Bakashana
About Bakashana
Bakashana starts with a straightforward idea: if a young woman in rural Zambia has the grades but not the money to keep going, she should still have a path to school. From its base in Kasama, the organization supports young women with school sponsorship, free health services, and community learning, while also reaching youth, survivors of violence, and children with extreme disabilities and their mothers. For donors, the appeal is in how close the work stays to daily life, school fees, a medical referral, a computer class, a safe space, a full day of respite care.
What stands out is how local and practical this is. Bakashana gives young people and families more than one place to turn, with education support, a resource center, health services, youth leadership, survivor support, and respite care all rooted in Kasama. It also keeps the scholarship relationship direct between sponsors and students.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Scholarship and sponsorship program
Provides school sponsorship for young women from rural areas who have completed grade 7 but lack the financial or family resources to attend secondary school, and also supports tertiary education.
Resource Center classes and library
Offers free computer, literacy, and English classes, along with access to a library and safe space for young women and community members in Kasama.
Health services and health center
Provides free health services in Kasama, including family planning, HIV/AIDS testing and counselling, treatment, under-five services, referrals, and medical advocacy.
Youth clubs and youth leadership programming
Runs Girls Leading Our World (GLOW), Boys For Change (BFC), and other youth leadership clubs that provide life skills, gender equality, sexual and reproductive health rights, and entrepreneurship education.
Going Beyond Project
Expands digital inclusion and business learning opportunities for youth entrepreneurs across Northern Province from the Resource Center and surrounding districts.
Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls
Leads survivor-centered responses to sexual and gender-based violence, including counselling, safe housing, economic and academic support, and coordinated legal advocacy through the Bridges to Justice initiative.
Place of Happiness
Provides full-day respite care, socialization, learning activities, movement therapy, transportation, snacks, lunch, and caregiver support for children with extreme disabilities and their mothers.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Through heart-centered, female-and-youth-led solutions, Bakashana holistically uplifts its community with education, health, livelihood, and social services, promoting hope and agency and amplifying the voices that will lead to a more just and equitable future.
Who they serve
Young women and youth in rural Kasama and Northern Province, Zambia, including scholarship grantees, club participants, survivors of violence, and children with severe disabilities and their mothers.
Their impact
- More than 3,500 youth are reached annually through youth outreach.
- More than 250 secondary pupils and 50 tertiary pupils receive school sponsorship.
- More than 150 pupils are trained annually in free computer classes at the Resource Center.
- More than 300 pupils have learned computers for free at the center.
- More than 100 women have received basic literacy classes, and 100 have completed English classes.
- More than 1,000 youth have been mentored through Girls and Boys Clubs since 2017.
- Place of Happiness serves 50 severely disabled children and their mothers.
How your donation helps
- School fees, boarding fees, school supplies, books, and textbooks for sponsored students.
- Emotional support, workshop attendance, computer classes, and related administrative costs for student sponsorships.
- Free computer, literacy, and English classes at the Resource Center.
- Health services, including family planning and HIV/AIDS testing and counselling.
- Food for girls at the boarding house and support for education-related needs.
- Care, transportation, snacks, lunch, and therapy support for Place of Happiness.
Our story
Bakashana began in 2010 as a collaboration between Zambian Head Teacher Christopher Chileshe, United States Peace Corps Volunteer Claire Albrecht, and her father, William. It was created to help young women in rural Zambia, especially in Kasama, continue into secondary school when they had the grades but not the money. Over time, the organization expanded under Cecilia Lesho.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Bakashana’s services.
Young women who have completed grade 7 and need support to continue school can seek scholarship and sponsorship support. Community members in Kasama can access free computer, literacy, and English classes, health services, youth clubs, and survivor-support programming.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
“Sponsoring Idah has meant that I am beginning to help meet the need for educating young women in Zambia.” - Cindy Valentine
“I want all the girls out there to know that, it’s never too late!” - Ceciliah Lesho
“Bakashana does that!” - Inutu Liam
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Bakashana has shared.
Current needs
- Sponsors for young women seeking scholarship support.
- Funding to expand the Resource Center and health services.
- Pro bono audit support.
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
Who can receive scholarship support?
Young women from rural areas who have completed grade 7 and do not have the financial or family resources to attend secondary school can receive sponsorship support. Some students are also supported at the tertiary level.
What classes are offered at the Resource Center?
The Resource Center offers free computer, literacy, and English classes. Community members can also use the library.
What does Place of Happiness provide?
Place of Happiness gives severely disabled children and their mothers one full day of care every other week, with socialization, learning activities, movement therapy, respite care, transportation, snacks, and lunch.
What health services are available?
The health center provides family planning, HIV/AIDS testing and counselling, treatment, under-five services, referrals, and medical advocacy.
What do the youth clubs teach?
The youth clubs teach life skills, gender equality, sexual and reproductive health rights, entrepreneurship, and the importance of staying in school while avoiding early marriage and pregnancy.
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