Dora Moono Nyambe (June 23 1992 – December 25 2024) was a remarkable Zambian humanitarian, educator, and social media star whose legacy lives on through the children she impacted. With a deep love for education and a commitment to breaking cycles of poverty, Nyambe dedicated her life to improving the futures of children in rural Zambia. When I learned that her death might have been the result of a murder orchestrated by the very men she was investigating for sexual crimes, I knew I had to cover her story. Her courage, her dedication to the well-being of her children, and the fight she led against child marriage and trafficking make her a voice worth amplifying, even after her untimely passing.
Early Life and Education
Nyambe was born to a South African mother and a Zambian father, spending her formative years in Chibombo, Lusaka, Zambia. She was introduced to foreign missionaries at a young age and quickly became aware of the challenges associated with foreign aid. Despite the well-meaning assistance, she recognized that such aid often failed to address the deep-rooted issues facing local communities.
Inspired to make a difference, Nyambe became certified as a primary school teacher and an ESL instructor. She originally planned to teach in China but her life took a different turn when she adopted her first child at the age of 22. Little did she know, this decision would lead her to a lifelong mission of transforming education in Zambia.
A Life-Changing Visit to Mapapa
Nyambe’s journey as an activist and educator truly began in 2019, when she visited Mapapa, a rural village in Mkushi, Zambia, to meet a friend’s family. Upon arrival, she was deeply disturbed by the number of children who were not attending school and the high rates of early marriage and teenage pregnancies. At that time, she had already adopted five children, three of whom were teenagers themselves. This experience lit a fire in her to help children in this community.
In 2021, at the age of 27, Nyambe made the bold decision to move to Mapapa with her children. She faced numerous challenges, including local resistance and a termite-infested mud hut, but her determination remained unwavering. In Mapapa, Nyambe founded the charity Footprints of Hope and began the process of building a school to provide education for local children.
Footprints of Hope and the School
By 2023, Nyambe’s school had grown to serve 350 students, including 150 boarding students. The school’s campus included classrooms, a library, a dining hall, and dormitories-facilities that allowed the students to thrive in an environment where their basic needs were met. The school year ran from early February through early December, with breaks during which students helped local families with agricultural activities. Nyambe’s work in Mapapa was not only about providing education; it was also about changing societal norms. She became known for intervening in arranged child marriages, sometimes reimbursing families for wedding expenses to prevent the marriages from taking place.
Nyambe’s charity, Footprints of Hope, became integral to the local community, especially as Nyambe fostered a total of 13 adopted children and opened her arms to hundreds of other students. She also pursued legal action against individuals who abused or trafficked children in her community, fighting to protect the vulnerable against predatory behaviour. Her efforts became widely recognized, even though she received no institutional or government support for her work.
Global Recognition and Social Media Impact
Nyambe’s story reached global audiences through her social media presence. In May 2020, encouraged by her daughter, Nyambe started posting videos on TikTok about her humanitarian work. Her videos quickly went viral, and by September 2020, she had amassed over 700,000 followers. By 2023, Nyambe had 4 million followers, and she used her platform to raise over US$500,000 for children’s education in Zambia. She also ran successful GoFundMe campaigns, such as one to raise US$58,000 for boreholes to provide clean water to the village.
Despite facing criticism from both Zambians and foreigners, who sometimes accused her of perpetuating stereotypes or “charity porn”, Nyambe remained firm in her mission. She responded by emphasizing that her content focused not on the suffering of her students, but on their achievements, the power of education, and the love and care they received.
Legacy and Tragic Passing
Dora Moono Nyambe’s work continued to touch lives until her tragic death on December 25, 2024 at the age of 32. The circumstances of her death remain unclear, but many believe it may have been linked to her efforts to combat child predators and trafficking in the region. She was posthumously celebrated for her bravery and unwavering commitment to the children of Mapapa, and she was buried at her school in Mapapa on December 30, 2024.
Her legacy lives on through the school she built, the children she nurtured, and the global movement she created around the issues of education and child protection. A book about her life, Under a Zambian Tree by Joseph Schmitt, was released in February 2023, further cementing her place in history as an activist and humanitarian.
Final Reflections
Dora Moono Nyambe’s story is one of resilience, love, and determination. Her work stands as an inspiring testament to the power of grassroots education and the ability of one person to make a difference. As a humanitarian, educator, and advocate for children, she demonstrated the profound impact of community-based solutions and showed the world the importance of standing up for those who are most vulnerable. Her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of activists, educators, and humanitarian workers around the globe.
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Please note: the views and opinions expressed on this blog are that of my own and do not represent the opinions of any agency mentioned.