Zambia-US Exchanges Alumni Association

Zambia-US Exchanges Alumni Association National Alumni association for Zambians that have participated in an exchange program in the US or a US funded exchange program.

Our goal is to engage the community in development and service. We are non partisan, sectarian, religious organisation. Non-profit, non-religious, non-governmental organisation of all Zambians that have ever participated in any form of exchange program between the USA and Zambia whose objective is to use acquired skills, experience, professional and social networks to lead the nation in national

service and maintain the links and ties forged with the peoples and government of the United Sates of America

Congratulations Martin Gondwe
15/05/2026

Congratulations Martin Gondwe

After 13 years of dedicated service, MEYAN KACHENGA, a ZUEA alumna has been recognized for her outstanding work in the D...
14/05/2026

After 13 years of dedicated service, MEYAN KACHENGA, a ZUEA alumna has been recognized for her outstanding work in the Department of Health at the Chama Town Council. ZUEA continues to stand out as one of Zambia’s most vibrant associations, committed to developing well-rounded leaders who make meaningful contributions to society.

ALUMNI IN ACTION Mbuwa leads the Girl Inspiration Group (GIG)Girl Inspiration Group (GIG), a registered community-based ...
08/05/2026

ALUMNI IN ACTION
Mbuwa leads the Girl Inspiration Group (GIG)

Girl Inspiration Group (GIG), a registered community-based non-profit organization founded in 2015, carries a mission to inspire, mentor and equip girls with confidence and essential life skills, while ensuring they remain in school to reach their fullest potential.

Based in Lusaka, Girl Inspiration Group (GIG) works with girls aged 5 to 24, providing safe and supportive spaces where they can build confidence, develop essential life skills, and access opportunities that enable them to stay in school and reach their full potential. GIG programs are designed to address critical challenges affecting girls, including teen pregnancies, early child marriage, limited access to education, child protection concerns, and the lack of positive mentorship. Through targeted interventions, GIG empowers girls with knowledge, resilience, and the support systems they need to make informed decisions and lead empowered lives.

Since its establishment, Girl Inspiration Group (GIG) has impacted over 3,000 children across community schools through initiatives such as the “Buy A Book & A Pencil” campaign, where each child received 10 exercise books and 2 pencils. GIG continues to provide educational support, mentorship sessions, and essential learning materials to vulnerable children. Through its work, GIG has contributed to improved school retention, increased self-confidence, and greater awareness of rights among girls and young women.

One of the flagship initiatives, the “Her Safety Matters” campaign, launched on the 9th April, 2026 at NIPA American Corner, focuses on raising awareness on the safety, rights, and well-being of girls. The campaign promotes child protection, access to safe spaces, and community-driven action to safeguard children and Speaking at the launch, GIG emphasized the urgent need for collective responsibility in addressing challenges affecting girls, including violence, abuse, and limited access to safe and supportive environments. The campaign is designed to engage communities, schools, and stakeholders in creating safer spaces where girls can learn, grow, and reach their full potential.

The “Her Safety Matters” campaign marks a significant milestone in GIG’s ongoing commitment to empowering girls through education, mentorship, and advocacy. Through this initiative, GIG calls upon partners, institutions, and community members to join hands in strengthening efforts that protect and uplift girls, ensuring they grow up in safe environments where their rights are respected and their voices are heard.

Girl Inspiration Group remains committed to inspiring hope, promoting safety, and empowering the next generation of girls to become confident, educated, and resilient leaders.

Girl Inspiration Group is open for strategic partnerships and sponsorships with organizations, institutions, and individuals who share our vision of a safe, empowered, and educated generation of girls.

For more info, sponsorships or partnerships , get in touch on:
0964 933 333.
Girl Inspiration Group (GIG)

⛏️ 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗨𝗥 𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗘 (𝗠𝗜𝗖) 𝗭𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗜𝗔 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 Are you a 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙥...
07/05/2026

⛏️ 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗨𝗥 𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗘 (𝗠𝗜𝗖) 𝗭𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗜𝗔 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚

Are you a 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙪𝙧𝙨 passionate about the mining sector?

This is your moment to 𝙘𝙤-𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡, 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙫𝙞𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 to real-world mining challenges through the Minepreneur Innovation Challenge (MIC) Zambia 2026.

💡 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
• Turn ideas into real ventures
• Learn from industry experts
• Solve real mining challenges & drive sustainable growth
• Access incubation & pilot opportunities

👥 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆?
Teams of 𝟯–𝟱 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨:
• Final-year students, graduates & young professionals
• Fields: Engineering, Mining, Business, ICT & Environmental
• Based in Zambia
• Passionate about innovation in the mining sector

📍 From multi-city bootcamps to a 48-hour national hackathon, your journey could lead to incubation and real-world pilot opportunities!

⏳ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 28th May 2026

👉 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘄: Follow the link or scan the QR code on the poster: https://forms.gle/RHk6xaU8RUsPsxi56

📩 𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?
Email: [email protected]
CC: [email protected]
📞 +260 960 957606

𝙇𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙩𝙨. 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝘽𝙞𝙜 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨.

30/04/2026

Highlights from EVOKE

ALUMNI IN ACTION Few weeks ago, 130 young Zambian innovators took the stage at the EVOKE: Young Innovators Demo Day—and ...
30/04/2026

ALUMNI IN ACTION

Few weeks ago, 130 young Zambian innovators took the stage at the EVOKE: Young Innovators Demo Day—and they had something to show for it.

American Spaces Zambia hosted the grand finale of EVOKE: Young Innovators, a program designed to put coding, rocketry, design thinking, gamified learning, and team building directly into the hands of Zambia's youngest problem-solvers.

EVOKE was spearheaded by Tuta Technologies led by U.S Exchange Alumni Tutashalesa Mulunda who serves as ZUEA Copperbelt Province Coordinator.

At Demo Day, each certified student stood at their own project stand and walked parents through what they had built, designed, and coded. The pride in that room was earned.

This matters beyond the moment. More than half of Zambia's population is under the age of 25, and over 3.3 million young Zambians are currently outside of education, employment, or training. At the same time, a 2024 report by the African Union Commission and the OECD found that only 9% of youth aged 15 to 24 across African countries have basic computer skills. The gap between where Zambia's young people are and where the job market is heading is real, and programs like EVOKE exist to close it early.

130 students certified. Projects built. Parents watching. That is a beginning.

American Spaces Zambia will continue to bring programs like this to young Zambians.

Credit: U.S Embassy Zambia.

ZUEA though the president, Akufuna Muyunda, features in the Times of Zambia Print News today, Wednesday 29th April,2026....
29/04/2026

ZUEA though the president, Akufuna Muyunda, features in the Times of Zambia Print News today, Wednesday 29th April,2026.

CELEBRATING ALUMNI ZAMBIAN AGRIPRENEUR LINDA SHACHINDA WINS THE COMMONWEALTH QUEEN ELIZABETH AWARDBy Zambia Diplomatic a...
24/04/2026

CELEBRATING ALUMNI

ZAMBIAN AGRIPRENEUR LINDA SHACHINDA WINS THE COMMONWEALTH QUEEN ELIZABETH AWARD

By Zambia Diplomatic and Foreign Affairs Report.
In the dry, charcoal-scarred fields of rural Zambia, where families often scrape by on less than the price of a loaf of bread, a quiet revolution is taking root. It is purple, organic, and surprisingly sweet.

Linda Shachinda, a young Zambian entrepreneur, has spent the last years proving that the humble beetroot can do more than just add color to a salad—it can break the cycle of deforestation and extreme poverty. Now, the world is taking notice.

The Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust (QECT) has named Ms. Shachinda among its 100 Young Leaders Awardees for 2026, a prestigious global cohort selected to commemorate what would have been the 100th birthday of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Later this year, she will trade the red dirt of her outgrower farms for the gilded halls of St. James’s Palace in the United Kingdom, where she will meet King Charles III to receive the honor.

To understand the weight of this award, one must first understand the desperation Ms. Shachinda witnessed daily. In the communities where she works, survival is a gamble. During the farming season, families grow just enough to eat. But when the rains stop, the charcoal burning begins. It is a backbreaking, environmentally catastrophic trade: cutting down trees to sell for fuel, often earning less than one US dollar a day. “It is survival, not a choice,” Ms. Shachinda explains.

Linda founded PV Beet Farms to offer a third option. The model is deceptively simple yet profoundly effective: provide rural farmers with beetroot seedlings and organic training, guarantee a fair price at harvest, and then transform that harvest into high-value goods for the market.

“My work spans farmer training, production, packaging, compliance, and getting our beet products market-ready,” she says. “I’m always open to thoughtful conversations and honest exchanges with people building practical solutions in complex environments.”

PV Beet Farms is not just about growing vegetables; it is a full-scale agribusiness designed to prove that "green" jobs can pay better than "black" jobs (charcoal). The enterprise has developed a diverse product line that turns the durable root into everyday staples: Beetroot Pickles and Beetroot Bites (healthy snacks): Beetroot Powder for smoothies and baking and Mint Tea infused with Beetroot.

By processing the beetroot locally—into tea, pickles, and powder—PV Beet Farms captures more value than selling raw produce. This allows Ms. Shachinda to pay farmers a sustainable wage while providing Zambian and international markets with healthy, innovative products.

For Linda Shachinda, the QECT award is a validation of that collective struggle and success. She is one of only 100 young changemakers chosen globally across five sectors: education, environment, food and agriculture, health, and inclusion.
“This recognition reflects the work we are doing at PV Beet Farms to create climate-smart, year-round livelihoods for rural families,” she said after the announcement. “It is the collective effort of our community. I am proud to represent and continue advancing my work in Food and Agriculture.”

Beyond the prestige of meeting the Monarch, the award unlocks tangible resources. As a QECT Young Leader, Ms. Shachinda gains access to microgrants to scale her impact, tailored mentorship for organizational growth, and a global platform of funders and experts.

“I am deeply honoured to be recognised,” Linda commented after receiving news of her award, full aware of the weight of the rural farmers she represents. “And I am grateful for this opportunity to be part of a global network committed to creating a more inclusive and sustainable future.”

The Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust was established by the late Queen to empower young leaders who are often overlooked by traditional aid models. By naming these awards for her 100th birthday, the Trust signals that the future of the Commonwealth is being built not by politicians, but by local changemakers like Linda.

As Linda Shachinda prepares for her journey to St. James’s Palace, the beetroot fields of Zambia are growing greener. One seedling at a time, Ms. Shachinda is proving that you do not need a crown to change a nation—sometimes, you just need a root vegetable and the will to plant it.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Zambia Ministry of Information and Media - Zambia Zambia High Commission London

CHAPTER ACTIVITY 📣 𝗭𝗨𝗘𝗔 𝗟𝘂𝗮𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁On 18th April 2026, the Zambia Unite...
21/04/2026

CHAPTER ACTIVITY
📣 𝗭𝗨𝗘𝗔 𝗟𝘂𝗮𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁

On 18th April 2026, the Zambia United States Exchange Alumni Association (ZUEA) Luapula Chapter successfully conducted a high-impact civic engagement activity across Mansa and Samfya Districts.

The initiative featured live radio programs focused on promoting youth and women’s participation in governance and electoral processes, reaching communities across Samfya, Chifunabuli, Milenge, parts of Mansa, and Serenje through Bangwela Radio 89.5 FM and other local platforms.

Through interactive discussions and call-in sessions, the programs provided a platform for community voices while raising awareness on the importance of inclusive participation in shaping Zambia’s democratic processes.

In addition to the media outreach, the team conducted a community service activity at Samfya District Hospital (Maternity Wing), where they donated cleaning materials and chitenge (wrappers) to support women in the mother’s shelter and contribute to improved hygiene and maternal care.

The activity was led by committed ZUEA members:
Penelope Machipi, Kayula Mulenga, Chisenga Magomero, and Prudence Chimanda, whose efforts reflect the association’s continued commitment to leadership, service, and community impact.

This initiative highlights ZUEA’s role in bridging civic awareness and practical community support, reinforcing the importance of empowering youth and women as key drivers of development.

ZUEA remains committed to advancing inclusive civic participation and delivering meaningful impact across communities.

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