NUI Blog - Northrise University Initiative

by Mapande Mapande

Today more and more Zambians want to earn a living through agriculture in order to economically support their lives and ultimately improve the standard of living for the country. With the introduction of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) awareness, individuals tend to venture into profitable businesses to sustain their lives and those of others.

Broiler rearing has become one of those profitable businesses and therefore an increasing number of people are venturing into it. On the 14 of January 2012 Avian Ventures, a local supplier of chicks and feed in conjunction with USAID under the Capacity Building Project, organized a field day to educate existing and potential small-scale broiler chicken farmers on how to maximize profits from the discipline. The seminar was targeted at small scale famers in Ndola.

Northrise Farms provided the venue and our very own Farm Foreman, Mr. Gilbert Musonda, was the facilitator. Northrise Farms bestowed its expertise in broiler chicken farming, emphasizing on the importance of good timing, proper feed usage, curbing and prevention of diseases in order to have standard chickens for the market and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Attendees of the field day were very grateful to have been given the opportunity to learn modern ways of chicken rearing at NU Farms. One of them commented that they did not know that Northrise University was so invested in farming and in trying to improve the agriculture as well as poultry rearing methods and skills of the local small scale farmer. They hoped for more of such events in future.

Following a recent Northrise University Initiative reception at Grace Fellowship Church in Costa Mesa, California, Cindy Christeson—a writer for the Newport Beach Independent—published an article about Northrise University. In it, she describes University President Dr. Moffat Zimba’s faith and trust in the Lord and his vision for the University’s future. Click here to see the full article in the Newport Beach Independent.

This past semester, Chibozu Maambo was the first Northrise University student to participate in a semester abroad program, studying at Dordt College in the USA.  While in the US, Chibozu had the opportunity to visit Southern California, and the offices of Northrise University Initiative.  Upon returning home to Zambia, she was able to reflect on the friends she met while in California.  Read her story below:

Friends of Northrise University

By Chibozu Maambo

“During my time at Dordt, I had the chance of meeting some of the wonderful friends of Northrise University. On the 5^th of November 2011, I flew to California, Orange County. When I arrived at the airport, Kathy Pipkin was there to meet me. I was hosted by Kathy’s family and later on the Lawlers.

California is a beautiful place with a wonderful weather pattern, not forgetting the palm trees. While in California, I shared on how Northrise University has impacted my life at the men’s conference and the women’s luncheon. The next few days flew by really fast as I continued sharing the Northrise Story with more people. It was truly a blessing to meet some of the friends of Northrise in person. It’s amazing to see how much time these wonderful people sacrifice for the sake of Northrise University. I was deeply touched at their dedication and also how much love they have for Northrise University.

My time in California ended on a Disney Land note. Mr Bowie said to me, ‘you cannot say you have been to America without seeing Disney’. He was right. I felt like I was 3 again as I gazed at all the amusement facilities Disney had to offer such as thrilling rides and roller coasters with my favourite being space mountain. I am thankful to God and to Northrise University for having availed me the opportunity to travel abroad as an exchange student.”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

from the staff of Northrise University!

Click above to watch the Northrise commercial, seen throughout Zambia!

As the 2011 academic year came to an end, the staff of Northrise University rolled out a campaign to recruit the best and brightest students from all over Zambia to enroll for the 2012 term.  The new semester begins on January 30th, and Northrise is trying to recruit  a total of 240 new students!  The commercial above, will be shown on Zambian television all over the country, as well as on 54 commercial LCD screens in Ndola, Lusaka, Livingstone, and Kitwe with specific spots like the Ndola airport and Electricity and Water utility paypoints being targetted.  In addition to this nationally televised commercial, Northrise Services has created radio adverts, a full page ad in Education Link (a Zambian Education Guide), and will place posters in 12 towns all over Zambia.  Christ-Centered education is going to bring about real change in Zambia, and the growth of Northrise University will help make that possible.

In addition to the commercial spot above, Northrise Services has launched an extensive Facebook campaign, targeting the growing number of new users in Zambia.  ”The number of young people signing on to Facebook in Zambia is increasing every day. It makes sense to use that as a tool to recruit new students to Northrise,” said Adam Sallee, NUI staff in Houston, TX.  ”Northrise is working hard to make a difference in Zambia.  The more people are exposed to that work, the better.”  To date, over 100,000 Zambian Facebook users and potential students have seen the posts, and many have clicked on the website to learn more about Northrise University!

Will you pray with us for the students applying to come to Northrise in 2012?

Click here to follow Northrise on Facebook

Click here to make a donation to support the students of Zambia

This past summer, during Impact Ndola 2011, the Zambean coffee team worked hard setting up an industrial espresso machine on the campus of Northrise.  That machine will pave the way to eventually opening the Zambean CoffeeHouse on the Northrise downtown campus. The Zambean Coffee House will be a student run business serving to teach them the fundamentals of business, raise capital to help sustain the University over the long-term, and work to be a community outreach to the people of Ndola.

In an effort to spread awareness, and raise support for the initial development of the Zambean Coffeehouse, the Zambean team has developed a specially blended roast of African beans including beans grown specifically in Zambian.  Zamblend is on sale now in 1-pound bags, just in time for Christmas!  Online orders are being taken now at www.zambean.org.  The supply is limited, so be sure to order yours today!

All proceeds go towards the development of the Zambean Coffeehouse, and the support of Northrise University!

Find us at Facebook.com/zambeancoffee

“Howdy! We are Aggies working to support Northrise University through a student organization called NUI-TAMU or Northrise University Initiative-Texas A&M University.  We have divided our focus into three areas or committees to support Northrise:

Needs and Nutrition.

University Essentials.

International Relations.

We are blessed to be involved in what the Lord is doing at Texas A&M and at Northrise University in Zambia. Texas A&M has a reputation for being a university with enduring traditions. We are excited to share one of our most well known traditions with the students of Northrise.  Sully is a famous statue on campus bearing the image of one of Texas A&M’s presidents.  He was famous for caring about the well being of the school and would tutor students accepting no more than a penny for his help.  Now students place pennies at the feet of the statue for good luck before tests.  Every two years, student organizations apply to collect the pennies from Sully for their philanthropy.

NUI-TAMU has been chosen this year, and is privileged to be able to collect those pennies and send them to Zambia in support of Give Me 5.  Every 500 pennies collected from Sully will feed a student in Zambia for one week.  We are blessed to see the Lord provide and are excited to see what else he has in store!”

Written by NUI-TAMU student leader Brittany Carr.
Brittany is a Special Education Major in the class of 2012.

NUI-TAMU is a student led club at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.  Their mission is to raise support and promote the work of Northrise University in Zambia, Africa.  For more information, find them on the web here!

by Getrude Mashano

It was there in the lounge of our family clinic, as I sat waiting on my father to get his check-up for his latest heart attack scare that I picked up one of my favorites; National Geographic magazine, and flicked through – simply passing time. But amidst the pages there it was, an article by Brian Walsh – Denmark Wind of Change (March 9, 2009) – on how Denmark years ago did the very thing Mr. Chilufya (NU Business Lecturer) taught us in Economics; how to shift a country’s production possibility curve outward; investing in industry and research into future innovations. It seemed they chose wisely; they picked an innovation that was environmentally conscious.

Its now a few weeks into the declaration of a new president, let alone a new party. Will they have the patience, the foresight, and the humility to make decisions that better the people of our country, perhaps not for today but for the generations to come? My parents made decisions in their lives that affect me today – my education, a result of their sacrifice; my home, a result of their patience; my etiquette, a result of their guidance. These decisions have been for my benefit…

Will Zambia now begin to lay the foundations for a better future and finally apply itself?

“Ukutangila tekufika” (leading does not ensure you get there first…) for surely our delay in development puts us in the right position for this Bemba proverb, here we are in the right place at the right time to make the right change. The question is, will we?

Picture from freefoto.com

Chibozu Maambo, a BIT 3rd year student, is the first Exchange Student from Northrise University to study at Dordt College. She joined the September semester and describes her stay so far as nothing but enjoyable, especially the thrills of a new environment. Just to check on how she is settling in, here are her answers to a few questions:

Q: How are you settling in?
A: I am settling in well both academically, socially and most importantly spiritually.

Q: Is the “Dordt” you had in mind the same as what you found?
A: The Dordt I found is a confirmation of the Dordt I had in mind. e.g.. good morals, high levels of organization. The institution is conducive for study and personal growth in all areas.

Q: What is the most interesting thing that you have either done or seen other students do?
A: Attending salsa/tango (both expressive) dance classes. Its fun learning how other cultures use their music. I am also a member of SWB (students without borders). The club focuses on students from different countries working together in order to get to know more about each other.

Q: What is one thing that caught you by surprise , cultural norm that you didn’t expect?
A: It was weird that i had to keep right on the streets and in hallways when all my life I’ve been keeping left… Another interesting thing is language variation, e.g., have a good one to mean have a good day and oh no you are fine to mean its alright.

Q: What do you have to say about the Student Exchange Program at NU and its benefits?
A: The opportunity to study in a different country broadens an individual’s perspective of life. One gets to view the world through the eyes of others. The program has in particular has helped me appreciate the different cultures that the world offers. I am thankful to NU and I know my experience here will be worthwhile.

Q: What do you miss the most from home and when do you return?
A: I miss my family, church and friends – ouch!!. Media team too I return shortly before Christmas so that i can enjoy it the Zambian way…