Thrive Aid - About Us

Thrive Aid Board of Directors

Meet the leaders guiding Thrive Aid's mission and vision.

Dr. Chapwa Kasoma, Ph.D

Board Chairperson

Dr. Chapwa Kasoma, a distinguished agricultural scientist and STEM advocate, is the Board Chairperson of Thrive Aid. Holding a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, she is a ScienceFather Award winner and a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), focusing on managing invasive species of agricultural and economic importance in Zambia. Dr. Kasoma is deeply involved in various agricultural and STEM initiatives, including her role as an active member of the Zambian Women in Agricultural Research and Development (ZaWARD) and the Executive Committee of the African Plant Breeders Association (APBA). She is also a co-founder of the Stirring Steam for STEM (Steam4STEM) initiative. Dr. Kasoma's outstanding contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the Outstanding STEM Professional award at the Genius STEM awards in 2021 and the Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2016. She continues to lead impactful projects, such as gender-responsive communications campaigns and integrated pest management programs for small-scale farmers, showcasing her commitment to advancing agriculture and STEM in Zambia and beyond.

Mr. Joseph Mumba

Vice Chairperson

Mr. Joseph Mumba is a development practitioner with over 12 years’ experience managing development programs. He is a qualified communication expert. He has worked several international development agencies including Care International in Zambia, Catholic Relief Services and Research Triangle Institute. He has held roles as Communications and Advocacy Coordinator, Regional Programs Manager, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Accountability Manager and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Director. He holds a master’s degree in communication for Development from the University of Zambia, a bachelor’s degree in communication science from the University of South Africa, a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Zambia. Currently he is studying for the legal Practitioners Qualifying Exam at the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education.

Ms. Sophie Simachela

Board Secretary

Ms. Sophie Simachela serves as the Board Secretary and brings a wealth of experience from her role as an Associate at Mesdames Charlotte Chuuma Advocates. Her expertise spans civil litigation, corporate law, and conveyancing, and she has handled a diverse range of legal matters, including immigration issues, corporate advisory work, and civil and corporate litigation. Sophie is a member of the Law Association of Zambia and an Advocate of the High Court of Zambia. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Law from the University of Lusaka and obtained a postgraduate certificate from the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education in 2022.

Mr. Medson Moyo

Director, Finance

Mr. Medson Moyo is a dedicated finance professional with a Master of Arts in Economics from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Zambia. He brings a wealth of experience from his roles at the Ministry of Finance in Zambia, where he has served as a Principal Budget Analyst and Senior Budget Analyst, among other positions.Mr Moyo’s accomplishments include being part of the team that reviewed and negotiated draft targets for an IMF-supported economic program, providing technical support to the Honourable Minister of Finance during the 2017 Africa Development Bank Annual Meetings, and contributing to the 2017 PEFA Assessment for Zambia.In his roles at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Moyo was also responsible for supporting the Director of Budget in formulating expenditure policies, allocating resources, and reviewing sector budget submissions. He also led the preparation of the draft 2019 Budget Framework and the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.Apart from his role at Thrive Aid, Mr Moyo is a member of the Afro Twist Movement, an organization in Lusaka, Zambia, that fights poverty through art and dance, focusing on children from families living on less than a dollar per day.

Mr. Robert Phiri

Director, Human Resources

Mr. Robert Phiri serves as an Independent Director specializing in Human Resources. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of several prestigious professional bodies, including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA), and Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ). Additionally, he holds a Professional Diploma in Taxation from the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants.Currently, Mr Phiri holds the position of Audit Supervisor at EY Zambia. He also contributes his expertise as an independent member of the Education and Training Committee of the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA). Furthermore, he serves as the Vice Chairperson of the St. Dominic Small Christian Community at St. Charles Lwanga Catholic Church, Regiment Parish in Lusaka. With over 6 years of experience in audit practice, Mr Phiri is well-versed in complex accounting matters involving International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), taxation, and consulting.

Dr. Mwamba Sydney

Director, Programs

Dr. Mwamba Sydney, a seasoned medical doctor with seven years of expertise in the field. Specializing in public health, Dr. Sydney has demonstrated a commitment to addressing pressing global health issues, particularly in HIV/AIDS programming. His contributions extend to health system strengthening and imparting valuable knowledge through capacity building initiatives for healthcare professionals. Driven by a passion for improving public health, Dr. Mwamba Sydney stands as a dedicated advocate for positive change in healthcare systems. He works at Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) as a medical mentor under the CDC funded PROUD-Z Project where he provides Technical Assistance to Lusaka Provincial Health Office in the implementation of the HIV/AIDS care and treatment program.

Success Stories

Thriving Fountain of Hope

Fountain of Hope is an organization that looks at the welfare of underprivileged and vulnerable children, among them children from the streets and orphans Our journey with Fountain of Hope Foundation began in 2021, even before our formal registration in 2023.

Our holistic approach, focusing on academic support, mentorship, and mental health programs, has empowered approximately 500 young individuals at FOH. The impact is tangible, as reflected in the improved pass rates among examination classes.

At Fountain of Hope orphanage (FOH) in Lusaka, Zambia, education is not just a pathway to success; it is a beacon of hope for underprivileged young people. Through the dedicated efforts of our organization, we have witnessed remarkable transformations in the lives of these youth.

One inspiring example is the story of Mathias, a Grade 12 student who was under our academic support program. With our support and guidance, Mathias not only scored high grades but also secured a scholarship to study abroad. His success is a testament to the transformative power of education.

“I benefited a lot from Thrive Aid in quiet a number of programs specifically I benefited a lot from Education programs such as extra lessons. I also benefited from the mentorship and the entrepreneurship program. I still remember some facilitators such as Ms Zamiwe and Mr Michael and the others in education programs. Generally, I learnt quite a lot from the programs done by Thrive Aid. They have impacted me in a good way and I use the same knowledge and skills in my daily life, I can go on and on”. Mathias Sichangwe- former resident at FOH

Beyond academic achievements, our programs have instilled entrepreneurial skills and a sense of empowerment in our beneficiaries. They have expressed gratitude for the positive changes in their lives, highlighting the value of our efforts.

"Your trainings and unwavering support help the children to thrive and do well in school. We are grateful for your implementation of the entrepreneurship classes; this enables residents that have challenges in academics to find something suitable for themselves as well." Mrs Iness Kashala- Administrative Manager at FOH

To expand our reach, we recently launched an online platform on WhatsApp, which now serves about 100 pupils. This innovative approach allows us to impact more young lives beyond our geographical boundaries.

Through our unwavering commitment to education and empowerment, we continue to change lives and create a brighter future for the youth at Fountain of Hope orphanage. Mathias's story is a reminder of our mission as an organization and our role in providing opportunities for underprivileged youth to reach their full potential. With our innovative programs and dedicated team, Thrive Aid continues to make a difference in the lives of young people in Zambia.