, shields the children from the streets they once called their home, instilling optimism and assurance that their path ahead is illuminated by a promising future.

Media Network on Child Rights and Development (MNCRD) Executive Director, Henry Kabwe has commended Mr Muyemba’s effort and hopes that he will not only be supported by other former street children.

 “I trust that Mr Muyemba will receive backing not only from fellow former street children within this endeavor but also from diverse companies and eager stakeholders, uniting to aid their growth and benefiting more children,” he said.

As I prepare to leave the Mukoza Orphanage Center, I cannot help but be touched by the stories of transformation within these walls. 

Mr Muyemba’s transformation from a street child to a compassionate caretaker, and the remarkable narratives of the children he now looks after, remind us that the power of resilience, compassion, and the human spirit can create miracles even in the harshest of circumstances.