During William Okpo’s Sunset Takeover, we introduced you to the NYC-based stylist Nchimunya Wulf and her incredible charity, 14+ Foundation, which develops schools and orphanages for children in rural African communities. Nchimunya first met her organization's co-founder, Joseph Mizzi, in a Soho store three years ago, when she overheard him speaking about a recent trip to Zambia. They became fast friends and began to discuss how they could work together on a project. The result is the foundation and its first endeavor: Chipakata Children’s Academy, which aims to provide education, housing, healthcare, and a sense of community to a small village in Zambia. We spoke with Nchimunya to learn more.
Dana Melanz: What prompted you to found 14+?
Nchimunya Wulf: I was born in Lukasa, Zambia. My father is Danish and spent most of his life in Africa working for the UN. At the age of 9, I moved to Denmark after my parents got separated, while my mother stayed in Zambia. I was a teenager when I learned my mother had passed away from tuberculosis. My dream was to one day open a school in my home country named after my mother. Joseph and I created 14+ Foundation in 2012 to help children in Africa, based on a strong mutual belief in the power of education as a means for long-term positive change.
Can you tell us a bit more about the school, Chipakata Children's Academy?
When we learned of the needs of Chipakata, a very poor agricultural village whose children have no nearby school, we decided to develop a school and orphanage to serve the children as well as the general community through other projects. The school itself will provide the children with a primary school curriculum (grades 1 through 7) and it will also include arts-based education projects. Development plans also include children’s housing for local children of need, a health clinic, and a community center. Our theme is "Education. Care. Community." All of this will be made possible through funds raised by 14+ Foundation. Construction of the school began on site earlier this year!
To date, we have performed a number of small but important projects that we think will result in a huge improvement to the lives of the village residents. We have drilled water wells and improved local roads in the community. We purchased a grinding mill for the local residents to make their own cornmeal. Prior to this, the nearest mill was over 5 miles away and the residents were walking or riding bicycles back and forth on a regular basis. When our "hammer-mill" machine arrived to the village, one of the residents began dancing with joy in front of the truck.
We also built a small retail store to service the community. We use all the income to pay the local residents who work there, and we put the rest towards other community initiatives. The store gives them access to basic items like cooking oil, salt, sugar, and other goods.
As you are a native Zambian, it's not hard to see why you would want to give back to your homeland. But what made you choose Chipakata as the beneficiary of your project?
My aunt, Joyce Habeenzu, is our Director of Community Relations and Affairs. She first brought us to Chipakata Village in 2012. The community welcomed us, and they seemed committed to helping make this project happen. And the need was there—the nearest school is over four miles away.
How will the Academy help the residents of Chipakata Village?
We hope and expect our project will be transformative. We are already seeing small but significant improvements to the
Dana Melanz: What prompted you to found 14+?
Nchimunya Wulf: I was born in Lukasa, Zambia. My father is Danish and spent most of his life in Africa working for the UN. At the age of 9, I moved to Denmark after my parents got separated, while my mother stayed in Zambia. I was a teenager when I learned my mother had passed away from tuberculosis. My dream was to one day open a school in my home country named after my mother. Joseph and I created 14+ Foundation in 2012 to help children in Africa, based on a strong mutual belief in the power of education as a means for long-term positive change.
Can you tell us a bit more about the school, Chipakata Children's Academy?
When we learned of the needs of Chipakata, a very poor agricultural village whose children have no nearby school, we decided to develop a school and orphanage to serve the children as well as the general community through other projects. The school itself will provide the children with a primary school curriculum (grades 1 through 7) and it will also include arts-based education projects. Development plans also include children’s housing for local children of need, a health clinic, and a community center. Our theme is "Education. Care. Community." All of this will be made possible through funds raised by 14+ Foundation. Construction of the school began on site earlier this year!
To date, we have performed a number of small but important projects that we think will result in a huge improvement to the lives of the village residents. We have drilled water wells and improved local roads in the community. We purchased a grinding mill for the local residents to make their own cornmeal. Prior to this, the nearest mill was over 5 miles away and the residents were walking or riding bicycles back and forth on a regular basis. When our "hammer-mill" machine arrived to the village, one of the residents began dancing with joy in front of the truck.
We also built a small retail store to service the community. We use all the income to pay the local residents who work there, and we put the rest towards other community initiatives. The store gives them access to basic items like cooking oil, salt, sugar, and other goods.
As you are a native Zambian, it's not hard to see why you would want to give back to your homeland. But what made you choose Chipakata as the beneficiary of your project?
My aunt, Joyce Habeenzu, is our Director of Community Relations and Affairs. She first brought us to Chipakata Village in 2012. The community welcomed us, and they seemed committed to helping make this project happen. And the need was there—the nearest school is over four miles away.
How will the Academy help the residents of Chipakata Village?
We hope and expect our project will be transformative. We are already seeing small but significant improvements to the