From Sponsored Child to Community Champion: Hamatala’s Mission to Uplift Mumbwa’s Children

June 11, 2023

Hamata in his office when he served as Mumbwa Town Council Chairperson.

Gracious Soko Hamatala is an ambitious young man. He is an inspiration to many in Mumbwa District where he was born and raised. He has a heart of a champion for Mumbwa and when he speaks, you hear a man that wants to address the challenges faced by many poor children in the district and beyond.

Hamatala, a former ChildFund sponsored child, had a rough childhood and shared most of the challenges he faced during a recent interview.
“I’m an only child and was brought up by my grandmother as my parents never married. My grandmother had no source of income and as such life was extremely hard for me as I grew up. I never had the privilege of growing up with any of my parents. ”

His grandmother managed to enroll him in school within Nambala Community but could not afford most of the basic school requirements. Everyone knew that the child would not manage to go far with his education as the family was too poor to afford the basic requirements.

“My teacher noticed that I lacked most of the things like books, pencils and decided to introduce me to Christian Children’s Fund (now ChildFund). This was the beginning of a turning point in my life. I was doing my fifth grade then and as support started coming, I made up my mind to work hard at school and get myself out of poverty.” He explained.

Hamatala added that receiving letters and cards including material things like blankets made him feel like he had found his parents whom he had no relationship with. Life had just taken a new meaning for him.With the motivation he got through his sponsorship, Hamatala easily sailed through his primary education and went to Serenje Boys Secondary School with very good grades.

“I knew that I wanted to drive myself out of poverty and I had no one to rely on from my family. At secondary school, I remained the best student and out of a class of 41, I was the only one that made it to the University of Zambia,” he added.

He studied Agriculture economics and has since graduation worked in very reputable institutions. Today he is back where he was born with determination to improve the lives of the needy children.“How many people would write off a child that was like me, but through the ChildFund sponsorship program, my life was changed, it took one person to care and support. This person was my sponsor and I’m still grateful. He was from Germany. Today I’m here to do the same, which is why I resigned from a lucrative job at Barclays Bank ( now ABSA) to come and help needy children in Mumbwa,” He added.

He also pays tribute to ChildFund for the many programs that children are benefiting from through the Mumbwa Child Development Agency. He also wants the children that are currently being supported to make proper use of their sponsorship and secure their future.

Hamatala further explained that he used to move around with the photo of his sponsor throughout his secondary and part of the years at the University of Zambia to remind himself of the person that turned his life around.

“Since I became Council Chairperson, I have officiated at a number of events for ChildFund here in Mumbwa and I’m grateful that children in my district are still being supported the way I was. My only plea is that every child and family remain accountable and use whatever resources they receive to better their lives.”
Mr. Hamatala is married with five children and is currently running a number of businesses where most of the vulnerable youth have found employment.
He is vying for the office of Area Member of Parliament when Zambia goes to the polls again in 2026.