Beyond The Bench Blog-by Judith Mbita

Young People Don't Lack Potential. They Need Platforms.

Look at history's great movements for change, and you'll find young people at the center.

Kenneth Kaunda was a young man when he dared to imagine a free, self-governing Zambia. Nelson Mandela was young when he joined the struggle against racial injustice. Martin Luther King Jr. was only 26 when he emerged as a leader of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Their youth wasn't a disqualifier. It was part of their power.

Scripture affirms this too. Paul told Timothy: "Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example." And in Jeremiah 1:7: "Do not say, 'I am too young.'"

But through my own journey as a young leader, I've learned something more:

Young people don't just need encouragement. They need access.

Passion isn't enough on its own. What young people need is access to information, networks, opportunities, and mentorship from people who've already walked the path.

For me, that platform has been the Kectil Centre for Youth Excellence-Zambia and The Kectil Programa space where I've learned directly from experienced leaders who genuinely invest in growth. That kind of access changes everything.

Sometimes ambition isn't the missing piece. What's missing is someone saying: "Here's an opportunity. Here's what you need to know. Let me show you what's possible."

So investing in young people can't stop at telling them to "work hard." We have to ask:

→ What spaces are we creating for them?
→ What knowledge are we sharing?
→ Who is mentoring them?
→ What opportunities are we opening?
→ Are we willing to trust them to lead?

To young people: seek knowledge, find mentors, step into rooms that stretch you and when you lead, open doors for others too.

To those who've walked the path: give a young person a platform. Make an introduction. Mentor someone. Open a door.

Young people aren't just leaders of tomorrow. They're changemakers today.

The question is will we give them the platforms to prove it?

Sometimes, you just need to get your foot out of the door.

In 2022, I returned to university to complete my final year after taking a one-year pause. While many of my classmates had already graduated, I was starting again carrying a goal I had set for myself: to actively seek opportunities, volunteer in youth programs, and expose myself to new experiences.

As a Zambian student studying in Namibia, I honestly did not know where to begin. I was excited but also afraid. I remember struggling with questions like: What opportunities should I apply for? Where do I even start?
Then a friend called and asked, “How far are you with your goal?” That question reminded me of the commitment I had made to myself.

Taking that first step changed everything.
My first volunteering opportunity was with the International Youth Fellowship, IYF MIND Conference, where I served under the media team. What started as one opportunity opened doors to participate in other programs, connect with inspiring young people, and grow in ways I never expected.

Looking back, I have learned that sometimes we wait until we feel ready, but growth often begins when we simply start.
One application. One volunteer opportunity. One step forward can create a path you never imagined.
Keep showing up. Keep applying. Keep learning. You never know which door will open next.

Learning in public: sharing my journey into data science.

One thing I am learning as I transition from biochemistry into data science is that growth happens through small moments of understanding.

Sometimes it is discovering why CSV files are widely used when moving data between systems. Sometimes it is finally understanding how spreadsheet tabs work not just as pages in a workbook, but as organized spaces where different parts of a data story come together.

Every dataset I clean, every concept I understand, and every challenge I overcome is helping me build a stronger foundation.

I am learning that technical skills are important, but so are curiosity, patience, and the willingness to keep showing up.

A lesson I wish I understood earlier is that mastery matters more than speed. Rushing through concepts may help us finish faster, but taking time to understand them helps us grow deeper and apply them better.

I am excited to continue learning, sharing my progress, and connecting with others on this journey.

Choose focus.

There will always be the temptation to run ahead of ourselves, especially when we look at other people's progress. But one thing I have learned is that being behind does not mean we should rush to reach the finish line.
Sometimes the journey itself is where the real growth happens. Learn to enjoy the ride, appreciate the trees along the way, and understand the meaning of the stop signs. The things you take time to understand today may become the very things you need tomorrow.

Aim for mastery more than speed. In a world that changes quickly, deep understanding is what helps us remain relevant, adaptable, and prepared for the future.

📍 Community Impact Diaries
The Stories Behind the Strength

Last year in Chingola, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of women at a local church about root cause analysis.

While I was there, the pastor’s wife introduced me to a woman whose story has stayed with me ever since.

She once sold vegetables to make ends meet. At 34 years old with a child to care for she made a decision that many people would have talked themselves out of… she went back to school.

Not just school she pushed all the way through college, pursued accounting, and eventually worked for the Chingola Council, where she later retired as an accountant.

Today, she owns her home, works with farmers, drives, and has raised a grown son.

And I couldn’t help but think…

What if she had listened to all the reasons not to try?
What if she had believed it was “too late”?
What if she had let her starting point define her ending?

I’ve met so many women who feel like going back to school is no longer an option because life happened, because the system changed, because the fear is louder than the possibility.

But her story is a reminder:
Your current situation is not your final destination.

📖 “Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.”Job 8:7 (NIV)

Sometimes the biggest shift doesn’t come from having all the answers…
It comes from deciding that your story is not over yet.

💛 What’s one dream you’ve placed on hold because it felt “too late”?

📍 Community Impact Diaries
I’m excited to start a small series where I’ll be sharing my experiences working with women and young people in community development spaces.
This journey is both a learning and growing experience for me. I have learned, and I will continue learning, from the strength, resilience, and creativity that exists within communities especially among women and youth who continue to push forward despite challenges.
Through this series, I’ll be sharing real stories, reflections, and lessons I’m learning along the way as I engage in community work and empowerment initiatives.
My hope is that these stories will inspire, connect, and spark meaningful conversations around youth and women empowerment.
Looking forward to growing and learning together 💛

Darling of a Biochemist Working in Construction

I am a biochemistry graduate from the University of Namibia, yet, interestingly, my first paying job came in the construction sector. You might ask, “How did this happen?”

I graduated in April 2023, and like many fresh graduates, I dived headfirst into applying for training programs, internships, and even volunteering opportunities in my field. Unfortunately, no opportunities arose that would allow me to learn or work within biochemistry.

Despite this, I dedicated my time to sharpening my leadership skills and enrolled in various short courses. One of the most transformative experiences was participating in the Leadership and Entrepreneurship Program offered by Kectil Centre for Youth Excellence-Zambia. Upon completing the program, I continued volunteering there, and it was during this period that I was deeply inspired by one of the mentors, Madam Charity Chanda Lumpa.

Madam Lumpa shared her remarkable journey, starting as a secretary and eventually becoming the Managing Director of Access Bank, among numerous other achievements. Her story highlighted an important truth: what you study in university is not always a direct predictor of your career trajectory. She emphasized that a degree is proof that you are teachable, and that willingness to take opportunities even those seemingly unrelated to your fieldcan open doors to unexpected success.

Her story made me reflect on my own path and consider a career pivot. I looked for examples of young professionals who had successfully transitioned across fields and was inspired by individuals like Florence Jedidiah Mulenga Page , a trained pharmacist working as corporate social responsibility for YANGO TAXI ZAMBIA , while also promoting STEM education and youth development, and Bibian Chibelushi, who studied education but now works as a Project Officer at ActionAid Zambia and whose journey I’ve followed closely sinced her time at Copper Rose.

When the opportunity arose to work in construction as a data entry clerk, I embraced it even though it was something I never imagined myself doing. I soon realized that this role was exactly what I needed. The position required someone with basic Excel skills and an understanding of units of measurement and conversions, knowledge I had gained in my first-year biochemistry courses.

This experience has taught me that not knowing can actually be a superpower. It opens the door to asking questions and I’ve discovered that the one who asks often finds the breakthrough. I have come to appreciate the importance of accurate data entry and the critical role of communication in construction. I now work closely with engineers, recording work from the site so that it can be inspected and approved.

Although I am far from analyzing microorganisms or designing scaffolds for drug compounds, I find many parallels between the labs in construction and my biochemistry background. I witness and record work in the soils lab, asphalt lab, and curing room, learning about materials, designs, and processes. I’ve learned techniques like sieving and particle size grading, which are key tests used to understand how soils and aggregates will perform in concrete and asphalt mixes. Some of the equipment even resembles what you’d find in a kitchen there’s a large mixer in the asphalt lab that works much like a flour mixer, blending materials to precise specifications.

These experiences have shown me that lab skills are transferable, even if the context is different. The attention to detail, the analytical mindset, and the curiosity that guided me through biochemistry are just as valuable in construction.

I am beginning to understand that the laboratory bench did not just teach me science it taught me how to observe, to question, and to remain curious in any environment I find myself in.

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been accepted into Cohort 1, 2026 of the AI-Integrated Leadership Program (AILP) by Aspire Institute 🎉 Aspire Leaders Program

This program will help me develop practical AI skills, deepen my leadership capabilities in an AI-driven world, and learn directly from industry experts. As I continue my journey in data science and bioinformatics, this is an amazing opportunity to bridge AI with real-world impact.

I look forward to connecting with fellow participants and sharing insights as we explore AI’s potential together. If you’re also passionate about AI for real-world solutions, let’s connect! 💡

Key: Keep Educating Yourself 🌟
Many of us start learning journeys with big dreams, but life often challenges us to adjust our goals. Personally, there were times I thought, “If I get selected for this, I’ll do my best,” only to face moments where finishing seemed enough.
In December 2024, when I learned I had been selected for the 2025 Kectil Program by The Kectil Program, I made a promise to myself: I would aim for the Certificate of Superior Performance.
The journey wasn’t easy. One of my strategies was to start assignments immediately, tackling a question a day whenever possible. There were hurdles like finishing an assignment but lacking internet to submit it, and having to call my brother to help me upload it.
Each challenge reinforced the power of consistency, determination, and seeking support when needed.
I’m honored to have completed this transformative program and to have earned the Certificate of Superior Performance. This experience has strengthened my commitment to leadership, youth empowerment, and continuous growth, and I’m excited to carry these lessons forward in my journey toward bioinformatics and community impact.
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DATA SCIENCE JOURNEY — EPISODE 1: THE BEGINNING
February 23, 2026
Today, I officially begin my Data Science training with alx_africa.
I am excited.
I am nervous.
I am determined.
This marks the beginning of a 16-month journey that I am choosing to document intentionally. I want to look back and see the growth, the discipline, the milestones, the sacrifices, and the investment I made to step further into achieving my dreams.
This is more than a course for me.
It’s preparation.
It’s obedience to purpose.
It’s stretching myself beyond comfort.
This is a step toward bioinformatics.
Toward deeper knowledge.
Toward impact.
I know it will require consistency, late nights, resilience, and courage. I know it will stretch me. It will demand discipline. But I also know I am capable.
For the next 16 months, I am choosing growth over comfort.

📍 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. — 2 Timothy 2:15

This season is about studying diligently. Sharpening my skills. Showing up fully not just on the easy days, but especially on the hard ones.
Future Judith, I hope you are proud of this version of you the one who decided to begin.
Here’s to discipline.
Here’s to growth.
Here’s to stepping boldly into Data Science.
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