About

Yatilink empowers orphaned youths with life skills, education, and support for financial independence, career readiness, and well-being.

How it all began

Yatilink was founded with a vision to bridge the gap for orphaned youths who lacked the support needed to build a stable future. Recognizing the struggles faced by many young people, our founder established Yatilink to provide practical skills, career guidance, and emotional support. Today, we continue to empower youths with the tools to achieve independence and success.

2000 - 2009

First hand experience

Founder experiences life as an orphan at SOS Children’s Villages and recognises the challenges of transitioning beyond institutional care.

2010 - 2024

Founding of Yatilink

Inspired by personal experiences of adjusting to independent life, the need for Yatilink to not only bridge the gap between the orphanage and the outside world but also to erase it became urgent.

4 July 2025

Official launch

Official launch of the Yatilink Youth Development Center. First year of activities begins, focusing on youth reintegration, mentorship, and capacity-building.

Our vision

A world where every orphaned youth has the opportunity to succeed

We envision a world where every orphaned youth has the opportunity and tools to succeed beyond the orphanage, regardless of their background. This is our vision of an orphanage’s success story.

Our mission

Transforming the lives of orphaned youths into thriving individuals

Our mission is to provide holistic support that transforms the lives of orphaned youths into independent adults/individuals and integrates them into society as thriving individuals.

Transforming the futures of orphaned youths

We are driven by the urgent need to bridge the gap between orphanages and the outside world, adequately preparing orphaned youths in transition for adulthood.

 

Financial independence

Equipping orphaned youths with financial literacy and savings skills for lifelong stability

Career education

Providing job training, mentorship, and internships to create pathways to employment.

Mental health & overall well-being

Offering resilience-building workshops, counselling, psychosocial support and physical fitness for reconciliation, healing and sustainable mental health.

Community engagement

Expanding community outreach and impact measurement to ensure sustainable change.

Empowering orphaned youths to thrive beyond the orphanage

We take a holistic, data-driven approach to support orphaned youths on their journey to independence and integration into society.

Therapy

We provide counselling and psychosocial support to assist orphaned youths in reconciling their pasts and igniting their healing.

Equip

We equip orphaned youths with career education and training, financial literacy, and mentorship to give them a better chance at success.

Empower

We empower orphaned youths with an accessible and sustainable life and mental health toolkit for successful re-integration and sustainability.

Research & advocacy

Through our research centre, we conduct research on issues affecting orphaned youths to raise awareness about their needs and advocate for policies that support their well-being and inclusion in society. We also keep track of our impact to strengthen our data-centred model.

Partnership

We partner with the government, NGOs and corporates to reintegrate and connect the most vulnerable set of youths to the broader society for lifelong success.

Meet our team

Yatilink is driven by a passionate team committed to empowering orphaned youth.

Jill Samukimba, PhD
Founder & CEO

Jill is the Founder and CEO of Yatilink, an organisation that embodies the resources she wished she had received before leaving SOS Children’s Villages, an orphanage based in Lusaka, Zambia.
Michael Kilumelume
Assistant Director

Michael was raised in the SOS Children’s Village — a formative experience that shaped his deep commitment to supporting youth from vulnerable backgrounds. He holds a BSocSci in Economics and Applied Statistics, BCom in Economics, and a MCom in Economics from UCT.
Masuzyo Nyimbiri
Programs Manager

Masuzyo is a Development Specialist with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Development Studies and Public Administration from the University of Zambia. She holds several certificates in project planning and management, monitoring and evaluation, SPSS, and data entry.
Nkole Lungu
Volunteer Outreach

Nkole is a dedicated advocate for justice and youth empowerment, driven by a deep commitment to protecting vulnerable populations, particularly orphaned and at-risk children. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
"Yatilink truly values its employees, invests in their growth, and creates a supportive environment."




Meet our advisory board

Yatilink is driven by a passionate advisory board with a wealth of experience.

Jill Samukimba, PhD
Founder & CEO

Jill is the Founder and CEO of Yatilink, an organisation that embodies the resources she wished she had received before leaving SOS Children’s Villages, an orphanage based in Lusaka, Zambia.
Bupe Mwamba, PhD
Senior Lecturer, Neonatal Nurse

Bupe is a Senior Lecturer in Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Notre Dame Australia with over 19 years’ experience across Zambia, South Africa, and Australia. Holding a PhD in Midwifery, she is a passionate advocate for mothers and newborns. As co-founder of Newborn Support Zambia, she brings expertise in maternal health to empower orphaned youths through Yatilink.
Gabriel Lungu
Mental Health Officer & Nurse

Gabriel is a Mental Health Officer at the Ministry of Health and a qualified Nursing Officer and Psychiatric Nurse. He serves as a Tutor, Mentor, and Mental Health Advocate, and is a De-addiction Champion and Counsellor. Gabriel is an advisor to GAMHA and WFMH - African Region.
Nova Nalondwa
Commercial Lawyer Manager

Nova is a legal practitioner with over 7 years of experience. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws in Commercial Law with a focus on Contract Law and Corporate Governance. She has built a diverse legal career spanning research, litigation and legal advisory.
Victoria Chama
Lecturer & Researcher

With over a decade of hands-on experience in finance and accounting, David has built a solid career across various industries, including cement processing, construction, and mining. His journey has seen him take on a range of key accounting and supervisory roles.
David Mutale
Management & Financial Expert

With over a decade of hands-on experience in finance and accounting, David has built a solid career across various industries, including cement processing, construction, and mining. His journey has seen him take on a range of key accounting and supervisory roles.
Melody Asukile
Medical Doctor - Neurologist

Dr Asukile is one of Zambia’s first neurologists. She completed a neurology residency at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and further specialized in Clinical Epileptology there. She serves as a lecturer and attending neurologist at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. She directs the national electroencephalography laboratory.
Maybin Ngambi
Civil Engineer

Maybin is a Civil Engineer with over 20 years in the WASH sector. As Regional WASH Program Director in East Africa, he leads initiatives across nine countries. Passionate about gender inclusion and youth leadership, he mentors young innovators in WASH. A Dornsife Scholar, Maybin brings his expertise to Yatilink to support healthier, empowered futures for orphaned youths in Zambia
Fr. Adrian Makasa Chikwamo, SJ
Chaplain, Educator, Advocate for Ecological and Social Justice

Fr. Adrian Makasa Chikwamo, SJ, is a Jesuit priest and youth chaplain dedicated to transforming the lives of young people, especially those from vulnerable or orphaned backgrounds. He brings an interdisciplinary academic background in theology, philosophy, and ecological economics, combined with years of leadership in pastoral care, education, and sustainable development.
"Yatilink truly values its employees, invests in their growth, and creates a supportive environment."




We have 4 core values which guide us in everthing we do

Empowerment

At the core of Yatilink is a deep commitment to care and support. We provide a nurturing environment where orphaned youths feel seen, heard, and encouraged as they navigate their journey toward healing and success.

Compassion

At the core of Yatilink is a deep commitment to care and support. We provide a nurturing environment where orphaned youths feel seen, heard, and encouraged as they navigate their journey toward healing and success.

Integrity

We uphold transparency, accountability, and honesty in all that we do. Every donation, partnership, and program is managed responsibly to ensure lasting impact for the youths we serve and the communities we engage.

Community

Strong support networks create lasting change. We foster collaboration between youths, mentors, businesses, and organizations, ensuring every youth has access to the guidance and opportunities needed to succeed.

Bridging the gap from orphanages to broader society and empowering orphaned youths for a brighter future.

Your donation helps transform lives

Every donation helps us empower more orphaned youth to achieve self-sufficiency and contribute positively to society.

Help us empower orphaned youths with a brighter future

Your support will go a long way in helping us transform the lives of orphaned youths in transition.