Lucas Nyambende Willson was born in Bukabwa. Given a rare opportunity to study outside of Bukabwa, Lucas attended primary school in Dar es Salaam and later finished secondary school in the Serengeti district. With big dreams for the future, Lucas graduated from university in the capital city of Dodoma with a degree in linguistics.
Graduating from university is an exciting achievement, but for many graduates in areas like Bukabwa, they are faced with the harsh reality of a limited job market. The formal job market is disproportionately concentrated in urban areas, leaving many rural graduates with few options for meaningful employment in their field of study.
After graduating, Lucas returned to his hometown in hopes of finding work to help support his family. After two years of searching, he remained unemployed. Lucas never wanted members of the community to view him as idle or lazy and did various work to remain active as he sought employment. He believed God had placed him here in this season, and trusted God would give him the strength to endure. Lucas borrowed a plot of land and began growing cassava. Lucas didn’t know much about agriculture, but he desired to learn. He learned how to use a hand plow and cultivated the land. Eventually, he saw the fruits of his labor as he harvested the casava and sold it allowing him to meet his basic needs.
Earlier this year, Lucas was invited to participate in the Community Transformation project for community leaders and parents of children enrolled in Twelve21 schools. He traveled with a small team of leaders to Kome Island to participate in the leaders training. This opportunity pushed Lucas to look deeper at his situation. He said, “The training opened my way.”
If there are no jobs available in Bukabwa, this gives him the opportunity to create something. Lucas began to evaluate what the greatest needs were in his community. He saw a high demand for eggs, but few suppliers in the village. With the help of a friend, he has started raising chickens for eating and for eggs. Together they have 32 chickens after only a few months. With the funds he has raised, he hopes to start the first ice cream business in Bukabwa.
“I thank God because I have been able to endure it all. I believe I can rely on my God because he brings everything according to his special plan. I couldn’t do it alone. Even when I stumble, my God is with me, fighting for me every step of the way. Even when I feel like I am limping through life, I thank God that he has allowed me to be here. God wanted me here in this season, and he has used my experience to allow me to train others in the CT program.”
What may have first appeared as a setback in his career, has opened the door for Lucas to help lead the community transformation trainings in his church. What he learns in the leadership trainings, he puts into practice and teaches others. God is using Lucas as an instrument of change in his community.
