AT 57, when many men in Chama are most likely to be given a cup for having many grandchildren and positioned for retirement, Stanly Chabongoloka has just collected his first ever certificate in Fashion Design and Textile Technology.
Chabongoloka of Makeni Compound was one of the 287 proud faces that marched across the stage at the Chama Youth Resource Centre last Friday, graduating with a skill he says has given him a new lease on life.
Clutching his certificate with the pride of a schoolboy, the father of four declared that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was truly a game-changer that had opened doors for even those who thought their time had passed.
Chabongoloka urged young people in Chama and beyond to stop wasting their lives in beer dens and instead grab the opportunity of free skills training.
While many of his age-mates are nursing regrets, the new tailor now dreams of building a tailoring business, proof that CDF is not just about roads and bridges, but also about reshaping lives.
By White Luhanga
Kalemba August 24, 2025
