Tell us about yourself
My name is Christine Chisola Maseka, born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia. I joined Asharami Zambia in October 2016 and my life hasn’t remained the same since then… lol!!.
It is honestly difficult to say who I am at the moment because since joining Asharami, I have since realised that I am still discovering myself, my strengths and my abilities.
My day to day life since I joined has been full of attainments, adventure, cultural adaptation and a lot of perception correction. My interests are Traveling, learning (anything and everything), Music, Languages, Family and social networking.
What’s your motivation for volunteering?
“Ubuntu”. I enjoy seeing and putting a smile on the faces of the people in need. Humans are not born equal, some are more privileged than the others and the world can only be a better place if we all endeavour to be human.
“A person just needs three things to be truly happy, someone to love, something to do and something to hope for.” – Tom Bodett.
And I admire people who participate in selfless acts that benefit other people most especially the needy and people who you are not expecting to get anything back from. It also gives me an opportunity to be grateful for the little we have. I find volunteering very therapeutic and it gives me a form of fulfillment and personal satisfaction.
Describe your volunteering experience over the years especially at the ongoing COVID- 19 interventions
Over the years, my volunteering experience has been a mixture of excitements and sometimes grief. I have come across some heart-breaking situations where I am wishing I could help more than I was able to. Volunteering has taken me out of my comfort zone and given me a chance to celebrate and understand people’s challenges and different predicaments. However all of this has developed me to make the serenity prayer my guide. It has taught me to be thankful and grateful to God at all times.
What contribution or achievement are you most proud?
I am so proud of the ingenuity, conception and sacrifice that the company made towards executing the Covid-19 Awareness program in Zambia. Apart from the fact that the management decided to reach the masses directly, we were able to engage and empower the local tailors and manufacturers during this economic downtime. I feel really proud and happy to belong to a company that encourages social responsibility from its heart. I am happy I was able to deliver all of these to the best of my ability and to see my face in newspapers, on the news and on social media.
What other organizations or causes do you support or volunteer for?
I volunteer and support HOUSE OF CAKES with taking of food and educational books to juvenile prisoners on Independence & Christmas Days.
I support a cause called #NoToColourism campaign which emphasizes on the need not to discriminate against individuals (especially girls) with a dark skin tone, change young girls perception about beauty and intelligence even when dealing with someone with a different skin tone and of their own race.
Do you know about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? If yes, what do you think of them?
Yes I know about the SDGs, which are the 17 global goals set by the United Nations and are designed to achieve a better and sustainable future for all by 2030. I think the SDGs are a great initiative. However, I feel they are too many cardinal goals and very broad to be achieved by 2030.
What message would you like to share with others about volunteering?
Always remember that you do not have to be rich or perfect to make a difference in someone else’s life. You just have to care, put an effort to make someone else feel better about themselves and whatever situation they find themselves.
“There are two ways of spreading light – to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. – Edith Wharton.
I am grateful to Sahara Group for making me the mirror.
