Breaking the cycle of poverty, one stitch at a time
Our mission is to empower women in Zambia through education and economic opportunity.
Usually on my trips to Zambia, I’m blown away by the stories of our women entrepreneurs - their determination, their resilience, their ingenuity. And I still was. But this trip left me in awe of a different group of people.
Our unsung heroes: our Zambia staff.
Read MoreI’ve been back longer than I was away in Zambia, yet I’m still reaching for words to describe what happened during this trip.
Read MoreShekiwe grew up witnessing what was possible through her mom. Not merely surviving, as is the reality for so many, but thriving. She saw her mom chasing a dream. Igniting a passion. Living full of HOPE.
Read MoreWhen we formed this entrepreneur group, we were excited for the strength in unity that would surely come about. And it absolutely has. But one unexpected perk has also arisen, because these women are just that amazing.
Read More"Unprecedented." How many times have you heard that word over the last 2 years?
We've heard it over and over again in an effort to make sense of these trying times. And I could use it here to describe this past year that started off with a tragic loss in our CiH family, a third wave, and challenging economic decline.
But what if we flip this word around?
Unprecedented: never before known or experienced
2021 was a year of unprecedented HOPE.
Read MoreWe’ve been keeping a little secret over here these past few months!
Read MoreThe power of motherhood is what gripped me 10 years ago. A college student, 21 years old, and not yet a mother, I was shocked at the power of motherhood across cultures.
Read MoreWe expected to see a slight increase in quality during our first Entrepreneur Visit after she received the pump. But we expected there to be a learning curve as she figured out this new piece of machinery.
We definitely didn’t expect what we saw at the first Entrepreneur Visit at Catherine’s vegetable farm...
THIS is why we are holding Food Distributions, when we aren't an aid organization.
THIS is why we've been changing up our plans for this year.
THIS is why we need to care. Food insecurity is a real problem, and it doesn't look like it's getting better anytime soon.
Our women and their families are hungry. Add on power cuts and dry season and they’re also struggling to find clean water in their own communities. Times are harder than I have ever seen there in the 10 years I’ve been going to or living in Zambia. And when those suffering are our dear friends, sisters, and staff, it’s just awful.
Read MoreI recognized Faith’s eyes at the center the other day, but her body was transformed.
Read MoreEver meet someone who just makes things happen? Maybe he/she is a pro networker or excellent multitasker or just drinks a ton of coffee.
Ever heard of someone who just makes things happen in the middle of a rural village? Without social media, without the connections, without resources, without coffee (gasp). Just tons of grit and determination.
That’s Precious Chisangano. This woman.
Read MoreHow do I even begin to summarize my time in Zambia a couple weeks ago?
Read MorePatience's story is just one of many, and she represents the dozens and dozens of women in our program who have risen above oppression to choose a better life for themselves and their families. Her story is still being written, as she's a current student in our Kaunda Square location. She will graduate this coming March. During our recent trip to Zambia we asked who would want to share their story with our CiH family in America, and Patience was eager to do so.
Read MoreI took that same truth to the situation of the gunshots that one night. I knew I wouldn’t be able to rest easy and be restored in that house if I stayed there. And I needed to be my best self if I wanted the best for the ladies.
Read MoreI hear them coming closer on the other side of the concrete wall that’s about eight feet high. My bedroom window is only two feet from the wall. I lay perfectly still, as if that’ll keep them away. Heart pounding, sweating, tears falling out of my eyes without my awareness of them.
Read MoreWe learned that we could eat dinner for less than $1 if we bought day-old scones at the grocery store and dipped them in our jar of peanut butter. We learned that Coca-Cola is cheaper than water, but probably won’t make you feel good if it’s all you drink. We learned how to say hello, how are you, and see you tomorrow in Nyanja. And we also learned that we could really get on each other’s nerves.
Read MoreMark and I just look at each other and utilize our nonverbal sibling communication skills. He’s squirming, I’m squirming. Please just let us type this five-page document to get us out of here sometime today. But we trust, we let him do his thing, and meanwhile I’m going weak in the knees as the day heats up and the cow tongue smell becomes especially pungent in this dark, cramped, busy market stall.
Read MoreMark and I say few words to each other. We’re just soaking it up. It’s not my first time here, but it’s still a lot to take in. And yet somewhere in the midst of all the hustle and bustle and new sights, it has this strange feeling of home.
Read MoreAs we’re gearing up for our Gala for Hope(s) this September, I’ve been pulling tons of Elina photos from the CiH archives. Photos of us together over the past 7 YEARS that I’ve known her. And before we look ahead, dreaming together at our Galas, I wanted to share this story, this incredible story of one simple “yes” making ripples throughout entire communities in Zambia. Not really “my” story, but the story that I get to be part of. A gloriously messy, painfully thrilling, hope-filled, risky, adventurous, faith-filled story.
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