Hello! My name is Ambroise Curutchague. I am a 23 year old electrical engineer and Catholic missionary about to embark on a huge adventure!

Through the Salesian Lay Missioner program, I have been assigned to spend a year teaching engineering at Don Bosco Agricultural Technical College in Lufubu, Zambia. This school was founded by the Salesian religious order to educate local youth, form them in their Catholic faith, and uplift them from poverty in the spirit of St. John Bosco! Together with my site partner Nate, we hope to bring hard work and a can-do attitude to assist DBATC in their mission!

Students at the school come from families of farmers. The surrounding area lacks good infrastructure and opportunities for education or advancement. For a long time, DBATC was able to provide young, college aged Zambians with certificates in Agriculture, Power Electronics, Computer Studies, Fashion & Design, and more-- uplifting these men and women out of poverty and giving them opportunities for success and self-determination.

Unfortunately, the situation in Lufubu has become quite dire! What was once a thriving trade school has fallen into disrepair because of cuts to aid and an ensuing lack of funds. Programs struggle to provide the standard of education they once upheld because of a lack of materials, a shortage of teachers, and decaying facilities.

With my engineering background, I hope to revitalize their programs in Power Electronics and Computer Studies, assemble and repair local off-grid power solutions that are non-existent or fallen into disrepair (solar, hydroelectric), and give local youth the technological knowledge they need to pass their certification tests, improve the output of their farms, provide power for their homes and villages, and elevate their confidence and ability to change the world around them!

I have already poured my own time and money into developing curricula and designing projects that will enable my students to create their own solutions for off-grid power, smarter farms, and more reliable infrastructure. In order to amplify my contribution to DBATC, my students, their families, and their village communities, I decided to set up this GoFundMe to allow those who are interested in supporting my work assist these talented, young Zambians in securing their future.

Funds will be used exclusively for:

1. Development of practical, hands-on, project-based curricula in Agriculture, Power Electronics, Computer Studies, Fashion & Design, etc.

2. Renovations and repairs for DBATC facilities

and, with enough generosity:

3. Development and construction of solutions for off-grid power and infrastructure (solar panels, hydroelectric, water wells & irrigation)

4. Supporting students & their village community!

Please know that your generosity would be highly appreciated-- by myself, the Salesian priests and brothers that run DBATC, our students, and their families. If you cannot support financially, please send us your PRAYERS! Action flows from contemplation, and graces flow from prayer! Know of my prayers for you all as well. God bless.

Update:

Thank you to all of you for such a wonderful display of generosity! I am blown away by the response to this fundraiser, and wanted to fulfill a request I’ve gotten many times over: I started a blog! You can follow me along my journey by subscribing to my Substack, where I plan to post periodic updates from Zambia. See you there!

https://substack.com/@ambroisecuru