For many young girls, the journey to education is paved with sacrifice, uncertainty and quiet resilience. For Agness Moyo, a Grade 12 pupil at Chadiza Secondary School in Chadiza District, that journey has been one of heartbreak, courage and ultimately, hope restored.
Agness lives with her mother in Kapata Ward of Chipata Central Constituency. Her mother, a hardworking businesswoman, has always done everything within her means to provide for her daughter. From the early mornings at the market to the late evenings balancing household needs, she carried the heavy responsibility of raising Agness with dignity and determination.
Since Grade 8, Agness’s education had been supported by her aunt, a woman she describes as her pillar and greatest encourager. Her aunt believed deeply in the power of education and made it her mission to ensure Agness remained in school. For years, she faithfully paid her school fees, shielding Agness and her mother from the financial strain that so often forces young girls to abandon their dreams.
But last year, tragedy struck. Agness’s aunt passed away. The loss was not only emotional but life-altering. The family was plunged into uncertainty. With no sponsor and limited income, the possibility of Agness dropping out of school became painfully real. For a young girl on the verge of completing her secondary education, the thought of watching her dreams slip away was devastating.
My aunt always told me to work hard and never give up,” Agness recalls, her voice heavy with emotion. “When she passed away, I didn’t know if I would be able to continue school. It was a very difficult time for us.”
Determined not to let her daughter’s future fade, Agness’s mother sought help. With courage and humility, she approached the area councilor, Mr. Mathews Kachali and the Mayor of Chipata City, Mr. George Mwanza. The leaders listened. They understood the urgency. And they guided her toward a lifeline, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Secondary School Bursary.
The application was submitted with hope, but also with anxiety. Days felt longer. Every phone call carried anticipation. Then came the news that changed everything, Agness had been awarded the CDF Secondary School Bursary.
In that moment, what once felt like the end of the road became a new beginning. Through the CDF bursary, Agness was able to secure her place at Chadiza Secondary School and continue her education without interruption. The burden that had weighed so heavily on her mother’s shoulders was lifted.
When we received the news, my mother cried,” Agness says with a smile. “They were tears of relief. CDF has really changed my life for the better. I am so grateful and excited for this opportunity.”
Today, Agness walks through the school gates not with fear of being sent home for unpaid fees, but with confidence and renewed purpose. She attends class fully focused, determined to honor both her late aunt’s memory and her mother’s sacrifices. She studies with a deeper understanding of how fragile opportunity can be and how powerful it is when communities come together to protect it.
Her story is more than just one girl receiving financial support. It is a testament to what happens when leadership meets compassion, when public resources are directed toward real human needs, and when hope is given a chance to breathe again.
As Agness prepares for her Grade 12 examinations, she carries with her a profound sense of gratitude to her mother, to her late aunt whose love continues to inspire her and to the leaders who pointed her toward the CDF bursary.
I want to make them proud,” she says softly. “I want to succeed so that one day I can also help other children the way I was helped.”
In Kapata Ward, a mother sleeps a little easier at night. In Chadiza, a young girl studies with renewed determination. And in Agness Moyo’s heart, a dream once threatened by loss now burns brighter than ever.