Welcome David "Papa D" Lukwesa from Zambia

MyCom welcomes David Lukwesa or "Papa D," to the MyCom team! David is from Zambia, located in the Southern part of Africa. David is a 2022 Community Solutions Program Fellow and his work in America is sponsored by the US Department of State. David is focused on Women and Gender issues and using our MyCom network to complete his practicum.

While in Zambia, David worked as a Parenting Program Facilitator with Pact Zambia, an organization focused on fighting HIV/AIDS and educating people on responsible parenthood.

David is also the founder of a developing organization, Civic Engagement Network Forum, a community based Civil Society Organization. The organization will work to advocate for Zero New HIV Infections, educate and support people living with HIV, empowering women and youth, build inclusive participation in Governance and community development, and a focus on environmental conservation including access to clean water and energy resources.

Prior to his fellowship, David worked as a School Head Master for a mission sponsored school in the outskirts of Lusaka city. The school served excluded children from low-income communities providing them a quality education while lobbying for favorable policies to be enacted to promote equal-inclusion for all genders.

David is currently pursuing a B. Sc. Business Management from the University of Zambia (E-Campus) and has a Bachelor of Arts in Education (Geography & History), Certificate in Monitoring & Evaluation, a Certificate in Teaching Methodology, and a Diploma in Philosophy and Religious Studies.

We asked David "Five Questions"!

1) What has surprised you most so far about your time in America?

Well so many things,one is driving on the right side of the road and also the use of the map looks strange to me. Everywhere you go, you must depend on google maps. In Africa we just jump on the Bus and it takes you to your destination. Routes are identified by names of places found on that route, but here it's numbers. Secondly, it's how people look so insecure in the face of another person. Back home in Africa, we usually interact with almost any person you come across, while here it takes a lot of time to do that.

2) What has been your favorite American food thus far?

Well I am still discovering some more, but so far I have liked the way vegetables are prepared (unboiled). In Africa, particularly where I come from Zambia, we cook all our vegetables. We don’t eat them raw. So, that is very interesting to me.

3) What do you miss from your home?

Nice question, I miss eating Fresh fish (bream fish called Tilapia). I have never come across it in America. Even the stores I have visited don't stock fresh fish (large pieces of fish). And also being served at table during lunch or dinner. Here you have to cook and serve yourself all the time even when you have other people in the house.

4) What is one thing (event, experience) you want to make sure you do before your time in America is over?

I would like to watch a movie in the cinema, and to also visit one or two libraries within my neighborhood. I would also like to attend some events taking place within the Community.

5) What is your favorite thing to do while you are here in America and when you are not working?

I have so far enjoyed visiting museums to get to understand how so many things began and to appreciate the History behind and also how every aspect of American History is well documented. When I am not working, I like going to church and doing some reading, they say “to learn is to grow.”