I was ready to work to raise money for school – Muludzi

By Fridah Nkonde Mubanga

“I was ready to raise money for school because I did not want to get married early,” says Cetra Muludzi, 17, of Moono Village in Mumbwa.

Ms. Muludzi said in an interview that the Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Power Woman Project came at the right time when things were falling apart in her life.

“I started grade one in 2009. Unfortunately, my mother died in that same year. I became an orphan because my father died when I was very young and I started staying with my grandparents. They knew how much I loved school and they knew I would do anything to be in school. They did everything for me till I wrote my Grade nine (9) examination and passed with flying colours and moved to Mumbwa Town’s God Answers School in Grade 10,” Cetra said.

“In Mumbwa, my friend and I were renting an apartment because we had no one to stay with. My grandparents continued doing everything for me, even paying rent in Mumbwa. A few months later, the school was closed and I moved back to Moono Village. I started going to Bulungu Secondary School but couldn’t pay for school fees because my grandparents did not have money for me to continue being in school. I stayed for one whole term before going back to school and Instead of proceeding to Grade 11, I had to go back to Grade 10 because I missed one term in Grade 10. My grandparents managed to raise some money and sent me back to school.”Cetra said even though her grandparents took her back to school, they were still struggling to raise money for books, school fees, and uniforms.

“When we heard about the NGOCC Ending Child Marriage under the Power Woman Project, we were very happy. We approached the Village Committee and my name was included on the list of those that were being sponsored under the project,” Cetra said.

“What I did not want was to get married even though some people were encouraging me to get married. I was ready to do piecework just to raise money for school. I thank the NGOCC for this initiative because I don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t get any sponsorship from NGOCC. All I want is to finish school and become a nurse so that I can also take care of my grandparents who have been so good to me,” said Cetra.