From Award-Winning Community Theatre to International Recognition of Grassroots Health Interventions! Tusole Theatre and Youth Friendly Association (TTYFA) was honoured to participate in a high-level community engagement activity at Simoonga Market in Livingstone District, during the visit of a United Kingdom Parliamentary Delegation, accompanied by representatives of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Ministry of Health and the Livingstone District Health Office. The visit formed part of the UK Parliamentary Delegation’s mission to Zambia, held from 5–9 October 2026, to appreciate the impact of Global Fund-supported health interventions and community-led approaches to HIV prevention and access to essential health services. During the engagement, Tusole Theatre and Cultural Ensemble, the performing arts department under TTYFA, demonstrated the transformative power of Theatre for Development through interactive drama and cultural performances designed to educate, entertain and mobilise communities. The performances communicated important messages on HIV prevention, HIV testing services, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), sexual and reproductive health, stigma reduction and access to adolescent- and youth-friendly health services. Through relatable storytelling, humour, culturally appropriate messaging and community participation, the Ensemble demonstrated how theatre can break communication barriers, challenge misconceptions, encourage informed health-seeking behaviour and strengthen connections between communities and health facilities. The engagement also showcased the important role of Simoonga Rural Health Post, which serves approximately 5,537 people across five community zones, and its collaboration with community volunteers, peer educators and TTYFA in extending health information and services to adolescents and young people. 🏆 AN AWARD-WINNING ENSEMBLE USING ART TO TRANSFORM LIVES The participation of Tusole Theatre and Cultural Ensemble highlighted the strength of an artistic institution whose work extends beyond entertainment into community development. With 13 collective and individual honours associated with the Ensemble and its leadership, comprising 7 Ngoma Awards, 5 Mosi-oa-Tunya Southern Awards and 1 National Heroes Hall of Fame Award, Tusole Theatre continues to demonstrate the value of combining artistic excellence with community service. These achievements reflect years of dedication to cultural preservation, talent development, community education and social and behavioural change communication. The Simoonga engagement provided an important opportunity to showcase this locally developed, award-winning Theatre for Development approach before international and national stakeholders. 🤝 STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE HEALTH IMPACT The visit underscored the importance of collaboration between the Global Fund, Ministry of Health, UTH-HAP, Livingstone District Health Office, health facilities, community-based organisations and local communities in strengthening Zambia’s HIV response. Through its Adolescent and Young People (AYP) programme, TTYFA continues to complement facility-based health services with community mobilisation, peer-led engagement, interactive drama and referral linkages, helping bring essential health information and services closer to young people. For TTYFA, this engagement was more than an opportunity to perform before an international delegation. It was an opportunity to demonstrate that community theatre is a strategic public health communication tool capable of translating technical health information into meaningful community conversations and action. Our message remains clear: Theatre is not merely entertainment. It is education, empowerment, advocacy and a catalyst for healthier communities. 🎭 TUSOLE THEATRE AND CULTURAL ENSEMBLE — PRESERVING CULTURE, NURTURING TALENT AND TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF PERFORMANCE. #TTYFA #TusoleTheatreAndCulturalEnsemble #UKParliamentaryDelegation #GlobalFund #MinistryOfHealth #UTHHAP #LivingstoneDistrict #Simoonga #AYPProgramme #TheatreForDevelopment #DramaForChange #HIVPrevention #PrEP #CommunityEngagement #YouthFriendlyHealthServices #13PrestigiousHonours #Zambia
TUSOLE THEATRE AND CULTURAL ENSEMBLE: A LEGACY OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND 13 PRESTIGIOUS HONOURS!
One of Zambia’s Most Decorated Community-Based Performing Arts Ensembles Tusole Theatre and Cultural Ensemble, a performing arts department under Tusole Theatre and Youth Friendly Association (TTYFA), proudly celebrates an extraordinary milestone of 13 collective and individual honours associated with the Ensemble and its leadership, recognising outstanding artistic excellence, cultural preservation, consistency, distinguished service and mentorship. 🏆 OUR RECORD OF EXCELLENCE FROM GRASSROOTS TALENT TO RECOGNISED EXCELLENCE Since its beginnings in Livingstone in 2004, Tusole Theatre has grown into a platform for artistic innovation, cultural expression, youth empowerment and community transformation. Through drama, traditional dance, music, storytelling and Theatre for Development, the Ensemble continues to demonstrate that performing arts are not merely entertainment but powerful instruments for education, advocacy, behavioural change and social development. The recognition of outstanding practitioners, including Petronella Sitali, Limited Phiri and Daniel Ngoma, further demonstrates the importance of nurturing talent, promoting artistic consistency and investing in mentorship. These achievements are a testament to years of dedication, teamwork, resilience, creativity and visionary leadership. MORE THAN AWARDS — A LEGACY OF IMPACT For TTYFA, these 13 honours represent more than trophies and certificates. They symbolise a journey of commitment to artistic excellence, cultural preservation, community service and the development of emerging talent. 13 Collective and Individual Honours. Three Prestigious Award Platforms. One Remarkable Artistic Legacy. From humble community stages to prestigious award platforms, Tusole Theatre and Cultural Ensemble continues to demonstrate that true artistic greatness is measured not only by the awards received, but also by the lives inspired, talents nurtured and communities transformed. 🎭 TUSOLE THEATRE AND CULTURAL ENSEMBLE — PRESERVING CULTURE, NURTURING TALENT, CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE AND TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE ARTS. #TusoleTheatreAndCulturalEnsemble #TTYFA #13PrestigiousHonours #NgomaAwards #MosioaTunyaSouthernAwards #NationalHeroesHallOfFame #ArtisticExcellence #TheatreForDevelopment #CommunityTheatre #ZambianArts
SUCCESS STORY: TUSOLE THEATRE AND CULTURAL ENSEMBLE SCOOPS FIVE PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS AT THE 2026 MOSI-OA-TUNYA SOUTHERN AWARDS
Five Awards, One Extraordinary Achievement: Celebrating Artistic Excellence, Consistency and Community Transformation On 17 October 2026, Tusole Theatre and Cultural Ensemble, a performing arts department under Tusole Theatre and Youth Friendly Association (TTYFA), recorded a historic milestone by scooping five prestigious awards at the 2026 Mosi-oa-Tunya Southern Awards, held at The Courtyard Hotel in Livingstone, Zambia. The remarkable achievement recognised the Ensemble’s artistic excellence, consistency in community theatre, individual talent, distinguished service and mentorship in the performing arts sector. The five awards celebrated both the collective achievements of the Ensemble and the exceptional contributions of three of its theatre practitioners. For TTYFA, the recognition represents a significant institutional achievement, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to using theatre, culture and creative expression as powerful instruments for community empowerment, education and social transformation. 1. The Five Prestigious Awards Award 1: Best Cultural Group of the Year, 2026 Winner: Tusole Theatre and Cultural Ensemble This award celebrates the Ensemble’s contribution to cultural performance, artistic expression and the promotion of Zambia’s cultural heritage. It represents an important recognition of the group’s commitment to preserving and showcasing cultural traditions through music, dance, drama and storytelling. Award 2: Most Outstanding and Consistent Community Theatre Group Award Winner: Tusole Theatre and Cultural Ensemble This recognition celebrates the group’s sustained commitment to community theatre and its continued use of performing arts to educate, entertain and engage communities. It is particularly significant because consistency requires dedication, teamwork, resilience and a long-term commitment to artistic practice, even when resources and opportunities are limited. Award 3: Most Outstanding Female Community Theatre Practitioner Award Winner: Petronella Sitali This individual award recognises Petronella Sitali’s outstanding contribution as a female community theatre practitioner. Her achievement is an inspiration to women and girls aspiring to pursue performing arts, demonstrating the importance of women’s participation, creativity and leadership in community theatre. Award 4: Most Outstanding Male Community Theatre Practitioner Award Winner: Limited Phiri Limited Phiri’s recognition celebrates his contribution to community theatre and his commitment to artistic excellence. His achievement highlights the importance of nurturing individual talent within community-based performing arts institutions and demonstrates how dedication and consistent participation can lead to recognition. Award 5: Community Theatre Distinguished Service, Excellence and Mentorship Award Winner: Daniel Ngoma This prestigious individual recognition celebrates Daniel Ngoma’s distinguished contribution to community theatre, artistic development and mentorship. As Executive Director of Tusole Theatre and Youth Friendly Association, Daniel Ngoma has championed Theatre for Development as an approach to community education, empowerment and social transformation. The award represents an important acknowledgement of his longstanding commitment to developing artistic talent, strengthening community theatre and supporting emerging performers. 2. From a Community Drama Initiative to an Award-Winning Cultural Ensemble The story of Tusole Theatre and Cultural Ensemble is rooted in a vision of using performing arts to transform communities. Originally established as a youth drama initiative in Livingstone in 2004, Tusole Theatre grew into a community-based organisation committed to combining artistic creativity with development programming. Over the years, the Ensemble has provided a platform through which young people and community members can discover their talents, build confidence, develop performance skills and participate in community development. Its productions integrate drama, traditional dance, music, storytelling and participatory dialogue to address social challenges while celebrating Zambia’s cultural diversity. The five awards therefore represent the culmination of years of artistic development, community engagement, mentorship and collective effort. 3. Theatre Beyond Entertainment: Creating Meaningful Community Impact One of the defining characteristics of Tusole Theatre and Cultural Ensemble is its commitment to using performing arts for purposes beyond entertainment. Through TTYFA’s Theatre for Development approach, drama performances are used to communicate important social and health messages in ways that communities can easily understand and relate to. The Ensemble’s artistic work complements TTYFA’s wider interventions in: Within TTYFA’s adolescent and young people programming, theatre-based communication is an important complement to peer education, community dialogues and referrals to health services. This integration of arts and development demonstrates how community theatre can contribute to meaningful social change. 4. Celebrating Individual Excellence and Mentorship The recognition of Petronella Sitali, Limited Phiri and Daniel Ngoma adds special significance to the Ensemble’s achievement. While the two group awards celebrate collective excellence, the three individual awards demonstrate the importance of recognising talent, commitment, leadership and mentorship within the performing arts sector. Petronella Sitali’s achievement highlights the contribution of women to community theatre, while Limited Phiri’s recognition demonstrates the value of artistic dedication and individual performance excellence. Daniel Ngoma’s Distinguished Service, Excellence and Mentorship Award recognises the importance of sustained leadership and nurturing emerging talent. Together, these awards demonstrate that strong performing arts institutions are built through the combined efforts of talented practitioners, committed mentors and supportive organisational leadership. 5. Overcoming Challenges Through Resilience and Commitment Like many community-based performing arts groups, Tusole Theatre and Cultural Ensemble operates in an environment where financial resources, performance equipment, transport and opportunities for artistic development can be limited. Despite these challenges, the Ensemble has maintained its commitment to community performances, rehearsals, talent development and artistic innovation. The recognition at the Mosi-oa-Tunya Southern Awards illustrates the value of perseverance and the importance of sustaining grassroots creative initiatives. It also reinforces the need for greater investment in community theatre, including institutional partnerships, artistic training, performance infrastructure and opportunities for emerging artists. 6. Significance of the Achievement to TTYFA The five awards mark an important milestone in TTYFA’s organisational history. They strengthen the visibility of Tusole Theatre and Cultural Ensemble as a recognised performing arts department and reinforce the credibility of theatre-based approaches within community development. The achievement also provides an opportunity for TTYFA to build new partnerships with cultural institutions, development organisations, local authorities, arts promoters and other stakeholders interested in supporting community-based creative initiatives. For young performers, the awards offer encouragement that talent developed at the grassroots level can gain wider recognition. For the organisation, the recognition strengthens its commitment to promoting artistic excellence alongside community development. 7. Lessons Learned and the Way Forward The achievement demonstrates that sustained artistic practice, teamwork,
National Heroes Hall of Fame Honors Awards
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ENTERPRISING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR! Congratulations to the Executive Director for Tusole Theatre And Youth Friendly Association, Our Enterprising ED, Mr. Daniel Ngoma. We proudly celebrate your well-deserved recognition with the prestigious Theater Honor at the 2026 National Heroes Hall of Fame Honors Awards, presented by BR Virtual Tours. This remarkable honour is a testament to your visionary leadership, unwavering dedication, creativity, resilience and outstanding contribution to the development and promotion of community theatre in Zambia. Through your passion for Theatre for Development, you have demonstrated that theatre is more than entertainment. It is a powerful instrument for social transformation, community empowerment, education, advocacy and positive behavioural change. Your journey continues to inspire young people, community theatre practitioners and emerging leaders to dream beyond limitations and use their talents to transform lives. Your recognition is not only a personal achievement but also a proud moment for the entire Tusole Theatre and Youth Friendly Association family and the wider community theatre fraternity. You have not merely performed on the stage; you have used the stage to change lives, amplify voices and inspire generations. As the TTYFA family, we celebrate your achievements and look forward to even greater milestones under your leadership. Congratulations once again, Our Enterprising ED! Your dedication has earned recognition, your leadership has created impact, and your legacy continues to inspire. The stage may have curtains, but the impact of your work knows no boundaries! #CongratulationsDanielNgoma #OurEnterprisingED #TTYFA #TusoleTheatre #TheatreForDevelopment #NationalHeroesHallOfFame2026 #CommunityTheatre #VisionaryLeadership #CelebratingExcellence
STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY-BASED HIV PREVENTION SERVICES
Tusole Theatre and Youth Friendly Association brought together Data Clerks, Peer Navigators and Community Health Workers for a programme performance and data review meeting aimed at strengthening the delivery of community-based HIV prevention services. The team reviewed programme performance from January to June 2026, assessed data quality and reporting, and identified practical measures for improving community mobilisation and increasing access to HIV prevention services, including HIV testing, PrEP and STI screening and treatment services. Recognising that meaningful adolescent engagement goes beyond health information, the team also explored innovative ways of reaching adolescents and young people through Skills and Health Education (SHE) Clubs, Boys’ Insaka, participatory drama performances and practical skills-development activities. These include computer literacy, artificial intelligence, Photoshop, tailoring, fashion and design. The meeting reinforced the importance of teamwork, consistent and accurate reporting, meaningful community engagement, and the continued development of approaches that respond to the diverse needs and interests of adolescents and young people. By strengthening the capacity and coordination of frontline community teams, TTYFA is helping to bring HIV prevention information and services closer to the young people who need them. This programme is implemented with financial support from the Global Fund through the Ministry of Health and the University Teaching Hospitals–HIV/AIDS Programme (UTH-HAP). Together, we can strengthen community-based services and create more opportunities for adolescents and young people to make informed choices, develop valuable skills and access the support they need. #GlobalFund #MinistryOfHealth #UTHHAP #TusoleTheatreAndYouthFriendlyAssociation #CommunityBasedServices #HIVPrevention #AdolescentHealth #YouthEmpowerment #PrEP #STIPrevention #SHEClubs #BoysInsaka #DataQuality #CommunityEngagement #SkillsDevelopment
BRINGING HIV SERVICES CLOSER TO ADOLESCENTS IN NAMAENYA VILLAGE
For many adolescents, distance and limited access to accurate information can prevent them from seeking essential HIV services. To help close this gap, Tusole Theatre and Youth Friendly Association conducted a door-to-door HIV Testing Services (HTS) outreach activity in Namaenya Village, under Kalobolelwa Health Facility in Sesheke District. During the outreach, adolescents received age-appropriate HIV prevention information, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, confidential HIV testing and STI screening. Eligible clients were also referred to Kalobolelwa Health Facility for PrEP initiation and other appropriate services. By taking services directly to households, the activity helped increase awareness of the importance of knowing one’s HIV status and enabled adolescents to access vital health information and services within their community. This initiative was implemented with financial support from the Global Fund through the Ministry of Health and the University Teaching Hospitals–HIV/AIDS Programme (UTH-HAP). Together, we are bringing services closer to communities and empowering adolescents to make informed, healthier choices. #GlobalFund #MinistryOfHealth #UTHHAP #SeshekeDHO #TusoleTheatreAndYouthFriendlyAssociation #CommunityOutreach #AdolescentHealth #HIVPrevention #HIVTesting #KnowYourStatus #PrEP
Meet the Peer Navigators Changing Young Lives
Young people often have difficult questions about their health. Who can they turn to for trusted information and support? In Livingstone, the answer is Peer Navigators trained young people who help their peers make informed decisions about their health. Through the Adolescent and Young People (AYP) Project, 45 Peer Navigators received specialised training. What did they learn? They gained knowledge about HIV prevention, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) a medicine that helps prevent HIV effective communication with young people and how to connect their peers to appropriate health services. What difference did the training make? It gave the Peer Navigators more than knowledge; it strengthened their confidence to guide and support other young people. Loveness, a Peer Navigator from Simoonga Health Facility, shared her experience: “Before the training, I was afraid that I would not be able to answer difficult questions from young people. The training gave me the confidence and knowledge I needed. Now, I am able to guide my peers, help them make informed decisions and connect them to services that can protect their health and future.” What is happening today? Peer Navigators have become trusted voices in their communities. They are helping young people access HIV testing, initiate PrEP and learn how to protect their health one conversation at a time.
Climate Action, Community Resilience
Through reforestation and climate-smart livelihood programs, young people are leading the fight against climate change in their communities. Every tree planted, every eco-friendly solution adopted, is a step toward a sustainable tomorrow. Together, we can protect our planet.
Advancing Gender Justice
Linda Community was this afternoon fired up and ready to engage with our program team. The information and recruitment session for the Digital Democratic Governance project was well attended with over 100 Male and Female youths present during the start of the session. In no impression assistance contrasted. Manners she wishing justice hastily new anxious. At discovery discourse departure objection we. Few extensive add delighted tolerably sincerity her. Law ought him least enjoy decay one quick court. Expect warmly its tended garden him esteem had remove off. Effects dearest staying now sixteen nor improve. From the discussions and plenary, it was evident that the “Governance Gaps” that have long existed and allowed to grow wider have left out many youths, depriving them an opportunity to fully enjoy their human rights. Development 360 is optimistic of positive results from the engagements today. Many thanks go to CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, its DIGITAL ACTION LAB and its Funding Partners.
Breaking Barriers in Education
This year, we equipped over 500 adolescents and youth with literacy, vocational, and digital skills that are preparing them for a brighter future. Every child deserves the chance to learn, dream, and achieve. Your partnership helps us make that possible.