Young creative Minds face thin Safety Net

.... Bright ideas are emerging across Zambia, but institutional support and funding remain dangerously inadequate.

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24 – (14 June 2025) - Impact Hub Lusaka has trained more than 4,000 students from technical institutions in Lusaka and the Copperbelt in financial literacy and entrepreneurship, under a programme aimed at addressing youth unemployment and supporting innovation among young Zambians.

The initiative, known as the Financial Education for Economic Transformation programme, is being implemented in partnership with Financial Sector Deepening Zambia (FSD Zambia), CIDA, and the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA).

In an interview, Cecilia Zimba, Managing Consultant at Impact Hub Lusaka, said the training has so far reached learners in TEVETA-affiliated institutions and is intended to equip them with the necessary tools to start and manage small businesses.

“We have trained over 4,000 students and capacitated 14 trainers to deliver this curriculum. Our role is to guide young people who have ideas but lack capital, mentorship, and practical knowledge to develop and grow their enterprises,” Zimba said.

She said many participants enter the programme with strong ideas but are unsure how to move them to the prototype or market stage, and often have limited understanding of how to access funding.

Zimba also highlighted some challenges, including high demand from young people and limited institutional capacity to support all applicants.

“Many graduates and unemployed youths want to be part of our programmes, but we cannot take everyone at once. Some expect instant funding, even before their products or services are tested in the market. We are helping them understand the importance of developing, testing, and refining their innovations before seeking finance,” she said.

Among the young innovators supported by Impact Hub Lusaka is Enoch, a programme participant who is now manufacturing products and preparing for market entry with assistance from the hub.

Zimba said the organisation collaborates with financial institutions and market access partners to help youth prepare for funding and commercialization.

“We support them through business development, help them build confidence, and introduce them to potential markets and partners. Our job is to ensure they are ready to approach financial institutions when the time is right,” she said.

She said the programme has revealed a significant gap between institutional knowledge and practical application among youth in Zambia.

“Knowing is not enough. The world doesn’t change because we know things—it changes when we do things. That’s the kind of mindset we are trying to instill in these young people,” Zimba said.

Impact Hub Lusaka says it will continue expanding its reach, depending on available resources, and calls on other organisations and government agencies to join efforts to support youth entrepreneurship and address the country’s growing unemployment problem

Meanwhile, Martin Kalungu-Banda, Co-Founder of Impact Hub Lusaka, said innovation in Zambia is being undermined by an education system that discourages experimentation and hands-on problem-solving.

“Children are naturally creative, but our education system removes that creativity by prioritizing memorisation over experimentation,” Kalungu-Banda said. 

“We need transformative education that bridges the gap between knowing and doing.”

Kalungu-Banda said Zambia has no shortage of ideas but lacks structured support systems that can convert those ideas into tangible solutions. 

He urged institutions and policymakers to rethink how youth development and entrepreneurship are being supported at a national level.

“If we want better communities and a stronger nation, we must invest in developing young talent and creating an environment that supports innovation and entrepreneurship,” he said.

Impact Hub Lusaka also runs an Entrepreneurs in Residence programme, providing workspace, mentorship, and guidance to youth innovators. 

According to Kalungu-Banda, the programme allows participants to build viable solutions with limited infrastructure and without needing traditional academic expertise.