EmpowerED
The EmpowerED Fellowship Program is designed to give young people—especially those who leave secondary school with strong grades but face financial barriers—a real chance to pursue higher education. Through a combination of scholarships, tuition credits, and meaningful work opportunities, students can earn an income to support their academic journey while gaining valuable life experience.
"An innovation of the Smart University"
This program is particularly impactful for youth in rural communities, helping them make informed career choices and opening doors that might otherwise remain closed. With Empowered, fellows have the unique opportunity to enroll in a bachelor’s or diploma program of their choice, setting them on a path to join the job market with confidence and purpose after graduation. At NCTU, passion drives action as students actively participate in real-world issues. It is where current leaders nurture the future leaders of tomorrow.
The Initiative
EFP is a flagship initiative of Zambia’s newest smart university, designed to address one of the biggest challenges facing school leavers today—financial barriers to higher education.
With nearly 57% of secondary school graduates unable to pursue university studies due to costs, the program creates a pathway to equal opportunity and access to tertiary education.
Through a blend of scholarships, tuition credits, and meaningful work opportunities, EFP empowers young people to earn an income while studying, easing the burden of academic expenses and equipping them with the skills needed to thrive in the 21st-century job market.
Unparalleled Opportunity
This year, the program is expanding to create an even greater impact. In partnership with TREGO Zambia, a fast-rising local startup, we are opening up 300 job opportunities for young Zambians to serve as agents—known as Tregoists.
- This unique collaboration allows participants to not only secure meaningful work but also gain the rare advantage of studying while they earn. It’s a true career springboard, giving them both practical experience and academic growth at the same time.
- This program is particularly impactful for youth in rural communities, helping them make informed career choices and opening doors that might otherwise remain closed. With EmpowerED, fellows have the unique opportunity to enroll in a bachelor’s or diploma program of their choice, setting them on a path to join the job market with confidence and purpose after graduation.
- The EmpowerED Fellowship Program is designed to give young people—especially those who leave secondary school with strong grades but face financial barriers—a real chance to pursue higher education. Through a combination of scholarships, tuition credits, and meaningful work opportunities, students can earn an income to support their academic journey while gaining valuable life experience.
Program Duration
The EmpowerED Fellowship Program is structured to provide both academic growth and practical work experience over a four-year period. The timeline is as follows:
- Financial Literacy & Job Onboarding (November 2025): Selected fellows will begin with a 10-day workshop in Lusaka, focusing on financial literacy and job readiness. This session also includes orientation for their roles as Tregoists under TREGO Zambia.
- District Deployment (December 2025 – February 2026): After the workshop, fellows will be deployed to various districts, with priority given to their home districts. They will serve as agents for 2–3 months, gaining hands-on experience while earning income to support their academic journey.
- Academic Block Release (March 2026): Fellows will return to Lusaka for a two-week academic block release for Semester 1 of their bachelor’s or diploma program. This will mark the official start of their university studies.
- Long-Term Program Path (2026–2030): The program runs for 4 years, aligned with the duration of a bachelor’s degree. Students will combine work and study throughout, with regular review sessions conducted in collaboration with key stakeholders to track progress, provide mentorship, and strengthen the program’s impact.
Program Sequence
The EmpowerED Fellowship Program follows a well-structured sequence to ensure that every participant is prepared, supported, and empowered for both academic and professional success.
- Recruitment (2nd October – 29th November 2025): Applications open on 2nd October 2025 and close on 29th November 2025. During this time, school leavers with strong academic results but facing financial challenges are encouraged to apply.
- Screening: All applications are carefully reviewed and screened. A shortlist of eligible candidates is created based on merit, motivation, and potential for success in both academic and work settings.
- Offer Letters of Acceptance: Shortlisted candidates receive official offer letters, which include details of their admitted course of study as well as their work opportunity as a Tregoist under TREGO Zambia.
- Training & Onboarding (December 2025): Selected fellows attend a 10-day Financial Literacy and Job Onboarding Workshop in Lusaka. This equips them with essential skills in money management, entrepreneurship, and workplace readiness, while also preparing them for their roles as community-based agents.
- Deployment (December 2025 – February 2026): After training, fellows are deployed to various districts, prioritizing their home districts. They serve as TREGO agents (Tregoists) for 2–3 months, gaining valuable work experience and earning income to support their academic journey.
Benefits
The EmpowerED Program is designed to give young people more than just access to education—it offers them a chance to learn, earn, and grow at the same time.
1. Access to Higher Education:
The program removes financial barriers that prevent many school leavers from pursuing tertiary education by offering scholarships and tuition credits. Fellows get a real chance to study bachelor’s or diploma programs that are innovative and future-focused.
2. Earn While You Learn
Through work opportunities with TREGO Zambia, fellows gain meaningful income as community agents (Tregoists). This provides financial independence and ensures they can sustain themselves during their studies.
3. Career-Ready Skills
Fellows are equipped with financial literacy, entrepreneurship knowledge, and professional training, giving them practical skills that go beyond academics and prepare them for both the job market and personal success.
4. Work Experience Before Graduation
By being deployed in their districts to serve as TREGO agents, fellows gain hands-on work experience even before completing their degrees or diplomas. This creates a career leapfrog advantage in the competitive job market.
5. Empowerment & Community Impact
The program empowers fellows not only to succeed personally but also to create impact within their home communities by providing services, mentorship, and acting as role models for other young people.
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Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the EmpowerED Fellowship Program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
1. Age: Be between 18 – 30 years old.
2. Education: Must be a secondary school leaver (including those awaiting admission
into a tertiary institution).
3. Citizenship: Must be a Zambian citizen.
4. Residency: Must be a resident of a district where TREGO operates.
5. Commitment: Be serious and motivated about pursuing a Bachelor’s or Diploma
qualification.
6. Academic Requirements: Must possess at least five (5) O-Level credits, with English
Language as one of the better grades.
Frequent Asked Questions
Yes. At the beginning, you will need to pay for the Financial Literacy Training Workshop (K2,250) and cover your transport costs from your district to Lusaka. This training is compulsory and equips you with skills before job deployment. The official acceptance letter will clearly state the amount and instructions for payment.
You must:
Be between 16 and 26 years old.
Be a secondary school leaver (awaiting or seeking admission to a tertiary institution).
Be a Zambian citizen and a resident of a district where Trego operates.
Hold at least 5 O-Level passes, including English.
Be serious and committed about pursuing a degree or diploma qualification.
Applications open 2nd October 2025 and close 29th October 2025. Submit your details through the official application link provided on our website. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted and issued acceptance letters for both course enrollment and job placement.
The program runs for 4 years and includes:
A 10-day Financial Literacy Workshop and Job Onboarding in November 2025.
District deployment (2–3 months), prioritizing your home district.
Your first academic block release (2 weeks) in March 2026.
Continuous work-study cycles and stakeholder review sessions until graduation.
You can choose from a wide range of Bachelor’s or Diploma programs offered at the New City Technical University (NCTU) and partner institutions. Acceptance letters will specify available programs based on your qualifications and interests.
As a Trego Agent (Tregoist), you will:
Support digital services (online outreach, customer queries, simple tech tasks).
Provide marketing support (campaign promotion, engaging potential customers).
Assist with administrative tasks (record-keeping, reporting, coordination).
Carry out community awareness activities (introducing Trego services to new areas).
📌 How Tuition Credit Works:
Your earnings are divided into two parts:
Small allowance – helps you cover personal costs.
Tuition credits – directly deposited into your Trego Tuition Credit Account to pay for your university/college fees.
👉 The more work you do, the more credits you accumulate, directly reducing your academic expenses.
Access to scholarships and tuition credits.
Hands-on work experience in digital services, marketing, and community engagement.
Financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills.
A chance to pursue a degree or diploma of your choice.
Professional networks and better employability after graduation.
You will not receive a full salary like a regular employee. Instead, you will get a small monthly allowance (Commissions) plus tuition credits that directly offset your academic fees. This ensures your work immediately supports your education.
After training in Lusaka, you will be deployed to various districts across Zambia, with priority given to your home district or nearby areas. This ensures you serve your community while gaining work experience.
By combining education with real work, the program ensures you graduate with:
A recognized academic qualification.
Practical work experience in multiple fields.
Financial literacy skills that last a lifetime.
A strong chance of employment or entrepreneurship immediately after completing your studies.
EmpowerED, a flagship initiative of Zambia’s newest smart university
The New City Technical University is revolutionizing education by supporting students through innovative initiatives like EmpowerED Fellowship Program. This unique program address one of the biggest challenges facing school leavers today—financial barriers to higher education. With nearly 57% of secondary school graduates unable to pursue university studies due to costs, the program creates a pathway to equal opportunity and access to tertiary education.
Through a blend of scholarships, tuition credits, and meaningful work opportunities, EFP empowers young people to earn an income while studying, easing the burden of academic expenses and equipping them with the skills needed to thrive in the 21st-century job market.
