Who We Are
TheKasuneProject is an organisation whose purpose is to provide funding for equitable access to quality education at identified levels in Zambia. TheKasuneProject will continuously strive to improve capacity for quality service delivery and mobilise resources to address the critical issues that hinder the youth of Zambia from gaining equitable access to a quality education, be it academic or vocational. Through further education, TheKasuneProject seeks to empower young people realise their full potential as well as strengthen their capacity to achieve sustainable economic levels that break the cycle of poverty. With providing access to further education at its core, TheKasuneProject takes a holistic approach in its pursuit to empower young people. The programmes meet recipients at their point of need, dealing with issues that might impact negatively on their personal journeys through education. High on the agenda is self care. There is no question that there can be no success where one’s mental health is in crisis. The work of TheKasuneProject supports and highlights the importance of a robust and resilient mental state, as this is the gateway to any form of success.
Education
The Mayeba Fund
TheKasuneProject provides access to higher education by providing funding using an equitable approach. How funding is provided depends on the ambitions of the young person, their basic formal education, school leaving results etc. Prospective students are then supported in making goals that are realistic and achievable. TheKasuneProject supports academic or vocational education as it is important that opportunities are reflective of different abilities and ambitions. TheKasuneProject encourages families to participate on all levels in supporting their loved one (including financial support) on the agreed educational pathway.
TheKasuneProject also provides funding for extra tuition in preparation for Grade 7 and 9 GCE exams respectively. The Grade 7 certificate is the primary school leaving certificate, while the Grade 9 certificate enables young people to continue their secondary school education. Without obtaining the required level of points needed at each stage of key exams, the educational journey for many young people ends at either 13 or 16 years of age. Additionally, TheKasuneProject pays for extra tuition in preparation for Grade 12 GCE exams, for 18 year olds. These are even more crucial as young people have come this far and they cannot afford to leave secondary school without a full Grade 12 GCE Certificate. An interruption at any stage of this educational journey, could be a catalyst for early marriages, teenage pregnancies, mental health issues and a myriad of forms of substance abuse, all this, already now painfully commonplace.
Community Outreach
The Pauline Fund
TheKasuneProject works to raise awareness of social, economic and mental health issues that affect the youth and the different communities of which they are a part of, be it rural or urban through our community outreach programmes. TheKasuneProject will engage and encourage the community on programme planning, implementation and sustainability. This will include, for instance, preparing business plans, business grants and forming cooperatives, to create financial empowerment. TheKasuneProject will also focus on raising awareness of the importance of a healthy mental state in these communities and highlight the benefits of accessing psychosocial support. TheKasuneProject will work in partnership with established specialist organisations and will play an active role in disrupting the status quo on the stigma associated with mental health challenges.
The Founder
Ruth Kasune Banda
TheKasuneProject is the result of a relentless self challenge of my social responsibilities that started in early 1995, just after my 23rd birthday and it finally launched in January 2021. That is a long time to sit on a vision that has such urgency. TheKasuneProject is indeed a labour of love. However, my vision is simple. My call to social action is urgent. My prayer is truly a sincere one: Let us work together, to ensure our youth have equitable access to quality education. Education in all its forms should never be only for those who can afford it, it should be for all who hunger for it. Please join me in my work and with God before us, let us educate the youth of our beloved Zambia!
The Inspiration
Rodwin Chilikwela Kasune
Rodwin Chilikwela Kasune was my maternal grandfather. He was a wholesome human being who recognised the emancipatory and transformative power of tertiary education. His passion for education has remained with me so many years after his death when I was 11 years old. These charitable works are to honour his life and generosity of spirit and are a monumental mark of his lasting legacy of kindness on my life.
Our Aims
We only have one Aim:
To provide equitable access to quality education
Our Objectives
To provide funding for academic and vocational education
To emphasise that education is the bedrock of a hopeful future.
To emphasise that it takes a whole village to raise just one child.
To emphasise that equitable access to quality education is a basic human right of every child.
To emphasise that every young mind matters.
Advocating For Their Mental Health
