•FIRST Lady Esther Lungu (right) greets AMS Investment Limited managing director Juma Kala after a donation to the Chilenje Transit Home in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by KACHA MIYOBA/ZANIS

By CHILA NAMAIKO –
FIRST Lady Esther Lungu has implored young people to refrain from indulging in illicit activities that has potential to ruin their lives, but make their education a priority to become responsible citizens.
Ms Lungu has, meanwhile, urged children living with disabilities to rise above challenges and excel in various fields of study.
She said, by indulging in illicit vices, young people could not excel in their education and it was important for them to focus on matters that could uplift their welfare.
Ms Lungu called on the girl child to make school a best friend and stay away from teenage pregnancy until they completed their education and get married at an appropriate time.
“Pursue your career development as your priority and you will never regret it. You should know that we are always available to support you in any way we can for you to succeed in your endeavors,” she said.
Ms Lungu said this yesterday at State House during the 2018 First Lady For a Day Mentorship programme organised by Junior Achievement Zambia and FAWEZA with support from Stanbic Bank.
The Junior Achievement Zambia impacts young people through life skills training that gave them potential to make effective leaders and contributors to the economy when their time comes.
She called on teachers to be ambassadors in taking messages of hope such as providing career guidance to pupils to enable them make good and well-informed career choices.
She said society depended on teachers as they interact with pupils to help pass on the career guidance information to every learner,particularly those that had not the opportunity to attend the mentorship programme.
The First Lady hailed the Junior Achievement Zambia and FAWEZA for commitment in making the activity successful and working well with her office and Stanbic Bank.
She was happy with Stanbic Bank for its continued generosity to financial support for life changing programme, a gesture which was a testimony that its support could go beyond finance to change the lives of children.
Ms Lungu donated two wheelchairs to two physically challenged pupils and earlier held a closed door mentorship with all of the 58 pupils drawn from all provinces.
Stanbic Bank board chairperson Austin Mwape said the bank was committed to uplifting the welfare of children, citing the 58 children that attended a two-day mentorship programme and met Ms Lungu yesterday and were inspired.
General Education Minister David Mabumba said the Government would remain thankful with institutions coming on board to partner in providing life-skills to children to enhance the education standard.