Zambia cohort
A cohort of 6 refugee teachers from Angola and DRC comprise the GERE Peer Researcher team in Zambia.
Deborah Kalumbi
Deborah Kalumbi lives in Zambia but is originally from the DRC. She has been in Zambia since she was 8 years old. She studied education because she has a deep-seated passion for it and has 3 years teaching experience. In her free time, she loves reading, karaoke and exploring new places. What excites her most about being a peer researcher is the opportunity to learn more about avenues that support refugee teachers and also being a part of something that could possibly change the lives of refugees - this is invaluable in her opinion.
Isaac Zaji
Isaac Zaji was born in Meheba Refugee Camp, Kalumbila district, where he has lived for 50 years. Though his parents were Angolan refugees, he received his education in Zambia and built his career as a teacher. He holds a Diploma in Secondary Education, with credentials recognised and licensed by the Teaching Council of Zambia. Over the past 25 years, he has taught at the secondary school level. Outside work, he enjoys gardening and uplifting music. He is excited to be a peer researcher as it allows him to contribute to solutions that promote refugee teachers’ inclusion, agency, and well-being.
Mbalau Mutondo
Mbalau Mutondo was born in 1975 in Meheba Refugee Settlement. Both of his parents are Angolans by nationality, from Lumbala Nguimbo, who were displaced by the civil war and arrived in Zambia in 1971. He studied at primary and secondary level, qualifying with a full Grade Twelve certificate in 1996, Since then, he has supported his family with farm work, worked in an untrained teaching post, trained as a primary school teacher at Solwezi Teachers’ College, been employed as a primary school teacher in the National Education System, and been seconded to teach at secondary school level. He has worked as a teacher for 25 years. He has gained a diploma in English Language and Geography through a distance programme at Zambia College of Open Learning (ZAMCOL), in association with the Copperbelt University (CBU), and is in the process of upgrading to a bachelor’s degree through Kwame Nkrumah University. In his free time, Mbalau likes watching the news, reading English Language Grammar books and taking walks. He is very excited to be a peer researcher because he is learning a lot about dealing with people of different ages, cultures and ethnic groups, and therefore is enhancing his communication skills. He is also happy to be working on a topic that aims to find durable solutions for the future generation.
Shadrach Kajobo
Shadrach Kajobo is a teacher based in Zambia who specializes in ICT and teaches part-time. He is originally from the DRC. Excited to be a peer researcher because of his deep interests in advocacy and humanitarian work, Shadrach is passionate about using knowledge to make a positive difference. He also enjoys music as a source of inspiration and creativity.
Vasco Musebo Z.
Vasco Musebo Z. was born in 1976, and has been a Congolese refugee based in Meheba settlement refugee camp since 2016. He has a diploma in literature, has worked as a professional interpreter for various NGOs in the DRC including Médecins Sans Frontières and UNHCR, and has taught for 7 years in both DRC and Zambia. Vasco enjoys watching educational movies, interacting with others about how to achieve one's dream in their life, and mostly he likes meditating on how to resolve conflict - both at a personal and international level. He is excited to be a peer researcher because it allows him to interact with his co-refugee teachers who are not working or less privileged in their struggle to the betterment of their lives and build towards a brighter future, as well as achieve this for his own life. He wants to act as a voice, bridge and advocate.
Zebron Mwenebatu
Zebron Mwenebatu has been a refugee and resident of Mayukwayukwa refugee camp in Zambia since he fled his home in the DRC in 2017. Prior to this, he completed his secondary studies in psycho-pedagogy at Kabuka Institute and worked for a year as a secondary school teacher. Since fleeing to Zambia, he has worked as a self-employed English and literacy tutor as well as a private teacher. In his free time, he enjoys drawing, meditating and working out. He is excited to be a peer researcher because it has been an amazing experience and he is fascinated by the opportunity, as a teacher, to be part of the solution to problems affecting refugee teachers’ wellbeing and agency across the world.