Kucetekela Foundation

Founded in 2006, the Kucetekela Foundation (KF) is a registered non-profit, 501(c)3, U.S.-based foundation that provides scholarships to students in Zambia. KF awards scholarships to young Zambians to attend high-quality, private secondary boarding schools from Grade 8 through Grade 12 in Lusaka, Zambia. Kucetekela means “hope” in Bemba, a major language in Zambia. Zambia is a country with high poverty rates and prevalence of HIV, but very limited access to high-quality secondary education for its young people. Even academically talented young leaders drop out of school in large measures and are lost to the formal economy, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. KF identifies Zambian students that demonstrate great academic promise and who do not have the financial means to obtain a secondary education. The students are identified from elementary schools and are evaluated based on standardized test scores, recommendations from teachers, and the financial situation of their family. By giving promising students an excellent education and immersing them in a culture of success, including a structured mentoring and professional internship program, KF endows future leaders with the experience and skills to navigate poverty and become productive citizens of the world.

The KF program and administration operates in Lusaka, Zambia, while the majority of fundraising and marketing is based in the U.S. (New York). The Board of Trustees is based in New York.

More information about the scholarship program is available on the KF website – www.kucetekelafoundation.org