Deborah’s father passed away when she was a baby, as did her mother a few years later. She was raised by her aunty who she refers to as her mother. Deborah was only able to complete her formal education at primary level, which is common in Zambia. She married in her late teens and had three children. Unfortunately, her husband left her for another woman soon after her third child was born.

She and her aunty knew she needed to do something to feed and educate her children, so in 2020 she enrolled at Future Pillars Vocational Training Institute, in Kabwe. We supplied sewing machines and tools to this institute in 2017 for their vocational training courses.

Deborah had a particular interest in tailoring and enrolled on that course. However, after only a few weeks the principal had to speak to her as she was performing so poorly. He explained how learning to be a tailor could support her family and change her life, which it did. She stayed on after the other students went home, practising and learning her trade. Very quickly she became the most outstanding student in the class! She used an electrical sewing machine donated by Workaid, which she wouldn’t let anyone else use. So, the other students gave her the affectionate nickname ‘Mama Workaid’.