Joseph Mubanga (not his real name), 19 years old from Chipulukusu in Ndola, went onto the streets after taking his Grade 9 examinations. When he failed 3 subjects (Mathematics, English, and Integrated Science), conflict erupted at home. His brother chased him away, telling him he was a burden to the family. Feeling rejected and believing he no longer belonged at home, Joseph decided to leave and found himself on the streets.

“I stayed on the streets for 2 years, and life there was difficult. I had no steady food, no clean water, and no place to sleep. I survived by asking for leftovers from restaurants, washing cars, at times I used to beg in the streets for money for me to buy food, and at night I slept in shop corridors. Because I felt lost, I stopped caring about myself, and I later started using drugs so that I could cope and feel accepted,” Joseph said.

“After two years of living on the streets, I was taken to DAPP Children’s Town Youth Academy in Chibombo. When I arrived, I was welcomed and cared for, and for the first time in a long while, I had regular food, guidance, and people who listened to me. I was enrolled in metal fabrication, and as I learned to work with my hands, I also began to rebuild my confidence and see a future for myself again,” he explained.

At the Youth Academy, Joseph acquired vocational skills in metal fabrication alongside social skills development. Through structured routines and group living, he learned cooperation, discipline, and responsibility. He plans to use the skills gained in metal fabrication to generate income and sustain himself after completing the programme.

“I want other young people to know that leaving home out of frustration can lead you to go on the streets, and life there can change you in ways you do not expect. But with support, guidance, and the right skills, it is possible to turn things around, leave the streets behind, and build a better future,” Joseph said.