Making new connections, sharing powerful experiences in Zambia

During a visit to Zambia, the Australian High Commission Deputy Head of Mission, Ms Susan Cash met two Australia Awards 2024 intake Scholarship recipients in Lusaka, before their departure to Australia.

The two scholars, Beauty Nalwendo (University of New South Wales) and Masuzyo Janet Phiri (Australian National University), alongside the DHOM, met leading members of the Zambia Australia Awards Alumni Association: Mike Chivumo, Alice Liswaniso and Tiza Chipungu (Australia’s Honorary Consul in Zambia) who also studied in Perth, Australia.

This engagement followed the  Australia Awards Africa 2024 intake Pre-Departure Briefing (PDB) that took place in Pretoria, South Africa, on 13  and 14 November 2023. Here three Zambian scholars networked with other scholars from 13 different African countries who also attended the PDB.

The event was a unique experience for both scholars and alumni as new connections were made with the Australian alumni network in Zambia. The alumni, on the other hand, were thrilled to share their stories and experiences from their days as students in Australia.

Copperbelt Region

On the second leg of the visit, High Commission staff also met and connected with eight Australia Awards alumni in Ndola, the capital of Zambia’s Copperbelt region.

The Australia Awards alumni network from Zambia’s Copperbelt was excited to receive the delegation from the Embassy as such visits are rare because of the distance and cost. This time around, the event was pivotal for networking amongst the alumni from the area and reconnecting the Copperbelt alumni and the High Commission staff.