I know how it feels to be poor, I have been there – Cathy

CATHERINE Phiri says she will help the vulnerable because she knows how it feels to be poor.
The WBC champion rose from the shackles of poverty in Garden compound, having dropped out of school in grade nine.
The 25-year-old has since returned to school and is in grade 12 at Great North Road Academy in Lusaka.
Addressing the media yesterday, Catherine said she knows that education was the best thing she could give the vulnerable children and would use her stardom to lobby for school fees from corporate entities for the children.
“I want to help the vulnerable because I know what it means to be poor. I have been there. The best I can give them is education; if I give them material things they will end but education is a life time empowerment. But I can’t do it on my own. I will lobby with organisations that can help the children,” said Catherine.
And Catherine said she has no leisure time this year because her aim is to defend her WBC title and complete school.
Last month, Catherine became the first African woman to win the WBC title after she defeated former champion Yasmin Rivas in Mexico.
Catherine, who is to defend her title in six months, said she could not postpone her final exams or the title defence because both are important.
“I have to do the best I can to handle both. I don’t want to be dealing with school next year. I have to be at a new chapter next year, maybe thinking of college, so there is no leisure for me,” she said.
She said she was confident that her teachers at GNRA would devise a programme that would help her manage her training and school.
And Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions manager Christopher Malunga said Catherine was guaranteed a job at the quarry company if she obtains the necessary qualifications.
Malunga said this when Catherine said Oriental Quarries had motivated her to do study engineering and construction.
“She is part of Oriental, she can be employed as long as she has the qualifications. She is guaranteed of that,” said Malunga.

thepost