Oprah’s Journey Back into Learning

For many young people in Zambia, the challenge is not ambition - it’s access.
Without formal qualifications, pathways into work are limited. For those whose education has been interrupted, or whose circumstances have changed, returning is not straightforward.

For Oprah Kangua, that moment came after an accident that changed what kind of work was possible. A single mother, now living with a disability, she found herself navigating a system where opportunity often depends on credentials she didn’t yet have.

Through Pestalozzi’s SkillsHub in Zambia, Oprah is now training in hospitality - building the skills needed to work in front-of-house roles, and to access employment that was previously out of reach. 

But what stands out is the internal shift. When learners arrive at SkillsHub, 76% describe themselves as unconfident - shaped by unemployment, exclusion, and the experience of being left behind. By the time our first cohorts graduated, over 80% felt they had improved in confidence and 90% felt they 'had a plan for the future'.

Designed for young people whose pathways have been interrupted, SkillsHub combines vocational training with vital mindset development and practical work experience - enabling faster transitions into employment. In its first year, 51% of participants moved into work, self-employment or further education within just eight weeks.

Oprah is rebuilding a sense of purpose - and recognising what is possible again.