Because of your support and generosity, the ASEA Advancing Life Foundation and Mother’s Without Borders have provided 811 students with a quality education, and over 100,000 school lunches for these students in the Children’s Resource Center in Zambia. Meet Josephine Daka, Africa Regional Programs Director as she visited our ASEA corporate office in Pleasant Grove, Utah.
Josephine Daka and Mothers Without Borders
The ASEA Advancing Life Foundation works closely with Mothers Without Borders who are “dedicated to fostering resilience and self-sufficiency through a holistic approach to community empowerment, particularly focusing on the most vulnerable women, youth, and children.” Josephine Daka serves as the Africa Regional Programs Director, facilitating education programs and operating as a key liaison in and around Lusaka, Zambia.
Josephine, known lovingly as “Auntie Jo” to the children she serves, is a dynamic leader for Mothers Without Borders in Zambia. Overseeing a team of more than 90, Josephine’s work impacts over 4,000 people, yet she knows each individual personally, understanding their unique stories and needs. Her leadership is rooted in love and compassion, creating a supportive environment for the vulnerable and marginalized.
Coming from a family devoted to making a difference, Josephine has transformed her role as a social worker into a mission for empowerment. Through initiatives that educate, feed, and provide essential skills, she helps youth stay in school, pursue higher education, and start businesses. Her team also provides therapy, supporting children and families in healing from trauma. Josephine’s unwavering dedication reminds us of the power of empathy and resilience, creating a brighter future for those she serves.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Josephine to get to know her on a more personal level.
What is your favorite part about what you do?
“It’s fulfilling for me to see a change in any of the beneficiaries or our programs. There’s a change. With the intervention that you take, it brings about some kind of a change. Even if it’s not the change that you really wanted, there is something that happens. So I think that’s what I like about my work.”
Do you think that’s something you’ve aspired to when you were younger? Is that something you’ve thought about a lot?
“Yeah, I grew up naturally like that. I did that without going to school for it. It’s in me. I think that’s my authentic self. When I finished high school, I didn’t really think I was going into this profession, so I did something really different, but along the way I was brought back to this. Just who I am and it makes me feel very good about it. The person that made me realize and just brought it out of me was my husband.”
What do you wish others knew about Zambia?
“I wish people knew that Zambia is a peaceful country. It’s not all bush. There are some places that are cities because you get some people asking if it is all bush. I wish people knew that there’s a lot of struggles in my country.”
How could people in the US best help or support those in Zambia?
“I would say from my work standpoint, we are an organization that is looking out for those in need, so definitely there we need a lot of people to get together for help because you have to approach it holistically. Some will give grace, but a person needs more than grace. There are so many things they need. Mainly it’s financial support or income support, it’s love or soul which is more important because some of these children have never known love. So the more people come and just give love it’s so impactful. It makes the person who is receiving that love open up to more opportunities because of some of the things they might do for themselves if they just have someone showing love to them.”
What is the most interesting thing you notice when coming to the United States?
“Of course the weather. How good the roads are and how much abundance there is. If you go to the shops there’s almost everything. Those are some things that I notice. I also feel that everybody I meet is very kind. I’ve had that experience. People are just so kind.”
How do you like Utah?
“It’s beautiful. I love the weather! Every time I come it’s really cold, but this time I’m able to show my dress without having a coat on. So this time, I feel more comfortable and more at home because this is what I’m used to. When I’m wearing something big and warm, I’m covering up my body.”
If you would like to help us support Josephine Daka and Mothers Without Borders in Zambia, making a difference all around the world, take the time to make a donation. Every single dollar has an impact, no matter how small. You could single-handedly improve a child’s life, permanently.
This is not a guarantee of any particular income. Individual results will vary. Please refer to our income disclosure statement at aseaglobal.com/opportunity/ This material is intended for a US audience only.