21/12/2025
My names are Gilbert Banda. I run a foundation called Gilbert Hand of Hope Foundation, Giving a child a second chance to live. I started this journey in 2018 with one simple belief: no child deserves to suffer simply because they were born into hardship.
For years, I have done everything within my ability to help vulnerable and less privileged children. I have taught them survival skills, life skills, and creative skills, because I strongly believe that every child carries a God-given gift waiting to be discovered. As a professional artist, I have used my talent to help these children express themselves, build confidence, and acquire skills that can one day change their lives.
I also started a feeding program for street children in Lusaka, because watching children sleep hungry broke my heart. I made it my personal challenge to ensure that at least one child eats today, believing that every child deserves three meals a day, love, and dignity.
The situation of street children in Zambia is painful and worsening. This is not only a Lusaka problem. Children are suffering on the streets of Ndola, Kitwe, Kasama, and many other towns. These are children exposed to hunger, abuse, cold nights, hopelessness, and forgotten dreams. Many of them go days without a proper meal, without shelter, without anyone calling them by their name. The streets are slowly raising our children, and that should trouble all of us.
This burden is too heavy for one person or one foundation to carry alone. This is not my job alone. It is our responsibility as a nation. Government, the private sector, faith leaders, community members, artists, businesspeople, and well-wishers must come together. Through partnerships, skills training, feeding programs, education support, and sustainable community projects, we can begin to restore hope and dignity to these children.
Mr. Alexander Mumba, I deeply admire your successes in various businesses, your compassion, and the impact you have made through your work. This is a humble call to walk this journey with us. Together, we can turn tears into hope, hunger into opportunity, and forgotten children into future leaders.
If we unite, we can end this suffering.
If we act together, we can give these children a future. A child’s life should not end on the streets. 🙏🏻
