Chiyanika Nakasamu, a Zambian social entrepreneur, grew up witnessing the harsh realities of poverty and environmental degradation in his community. His family primarily relied on income from charcoal burning, a common but ecologically destructive practice driven by necessity. “60% of the Zambian population lives below the poverty line. This is forcing women and youth to engage in destructive economic activities like charcoal burning and unsustainable farming practices,” Nakasamu said.
Under these challenging circumstances, Nakasamu pursued his education, motivated to pursue a career path dedicated to uplifting others and addressing root causes of poverty.
“It was difficult to complete formal education in this environment as most families failed to educate their children,” Nakasamu said. “Having experienced a tough childhood upbringing and first-hand experience of massive deforestation and charcoal burning, all due to high poverty levels. I wanted to play a part in fighting this scourge.”
His path led him to Copperbelt University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance, equipping him with skills that would eventually support his drive for social change. Drawing from his financial expertise, Nakasamu founded Fourth Line Limited in 2019, a social business rooted in sustainable development, environmental protection, and financial inclusion.
“I collaborated with like-minded individuals and my childhood friend to start a social business with a special focus on beekeeping and financial inclusion,” Nakasamu said. “The aim of the business was to train households in sustainable forest use through beekeeping and honey production and financial literacy.”
Fourth Line Limited combines beekeeping and a digital platform, Pollen, which empowers local communities by promoting sustainable livelihoods while addressing deforestation. It provides training in sustainable beekeeping practices that preserve forest ecosystems while offering financial literacy to enable participants to improve their livelihoods.
“What I enjoy the most is creating initiatives that solve real-world problems, and see them impacting the lives of the people,” Nakasamu reflected. “Social entrepreneurship is hard! I learned that in this journey, you have to persevere and continue to fight for what you think is good for society.”
Nakasamu’s commitment to creating a positive impact was further strengthened by his participation in the Y&Y Fellowship Program. Through the program, he deepened his understanding of social entrepreneurship and gained access to mentorship and resources that helped refine Fourth Line Limited’s business model.
“It has been wonderful. [I] learned a lot and interacted with like minded social entrepreneurs,” Nakasamu said. “It is important because you have someone to talk to when hitting a brick wall and seek guidance on things you don’t know or aren’t sure of.”
Even with the success of his business in helping others, he recognizes the resilience and authenticity required for success. As a word of advice to aspiring social entrepreneurs, he said: “Do not start if you want to do it for [fun]. Have a real motive that is rooted in a problem you are trying to solve. And they have to be ready to walk a lonely path defined by determination and perseverance.”
Chiyanika’s vision extends beyond just his own community; he dreams of building digitally connected and sustainable societies throughout Zambia. Through Fourth Line Limited, he is not only preserving forests and providing economic opportunities but also redefining what it means to create lasting change. His story serves as a testament to the power of turning adversity into opportunity and transforming communities in the process.
