Student Profile
| Name: | Jeffrey Kanyama |
| Gender: | Male |
| Date of birth: | 19th August 1993 |
| Place of birth: | Lusaka, Zambia |
| Mother: | Viotel Tembo |
| Profession: | House Maid |
| Father: | Diseased |
| Primary School: | Chibelo Basic School |
Family Background:
Jeffrey is the youngest of five children and has been raised by his mother. Sadly, Jeffrey never knew his father very well, who passed away in 1998. Jeffrey’s mother, Violet, has always lived in Lusaka and raised her family there. She has worked in different places as a housemaid.
Violet’s oldest child, Jeffrey’s sister, is now a married woman of 31 years of age and also working as a maid. The second and third children are 25 and 20 respectively both not working. The fourth, Jeffrey’s brother named Kelvin, is currently in Grade 10 at Lusaka Boys Secondary School. Finally, Violet takes care of a niece also, who is 10 years old and in Grade 4.
Violet works as a housemaid in the Kabulonga area of Lusaka, near to Chibelo School, where Jeffrey attends. She earns approximately $50 each month and therefore cannot afford the impending secondary school fees for Jeffrey.
Jeffrey's Education:
Jeffrey attended Chibelo School from Grade 1 through 7 and maintained an extraordinary academic standing. He was an extremely high-achieving and gifted student, who earned the top position in his class from Grade 1 to Grade 7.
Jeffrey’s favorite subjects in primary school were Mathematics and Science.
Outside of class, Jeffrey enjoyed learning at the HIV/AIDS Resource Center at Chibelo School, where he learned more about HIV/AIDS and volunteered as a peer educator and counselor.
At Leopards Hill School (Grade 8):
Jeffrey was a shining example of academic excellence during his first year at Leopards Hill. He won various awards for being first in specific subjects including a calculator in Mathematics, a text book in Civics, a text book in Information Technology, a dictionary in French, and a picture frame in Office Practice. His favorite subjects were History, Mathematics, French and Geography. He commented on how he wasn’t so good in those subjects in the past, but he put in a lot of effort to improve.
(Grade 9)
In Grade 9, Jeffrey continues to obtain high marks in his various subjects. His favorite subjects are now History, Mathematics and English. The competition this year has stiffened as other KF students battle for the top positions in his class. He still manages to maintain his position among the top four students in the class, which is a great accomplishment.
At the 2008 Awards ceremony held at Leopards Hill Secondary School, Jeffrey received awards for 2nd position in Mathematics, History, and Information Technology.
Jeffrey's Interests:
Before becoming a part of the KF program, Jeffrey loved to play soccer and video games, as well as reading and swimming. Drawing was also one of his hobbies.
At Leopards Hill, Jeffrey is a member of the JETS club, a mathematics and science after-school club, which teaches him how to debate and think quickly under pressure. He feels he has become quicker at giving accurate answers to certain questions. He is also a gymnast and has become more flexible and able to do various stunts.
Career Interests:
His dream is to become a teacher. In his KF application, Jeffrey wrote that he would like a scholarship because it will help him achieve that dream in his life.
What his teachers think of him:
Jeffrey’s teachers say that he is intelligent, well behaved, and extremely deserving of a scholarship. Jeffrey has a strong interest in school and performs much better than many other students who have fewer problems.
Jeffrey's Thoughts:
“There are a lot of things that I am enjoying and experiencing as a KF member. I enjoyed the new knowledge given to me by the KF tutor Mr. Nyirenda. We were behind in a lot of subjects but he managed to put us on the right track. I thank him so much for his good work. I also thank KF members for everything they have done for me. We don’t have to buy text books from anywhere, and we have enough clothes, shoes, and beddings. I appreciate the advice that we shouldn’t compare ourselves to other people because we know what we came here to do. This helps me control myself whenever anyone troubles me because I remember why I am here.”