Hellen B Muleya

Hellen

Today we feature Hellen Muleya from Chimwemwe in Kitwe. Hellen lives at Greater Joy School along with the rest of her talented and hard working family. Her husband, Victor, is an architect and has designed many projects locally including the new proposed ablution block and kitchen area at the school as well as their new house just outside the grounds of Greater Joy School that they are all hoping to move into soon. Victor preaches in the church on site and the whole family have a strong belief in the Christian ethos. They have four children, Natasha, 18, who has finished school and is hoping to go on to university to study to be a Doctor. Victor Junior is 16, and is a really talented musician who plays many instruments including drums, keyboard and bass guitar in the church each week. He is hoping to go on to be a professional musician when he finishes school. His brother, Angel, 11 is also a musician who plays and sings in the church but he has high hopes of being a Lawyer. Angel is in Grade 7 at Greater Joy. The youngest member of the family is Grace, aged 8 and also at Greater Joy in Grade 3. Although still young and loves playing with her dolls, she has said she wants to be a nurse.

Hellen with her youngest children, Grace and Angel

Hellen is an exceptional dressmaker and Tailor and has opened a small shop in Chimwemwe where she grew up and where her Mother still lives. She was taught sewing at school so alongside the clothes that she makes to order and sell she also makes very bright and colourful clothes for the Praise Team at her Church and for the choir of which she is a member.

Finishing a brightly coloured jacket for the praise team at church

Because of this she was asked if she could make the uniforms for the children at Greater Joy School some six years ago when the school opened. Her busiest time for the school uniforms is November and December so that all the new children who arrive at the start of the new school year in January have a uniform to wear. Obviously uniforms wear out or are outgrown so some are made all year. Hellen goes to the material shops or the markets in Chimwemwe and Kitwe to buy her materials of which Beyond Ourselves pay for the materials for Greater Joy school. Each metre length for a shirt is K12.50 and for the trousers K15.00. With the extra money from Beyond Ourselves she has managed to buy a few extra “fittings” for the new house.   

Measuring and trying on the uniforms at school

Besides all the sewing, Hellen also looks after her home, cooks meals for the family and ensures that all is kept clean. On top of this both parents act as caretakers for the church so I would like to thank Hellen for taking some time out of her very busy day to talk to me about herself and this wonderful family.