Student Profile
| Name: | Kate Mhango |
| Gender: | Female |
| Date of birth: | 3rd July 1994 |
| Place of birth: | Lusaka, Zambia |
| Father: | Zifa Mhango |
| Profession: | Unemployed |
| Mother: | Maureen Mhango |
| Profession: | Home Maker |
| Primary School: | Mumana Basic School |
Family Background:
Kate lives with both her parents, and four sisters in Kaunda Square. Kate’s Father, Zifa Mhango, worked for Barclays Bank until 1997 when he was retrenched. He hasn’t been employed ever since then. Maureen Mhango, Kate’s mother, is a home maker and so she does not contribute to the family’s income.
Without a steady job, Zifa has found it very difficult to sponsor children’s education. Food is hard to come by, and buying other necessities such as uniforms and books is nearly a huge struggle. At times Kate has had to go to school hungry. Three of Kate’s sisters have completed secondary school and one is in grade ten.
Kate has keloids behind her ears, which she hopes can be successfully removed one day. The keloids developed after she had her ears pierced. She went to the hospital to get them removed, however, after the operation they began to grow bigger. Her peers have often made fun of her because of her appearance. This has been a great challenge to overcome. Through this hardship her mother has always assured her that she is beautiful and that what matters most is her intelligence. This support has helped Kate value her education.
Kate's Education:
Kate has attended Mumana Basic School ever since grade one. She has demonstrated a love for school and academics. She understands that education is the only thing that can get her to where she wants to go in life. Kate has earned the first position in school every year except in grade four when she got fourth place. Because of her mature disposition, Kate has been selected as the class monitor ever since first grade. She expressed that she has had challenges being a class monitor, especially when it comes to controlling the class, but she has enjoyed the experience. She is an academically promising young girl who is following her mother’s counsel to focus on her education because she is intelligent, and put aside any negative influence from her peers that would distract her from that goal.
Career Interests:
Kate wants to be a doctor once she has completed her studies.
What the teachers think of Kate:
Kate’s primary school teachers feel that her performance in class is very good in all the subjects. She is an active child in class during lessons because she asks questions when she doesn’t understand. She also has the ability to study on her own without being reminded. She is a well behaved and hardworking girl.
Kate's Thoughts:
“I am a girl aged fourteen doing my seventh grade at a government school called Mumana Basic School. I live in Kaunda Square with my parents and four sisters. We are one big happy family.
I have keloids behind my ears, which I hope to successfully remove one day.
I spend most of my time reading and watching television. I like school and it is my favorite place in the world. I wish to be a doctor when I grow up and I wish to work in Zambia, for Zambia.
I feel the Kucetekela Foundation program will help me with school fees and so many things so that my parents can save money and send my sisters to college. I will also work extra hard so as to pass.
If I became a doctor I would form an organization, which would basically be about healt and good hygiene. I would make sure that everyone gets to know more about their environment and personal hygiene because that is one of the things my community lacks. I would carry out a medical check-up mainly for children and women because they are the most affected people in my community.”