Fostering Global Impact: MJ Chungu’s Ongoing Commitment to HIV-Related Advocacy

McPherlain Chungu (MJ) grew up in Zambia to a single mother in a conservative society. Growing up amidst the AIDS epidemic, he recollects a time when they were going to someone’s father’s funeral, who had died of AIDS.

“On the way back from burying the father, the mother also passed away from the disease.”

With such gruesome memories from his childhood, MJ decided to help the community. Consistently topping his classes and being fluent in English allowed him to understand and translate policies to his local languages—Bemba and Nyanja. This made it more accessible to his people, particularly young people.

In the following years, MJ moved to Kolkata, India, after earning a scholarship to Oaktree International School to complete his International Baccalaureate degree. Here, he heard of Ashoka University through a Bangladeshi classmate and decided to apply. The beginning of the Ashoka experience for MJ came with several challenges. As the first international student, it took him a while to adapt to this new environment. However, in the coming weeks, his perception of the place changed.

He believes that Ashoka was the best educational experience he had. He says Malavika Maheshwari’s classes on Social and Political Formations were life-changing for him. The course allowed him to question everything: from society to gender roles, and religion.

“Prior to this, I had easily accepted the status quo of my society, even if it was harmful in some cases. Ashoka taught me to question; it provided me with the tools with which to analyze and understand the world against the backdrop of its various complexities.“

After Ashoka, MJ pursued a master’s degree in international affairs and policy at the Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID). He is currently serving as Technical Officer, of Stigma Research in the United Nations where he coordinates research, advocacy, and policy intervention work on HIV-related stigma.