Beyond Donations: Walking with Nsansa Village on the Road to Self-Sufficiency

We were welcomed with openness and immediately drawn into conversations with the boys and staff. They shared their aspirations for the future, from becoming soldiers and doctors to pursuing business and technology. Listening to them reminded us that dreams shine brightest when they are spoken out loud.

One boy proudly showed us his homemade charcoal oven, which he uses for baking. He spoke with passion about his dream of one day owning his own bakery, already named Peter’s Bakery. He insists the name will stay the same, even as it grows. His story was a beautiful reminder that hope and vision are not limited by circumstance.

We met Kennedy, who has been part of Nsansa for 12 years and is now a staff member. His journey is one of hardship, survival and redemption. He grew up in a home marked by abuse, lived on the streets at just six years old, and experienced other traumatic experiences. Yet today, he is alive and thriving, passionate about storytelling through photography and videography.

Kennedy shared lessons that stayed with us: do not judge people by their pasts, listen to understand, give without expecting recognition, and do not hold too tightly to possessions. His words were a reminder that true giving is done in silence.

We also met a staff member managing around 200 broilers. His first attempt was with 102 chickens, and he only lost four. Now he is teaching the boys how to care for the birds, passing on valuable skills. Seeing these small but significant steps toward sustainability gave us hope for Nsansa’s future.

Nsansa Village was founded in 2014 by Pastor Jasper, after being entrusted with 70 children who had been rounded up by police. Since then, over 500 children have been supported through their three pillars: discipleship, education and skills training. Nsansa now dreams of moving to a permanent home on two hectares of land with dormitories, classrooms and vocational facilities.

While donations are important, the real transformation comes from walking with communities. We can support Nsansa by sharing our skills through workshops, mentoring the boys, connecting them to training hubs, supporting microenterprises like Peter’s Bakery or the poultry farm, and strengthening their digital presence.

This visit reminded me that hope is not fragile, it is resilient. It is in Peter’s insistence on naming his bakery, in Kennedy’s wisdom, and in the staff teaching skills for self-sufficiency. At FSIO Change Makers, we want this to be more than a one-time visit. Personally, I plan to keep supporting Nsansa with my skills and connections.

Nsansa Village has supported over 500 children on their journey of resilience and growth. If you feel called to help, you can volunteer, mentor, contribute towards their permanent home, or simply share their story so more people know about their mission.

Looking ahead, I intend to work with Nsansa Village and other organisations like it to develop a volunteer, mentorship, or skills-sharing programme to better support the boys and other underprivileged individuals in society. If this is something you would like to be part of, you can register your interest by filling in your details through the Google Form linked below.