WHILE some graduates polish their diplomas and wait for civil service deployment like it’s manna from heaven, 30 year old Stella Tembo has taken matters and makeup brushes into her own hands.
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Stella who studied Radiography from Evelyn Hone College from 2018 to 2020 has gone back to the same college, not to sharpen her knowledge of radiation or CT scans, but to master how to beat a face, plait braids and transform ordinary girls into Instagram slay queens, all thanks to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
“I didn’t want to just sit home with a diploma and wait. Deployment is not guaranteed and even if it comes, I still want a skill I can fall back on or do on the side,” said Stella, her voice – calm and collected like a Lusaka salon on a Monday morning.
Born and raised in Lundazi, Stella completed her Grade 12 in 2013 at Katondwe Girls and later trained in Radiography from 2018 to 2020 at Evelyn Hone College.
But instead of being called to a hospital to scan bones and lungs, she found herself stuck at home, refreshing the Public Service Commission website like a Facebook addict, who despite having enough bundles, hasn’t been able to see photos or videos on Facebook.
“I thought once I graduated, things would move quickly, but I kept waiting. I knew I had to do something,” she said.
And so she made a move that many graduates are too afraid to make, she went back to school. Not for a master’s, not for a PhD, but for a practical skill which happens to be Cosmetology.
Thanks to CDF, Stella is now enrolled in a one year certificate programme, fully sponsored in beauty therapy, where they teach her everything from makeup application to hair plaiting and facial treatments.
She shared that her classmates include people with just Grade 9 certificates, some of whom never imagined they would ever sit in a college classroom.
“CDF is paying for my tuition, accommodation and even meal allowances. It’s a huge relief. Without it, I wouldn’t be in school again,” she explained.
“CDF is changing lives. It’s not just for the educated, it’s for everyone. Skills are powerful. Even if you didn’t finish school, you can still do something valuable with your hands and CDF is ready to sponsor you, all you need to do is go to your councilor or nearest local authority and begin the process,” she said.
She told Kalemba in an interview that she doesn’t regret stepping into the world of makeup and manis, even after spending years studying Radiography.
Just because I’m a radiographer doesn’t mean I should sit and wait. I want to be useful with or without deployment,” she said.
Stella completed her Grade 12 in 2013 at Katondwe Girls Secondary School before going on to study Radiography at Evelyn Hone College from 2018 to 2020. But after three years of waiting for government deployment, she realised it was time to pivot.
“I didn’t want to just sit around with a qualification in hand. With this skill in cosmetology, I can create my own opportunities. I can even open my own salon or just follow people home to do their hair and make up and that way I can’t suffer, that’s why I’m here,” stated Stella.
The CDF initiative, which now funds skills training in various trades, from tailoring and hospitality to hairdressing and beauty is not only paying for her tuition but also covering her accommodation and meal allowances.
“CDF has made it possible for people who never imagined stepping into a college. Even someone with a Grade 9 certificate can learn a skill and become employable,” she said with pride.
Her course at Evelyn Hone College includes training in makeup artistry, hair plaiting and other beauty services.
“This programme has been a great relief. It’s not just me, everyone under CDF sponsorship is truly grateful. The government has given us more than we expected,” she added.
Story and picture by Catherine Pule
Kalemba, May 20, 2025
