Kagem Mine scholarship!

US$345K industry training initiative

When Nicholas Simukoko and Sonny Kanyinji enrolled at the University of Zambia and Copperbelt University respectively, they had dreams of completing their studies, working in the mining industry and improving their families’ lives.

While they were exceptional students, both men faced financial hardships that threatened to cut their studies short and derail any hopes they had of providing a better life for their families. “It was hard for me to concentrate at school because it was difficult to raise my school fees. I could not study peacefully,” said Mr Simukoko, who was being supported by his single parent mother and was not on the government bursary programme. Mr Kanyinji faced a similar struggle.

But they did not give up, and despite all the hardships they faced, they concentrated on their studies and excelled at their schoolwork. Their hard work paid off when they were selected to benefit from Kagem Mining’s US$345,000 industry training initiative. The mine sponsored both men’s studies and gave them an allowance to ease the burden of worrying about their finances.

The initiative set up by Kagem, which is 75 per cent owned by London-based Gemfields, in partnership with the Zambian government’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), aims to empower 12 students from the geological and mining engineering departments at the School of Mines at the University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copper belt University (CBU) over eight years - six students have so far been selected for the programme - aimed at closing the gap between technical and theoretical training and mining requirements to produce industry-orientated graduates.

Mr Kanyinji was the first student to graduate under the initiative with a distinction in BSc Engineering from the School of Mining and Engineering at CBU. Mr Simukoko graduated from the University of Zambia with a Bachelor in Mineral Sciences, majoring in Geology.

After graduating, both men were offered jobs at Kagem mine in Lufwanyama. Mr Simukoko now works as a geologist; part of his remit includes identifying areas where emeralds can be mined, whereas Mr Kanyinji, who is a mining engineer, comes up with the plan for how best to extract the emeralds.

“I’m currently enjoying working; I get to combine some of what I learned in school with the knowledge I’m gaining here; it feels very fulfilling,” said Mr Simukoko. Mr Kanyinji, who now leads a team of engineers at the mine’s Chama pit, said: “I’m blessed to practice what I studied in university and to have a job.”

Apart from getting an opportunity to put their studies into practice, both men can now contribute financially to their families. “It feels good to be able to help my family. They sacrificed a lot to put me through school so it’s nice to give back,” Mr Simukoko said.

Receiving scholarships from Kagem mine helped Mr Simukoko and Mr Kanyinji change their lives. The experience has led them to aspire to start a scholarship programme of their own in the future, to help new generations of struggling students. “University education is expensive and having received help to complete my studies, I would like to do the same for others when I can afford to,” Mr Simukoko said.

Mr Kanyinji added: “There are a lot of students who are vulnerable and yet equipped with the ability to study at these institutions, but they don’t have the finances. I am grateful. Thanks to Kagem, I was able to be relieved of such a burden and I am pretty sure there are other people who can benefit from the same and go on to do great things with their lives.”