Student Testimonial

My name is Michael Jongwesimatipa Sakala, a native of Zambia and a business enthusiast. My interest in business led me to enroll at Wiley College in the fall of 2013 as a Business Administration major with a concentration in Accounting and a minor in Computer Information Systems. Getting to this point in life took hard work, dedication, and perseverance among many challenges. My life is a living testimony and a taste to what God can do if you fully depend on him.

I lost my mom when I was only 5 years old and that’s when everything changed in my life. At the age of 8, I was taken to an orphanage in Lusaka headed by Bishop White and Jean Chama who raised me as their own son. They became my family and early educators. I did my primary education at Arthur Wina basic school and was given a full ride scholarship to attain secondary education at Tum high school. In 2010 November I completed my secondary education. A need arose to matriculate into higher education.

I applied to the University of Zambia (UNZA), the highest local learning institution, and was accepted. Unfortunately, I was unable to secure my spot at UNZA due to financial constraints. Devastated, I longed for my mom and wondered how different things could have been had she been alive. After much contemplation on what next steps to take with the newly found obstacle, I joined forces with a friend to find alternative learning opportunities.

Together we started visiting foreign embassies situated in Zambia to find out what opportunities they had available for students. In the event of this search, I became aware of the United States Student Achievers Program that supported academically successful but economically underprivileged students with college applications to the US. Unfortunately, I was rejected into this program. The two unsuccessful attempts to gain access to education left me emotionally crippled as I felt unworthy and under qualified. In my hopeless state, my friend offered encouragement.

Seeing the resilience of my friend and I, a friend reached out saying “I know a young man named Eric currently in a US university. Why don’t you find out how he managed to get in?” Taking the advice, we reached out to Eric Kalobwe who introduced us to the New Season Youth Program (NSYP). With excitement, we used the smallest smartphones we could find to apply into the program. Amazingly, we both were accepted.

With this acceptance came the challenge of paying for the Standardized American Test (SAT) which we needed to take to apply into American colleges. Fortunately, Mr. Jackson- the NSYP Director who had come to treat me as his own child, came to my aid. I was able to take the SAT with an OK score. At that time, Mr. Jackson came to learn of my singing abilities from my brothers at the orphanage. He then recommended me for the Wiley choral scholarship at Wiley University. Before I knew it, I was on my way to attending Wiley. The New Seasons Youth Program changed my life by giving me that opportunity to be educated in the USA.

Enrolling into Wiley on the Choral Scholarship marked the beginning of new adventures and achievements. I enjoy the pleasure of good music and being part of the award winning A Cappella Choir of Wiley College offered me a lot of growing opportunities and a different way to experience life. I was able to travel to different States in America while contributing to the community peace, encouragement and hope offered in songs we sang. My character was groomed by the strong relationships we forged among choir members. Making the most of the opportunity I had, I also excelled in my academics. This led to my receiving the Wiley College Presidential Honors List Award twice in 2014 & 2015. Additionally, in 2015 I was inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and into the Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business in January 2016.

It has been an amazing journey thus far and I look forward to what the Lord has in store for me. Currently I’m a rising senior and can’t wait to graduate next year 2017. Despite the challenges that come my way in life, I know and trust that I can and will overcome them with God watching over me.

I am Joe Mvula, born in Chama district of Muchinga province, on the Eastern part of Zambia. I come from a family of eight, five girls and all boys, myself being the last of the eight. I did my primary in Northern province of Zambia till the sixth grade at Njanji Primary School. In my seventh grade I was at Mutendere Middle Basic School and I did my junior secondary education (grade 8 and9) at Kabulonga Basic School both in Lusaka province of Zambia. For my high school I attended Kabulonga Boys Secondary school in Lusaka district of Zambia.

I started the pursuit of tertiary education in April, 2015 when I got an opportunity of a life time. It was then that I applied to be part of the New Seasons Youth program (NSYP). When I was selected to be among the participants for 2016 academic year that was the start of my dream.  I had a chance of knowing the founder and Director of New Seasons Youth Program Mr. Jackson, Ray in August, 2015. And from that moment onward he has been so helpful.

Coming from a struggling family financially, I was unable to pay for the ACT/SAT test. The New Seasons Youth Program came through and paid for my test fees. They also helped me pay for my Visa fee. When I was at the verge of giving up, God used the NSYP family to salvage my unbelief and restore hope in my life and situation.

It was Brother Ray and the NSYP team who looked for me a college to attend and put in their best effort for me to receive a Full Ride scholarship. Mr. Jackson connected me to people who has made a tremendous impact in my life, one of which is Mr. Banda, Jonah who worked tireless to get me the air ticket.

For the countless, great things that you have done and are still doing for me, “I say Thank You” to the NSYP family and the all cooperating partners for the extraordinary and impactful work you are doing to me in person and many others.

Words can’t explain or express the feeling of gratitude for your impact in my life, God bless YOU! I am now in my Freshman year (first year) class of 2020, at Lemoyne Owen College in Memphis, Tennessee. Pursuing a Bachelor’s in Mathematics. Thank you all!