Student Spotlight Series: A Future Leader in Veterinary Medicine

For many young Zambians, a college education represents hope for a fulfilling career, the ability to support their families, and the chance to lead and uplift their communities. While public education through high school is officially free in Zambia, students still face challenges like affording uniforms, supplies, and daily transportation and balancing education with responsibilities at home. For those who make it through these hurdles and are accepted into college, tuition costs can still put higher education out of reach.

At Dazzle Africa, we believe in the power of education to change lives. That’s why we’ve made college sponsorship a key focus—supporting promising young students as they pursue degrees in vital fields like medicine, veterinary science, and conservation.

Through our college sponsorship program, we identify talented and committed students and match them with sponsors who support their journey from enrollment to graduation. On-the-ground coordination is provided by our trusted partner, Project Luangwa, and sponsors receive regular updates about their sponsored student’s academic progress and achievements.

With over 40 sponsorships to date, we’ve seen firsthand how this support creates lasting impact. We’re excited to share some of those stories with you—starting with one incredible student: Mercy Njobvu.

Mercy Njobvu: A Veterinary Career Nurtured in the Luangwa Valley

Mercy grew up in the Luangwa Valley and developed a deep love for animals and nature from an early age. Her journey in conservation began in 2016 when she joined the Zambian Carnivore Programme’s Women in Wildlife initiative. Through that experience, she gained hands-on skills in community engagement and field conservation and met inspiring female role models in the field.

Mercy also became passionate about preventing diseases like rabies, which threaten both people and animals. She dreamed of becoming a veterinarian—a goal that came closer to reality when she was accepted to the University of Zambia’s veterinary school in 2019. Mercy was also named a National Geographic Young Explorer and received a grant to study how vaccinating domestic dogs against rabies can reduce disease transmission across communities and ecosystems.

Lacey Miller (left, pictured with Kelsi and Johnny Mellor), a devoted member of the Dazzle Africa family and longtime supporter, generously stepped forward to sponsor Mercy’s education after learning about her dream of becoming a veterinarian.

"Sponsoring Mercy has been such a blessing. Sharing in her accomplishments and being able to be a part of her journey has changed my life. I have learned so much from her. I’m so proud of all that she has accomplished and I know she will continue to make a significant impact in conservation."

Recently, Mercy graduated with her veterinary degree—an accomplishment she calls her “proudest moment.”

Today, she works as a veterinarian with the Zambian Carnivore Programme, helping to rescue, monitor, and protect Zambia’s carnivores and their habitats in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and other organizations.

“The favorite part of my career,” Mercy says, “is me being able to save animal lives.”

Her journey hasn’t always been easy. But Mercy is already mentoring the next generation of students and sharing wisdom from her experience. As she encourages:

“You have to be determined and focused on what you want to do, because there is nothing that is impossible if you put in the effort to achieve it.”

Mercy’s story is just one of many. By becoming a sponsor, you can help other students overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams—creating ripple effects across families and communities.

Have questions or want to learn about students currently seeking sponsors? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to COO Amanda Dewey at amanda@dazzleafrica.org.

Together, we can build a brighter future—one student at a time.