Photo by Amanda Duron.
Story by Ellie McSpadden
The reality for children across Zambia is that, even with a high-quality education and a degree, it can be difficult to find employment.
Family Legacy is working to change this reality by introducing trades education to students across its programs.
Professional trades education prepares students for real-world work and expands job opportunities in the Zambian marketplace through tangible skills. Additionally, it builds confidence through hands-on learning, entrepreneurial skills, job security, and real world problem solving.
Family Legacy began piloting trades curriculum in three Legacy Academies, starting at grade four. This curriculum offers both theory and practical classes in subjects such as carpentry, welding, cooking, baking, and sewing. Introducing trades at a young age dismantles the idea that trades is a fallback option, but instead, the best option for many students.
Trades at Tree of Life
Crops growing at the Tree of Life farm
Tree of Life already teaches trades at their farm, bakery, and woodworking & welding trade pavilions. These are opportunities for children to learn their innate gifts and passions, being equipped for success in their future. Farming in particular has been an especially transformational area of trades at the Tree of Life.
Many children spend time on the farm: they help grow the vegetables, raise the chickens, collect the eggs, and bake the bread that they eat each day. By doing this, they are developing skills which could one day help them feed their families and communities. Beyond production agriculture, the children are also learning how to market their produce and poultry as well as other skills needed to successfully start their own businesses.
Mekelani, photo by Micah Richter.
Mekelani (affectionately called Meks), the assistant at the farm, is passionate about helping kids acquire skills to grow their own food. Meks holds a degree in Theology that he puts to good use by teaching biblical truth through practical farming situations. Now, he helps many children discover farming as a pathway to live out their God-given potential after leaving Tree of Life.
Meks empowered a former Tree of Life student named Lupiya to discover his own passion for farming. After graduating, he was hired as an employee at the Tree of Life farm. His experience and education at the farm transformed him, and now he has the opportunity to pass on his knowledge to children who are in the same position he once was.
Lupiya, photo by Micah Richter
Alongside working at the farm, Family Legacy helped Lupiya continue his education to grow in his knowledge of agriculture.
“My dream is to save my money and buy a portion of land to start my own farm,” Lupiya said. “I want to hire former Family Legacy students giving them the same opportunity that was given to me.”
Many other former students, just like Lupiya, are living in their God-given potential thanks to skills they gained from their trades education.
Maria works full-time as a cook at the Lusaka Legacy Lodge.
Frida works as the assistant baker at the Tree of Life bakery and is saving her money to return to school to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a neurologist.
Without the practical skills gained in trades education, hard-working students can graduate with little hope of finding employment that truly utilizes their gifts and passions.
Jim Evans, Director of the Farm at Tree of Life, believes trades helps redefine and expand students’ idea of success.
“Success is not merely careers as a doctor, lawyer, or accountant, but also a farmer and plumber,” Evans said. “All work has dignity and value, not just certain careers.”
Jim Evans, photo by Micah Richter.
Academics can feel to many like the only pathway to success, but now students are discovering careers aligned with who God made them to be. The stories of Lupiya, Maria, and Frida are just the beginning of lives being transformed through Family Legacy’s trades education across Lusaka, Zambia.
Partner with Us: Invest in Trades Education
Family Legacy has a long term goal to fully integrate trades education across all Legacy Academies, exposing all children to trades starting at grade 4 and offering a professional trades pathway option for secondary students. If you’d like to ensure trades education continues to spread to all of our campuses, you can send a gift by clicking below.
👉 Click here to give 👈
Students learning baking at a Legacy Academy. Photo by Amanda Duron.
Your Investment will fund:
- Theory Classrooms and Practical Workshops
- Qualified Theory and Practical Instructors
- Equipment Tools and Materials
- Curriculum with infusion of biblical principles
- Entrepreneurial skills and job readiness training
By investing in trades education at Family Legacy, you are not only funding job readiness—you are shaping lives, families, and futures. This is more than training—it’s a pathway to dignity, discipleship, and sustainable development.
