She Made it Happen

Ever 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.

She lives in Muchochoma Village (where we’re about to open our brand new facility!). She graduated from our skills-training program in 2017.

Those two sentences seem matter-of-fact, but let’s break that down a bit:

-Muchochoma Village: a rural village 3 hours outside Lusaka, the capital city; a former self-proclaimed “beggar village” as the poorest of the poor in the region before we started our training; a farming community; the “typical” village with mud brick and grass thatch huts; primarily accessible by ox-drawn carts

-Graduating from our skills-training program: for a woman in the village to graduate from our program, it takes extra grit. She is already responsible for tending to her family’s farm plot and working the land. She’s responsible for raising the children, few of whom are able to go to school. Yet she finds time to attend class regularly, learn how to sew and how to run a business, create 5 custom garments without patterns, and jump on a CiH bus to Lusaka to graduate. A lot, right? It is.

Precious did it. She graduated. And she used that momentous occasion as a launch pad for her dreams. Some may say that her life will never change because she lives the village life. But Precious believes otherwise.

She wants to be a businesswoman.

Instead of waiting for our next microloan cycle to get the capital needed to purchase a sewing machine, she went out (literally) and MADE IT HAPPEN.

She went out into the nearby forest to join others from the village in harvesting charcoal. She took the hundred-pound logs, cut them down, put them into 50 pound bags to sell on the roadside, and sat outside in the blazing sun to sell her handmade bags of charcoal.

We had no idea. But that’s how she wanted it. She wanted to make it happen because she knew she was capable and strong and smart. Goodness is she smart.

Precious sold enough bags of charcoal on the roadside to buy her own machine. SHE BOUGHT HER OWN SEWING MACHINE, folks!

The start of her own small business. Her dream becoming a reality. She is now making custom garments and school uniforms for customers from nearby villages. She plans to open her own stand to showcase her beautiful work.

Precious says,

My family will have a better life now than before.

Instead of patting her own back for MAKING IT HAPPEN, she says thank you. Thank you to her teachers and to each one of you who supports Clothed in Hope.

Thank you for empowering Precious to see what she’s capable of - big, wonderful, incredible things. A new path for her family. A fresh start.

Precious with her VERY OWN SEWING MACHINE! Her smile - that’s what it’s all about.

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Want to jump in to provide skills-training to even more women like Precious in Muchochoma Village and in Lusaka? We’d love to have you! Join our HOPE Club to provide life-changing opportunities and write stories of HOPE with us.

She Is Priceless

UPDATE: As of 10:00pm EST on 5/14, you raised $7,865!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to each one of you who gave generously to rebuild and restore HOPE in Muchochoma Village!

Rebuilding will start ASAP. The incredible women of Muchochoma Village will now have a place to sew, to be empowered, and to be reminded of their value. Thank you for stepping in and reminding each woman that She Is Priceless.

With Chikondi (Love),
Amy + the CiH Team

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Today is the She Is Priceless Global Giving Day hosted by Mercy House Global. We’re hoping to raise $7,500 so that we can rebuild our Chikondi Community Center in Muchochoma Village that was recently destroyed by a crazy storm. This facility will host dozens and dozens of women for their skills-training program, teaching them everything they need to know to become seamstresses and entrepreneurs in their rural communities. Basically, it’s a life-changing opportunity. And the building is where it all starts.

I could go into stats and everything, but let me pause right here. Let’s make this a bit more real. I’m currently home with a needy toddler and a sick baby, doing my best to keep up with things during nap time (aka now). You know how they say the key to confidence when speaking in front of people is to imagine them in their underwear? Well I’m convinced that the true feeling of fundraising is that I’M the one in my underwear in front of thousands of people asking folks to partner with us. Scary, huh? Yep it is.

Why do it, then?

Because it’s not about me. And maybe it’s not about you staring back at me either.

It’s about them - women in a tiny, overlooked village in rural Zambia. Women who have been told their entire lives that they’ll never become anything. Women who suffer unimaginable abuse and hardship. Women who are literally living off of the land without any access to electricity or running water. Many women who haven’t received schooling past elementary years because they were married off early for the dowry or they became pregnant or they were needed more at home than away at school.

This is for them. An opportunity that can change the trajectory for them and their children.

Imagine it - a woman gains a skill. She learns how to make money on her own through sewing and business. She starts that business with a microloan. She runs that business. Now what happens? She and her kids are fed. Not berries and leaves, but real, nutritious food to feed the body and brain. She and her kids are clothed. Her kids have school uniforms and the financial means to attend school. Perhaps they’ll become farmers too. Perhaps they’ll become teachers, doctors, accountants. Where there was previously a determined path of poverty, there arises opportunity. Options. Steps to break the cycle of poverty for this generation and the next.

Is that worth it, friends?

Is SHE worth it?

We think so. We think she’s worth it all - the sacrifice, of finances and time and effort. We think she’s worth hearing that she’s special and valued and important, even if she’s hearing it for the first time in her entire life.

Why?

Because She Is Priceless.

Will you join us today in standing up for the women of Muchochoma Village and putting brick by brick on a strong foundation of empowerment to see lives changed for years to come?

Will you donate?

Joy + Sorrow

How do I even begin to summarize my time in Zambia a couple weeks ago? If you haven’t heard, a baby girl named Hope, the daughter of a woman who was scheduled to graduate during this cycle, passed away shockingly. She suffered a lot. And it didn’t need to be like that.

I’ve been wrestling with that ever since I’ve been home. I bet many of you have had similar thoughts about the injustices of this world. It is just hard.

But the trip wasn’t all hard. Not at all. That’s the other shocking part.

Just as there was space made for sorrow, there was space made for joy. The two co-existing. The two held sacred.

We held a graduation for over 20 women who heard their names announced publicly and positively for the first time ever. We danced and celebrated.

We held a grieving mama who had to stay strong so her surviving daughter, Hope’s twin, would survive. And Hope’s twin, Faith, held onto her stuffed animal, about the same size of Hope and dressed in her dressed covered in her scent to comfort her as she screamed out for her “mpundu” or twin.

We visited a private game reserve for our first-ever Zambia staff retreat where many of our staff ladies saw a giraffe for the very first time and smiled in purest joy. They filled their stomachs with the buffet and talked about how peaceful it was to get out of the bustling city.

We visited Martha’s home for Hope’s visitation. Shoes off, kneeling before female elders, shaking hands, meeting sorrowful eyes, sitting on handmade grass mats. Understanding in that very moment that this is community.

It doesn’t cost us our joy to meet another in their sorrow. If anything, it expands it. Our hearts swell when we use them how they’re designed to be used. To be broken for one another, to be healed with one another, to be expanded by experiences, to be shared and poured out, to be filled and built up.

This trip was complicated. It started out with a schedule and a casual check-in with our ladies. We flew home without much of “accomplished” yet everything accomplished.

We know that our program is working. We saw it at graduation. We saw it in our staff. And we saw it vividly at Hope’s visitation.

Community. Empowerment. Encouragement. Love. Joy. Hope. Sacrifice. Overcoming. Determination. Faith. Kindness.

All existing in a society and others in the community trying their hardest to trip up, to defeat, to oppress, to shame, to hurt, to keep down, to belittle and to silence.

Thank you to every single one of you sowing into this organization. You are raising a banner of HOPE over hundreds of women and thousands of their children. You are creating a force to be reckoned with - women who will not be stopped, women who will not let their friend suffer alone, women who are fighting for their children to walk a new path in life. We are honored to partner with you in this hard and incredible work.

With Chikondi (Love),
Amy

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If you want to join us in this work, join the HOPE Club. Click the button below:

Be An Encourager

Everyone wants to be encouraged. And I think all of us can think of a time in our lives when we really needed extra encouragement. Maybe you aren’t worrying about where your next meal will come from (or maybe you are) like many women in Zambia. But I would bet that you’ve experienced many of the same hardships that they have, even if they’ve looked a little different.

We all are too familiar with loneliness, loss, isolation, insecurity, and rejection. None of us are immune from the hardships of life. 

Some of us have walked through oppression and discrimination. Some of us have grieved the loss of a loved one, whether through divorce or death. Some of us have said goodbye to children before we were able to say hello. Some of us live in fear of what’s to come. Some of us have experienced abuse. Some of us have been stolen from and betrayed.

All of us know what it means to hurt. And none of us should want that for one another.

And here’s your chance to play a part. Since 2012, you’ve heard stories of HOPE from our ladies in Zambia. You’ve heard some of the hard stuff they’ve trudged through to get to the other side. Life is still hard – as we can all attest to – but life is now full of HOPE for them, the game changer. Many of you have been encouraged and inspired by the stories of the women in our program.

Right now there are a lot of women in our program who are facing some really challenging things: abuse, betrayal, loss, rejection, oppression, chronic illness, loneliness, just to name a few. While we’re filling these women up with the practical skills to rise above poverty, we also want to be helping them heal from life’s hurts.

Now’s our chance to be the encouragers. Would you be willing to pass along words that have helped you in your struggles in the past (or present)? Would you be willing to write a letter to a Zambian woman to let her know that she is seen, known, and loved?

You have no idea how much this would mean to our ladies.

If you want in, it’s gotta be quick. We need all letters by March 21 (Thursday). You can email them directly to me amy@clothedinhope.org. All letters will stay confidential and won’t be shared with anyone except the women in our Zambia program. You can sign your name or you can remain anonymous. You can include a photo of yourself or your family if you wish.

Thank you for being our CiH family. We can play a powerful role in each other’s stories, both here and there. Let’s show up for our ladies, fam.  

With Chikondi (Love),
Amy

Celebrating 8 Years of HOPE

Today is our 8th birthday! This time each year brings about a period of reflection, of where we’ve been, what we’ve gone through, what we’ve accomplished.
 
But this year when I think back over the years I’m not thinking about the “where” or the “what” but rather the “who.”
 
I’m thinking of Betty* who smiled for the first time in years when she joined our program. After years of oppression and abuse from the stigma surrounding her HIV+ status, she was only familiar with hurt and tears and hopelessness. Her children only knew a life of struggle, watching their mother be outcast from her community. They watched on as neighbors said she was worth less than the dogs on the streets. They already lost their father to HIV/AIDS, and they were losing their mother to life as a widow. Her body was failing her as she grew weaker and weaker. Her heart shattered day after day from the verbal abuse she endured from everyone around her. One day, months into her training, I was at the Chikondi Community Center and turned around to see Betty’s oldest daughter standing there waiting for me. She said, “Thank you. My mother was crying but now she is smiling. She is happy for the first time in many years.” Betty was happy not just because she had a skill to provide for her family, but because she was part of a community who loved her for her regardless of her HIV status. With us, she was safe, loved, affirmed, and celebrated.
 
I’m thinking of twin girls and their mama who we almost lost. A corrupt medical system pushed a due date back and denied a bed because of the mama’s financial position. Hours away from losing the babies ans her due to a medical complication from carrying twins past 40 weeks, we were able to take her to a private hospital who would perform an emergency c-section. The twins are now thriving almost-4-year-olds and mama is due with another healthy baby any day now.
 
I’m thinking of a retired woman here in NC who came across our organization in the craziest of ways and generously chose to use her gift of journalism and writing to get us much-needed exposure in a local magazine. She went a step further to invite the women of her community to an event that she created to allow us to share our story with them and connect with new supporters. She could’ve stayed comfy in her comfy home enjoying her retirement, but she chose to use her talents right where she was to change the lives of women across the world. She did what she could with what she had, and it was incredible.
 
I’m thinking of our very first interns, fellow college students and sorority sisters at the University of South Carolina, who heard this crazy idea and wanted to put their education into action. They carried buckets around music venues to collect donations. They put on fundraisers. They got others to get excited about a dream that would soon become reality. They could’ve carried on with their full schedules, but they chose to be part of something bigger than themselves.
 
I’m thinking of Sally* who joined the program to learn how to sew so that she could teach local prostitutes how to sew. She knew they would struggle to join a formal program like ours, so she resolved to take the program to them. She looked beyond her own (many) needs to see how she could be part of the change in her community. She knew that these women also longed for acceptance, love, empowerment, and education. Rather than look down on them like the rest of society, she chose to link arm in arm with them to provide them a way out.
 
I’m thinking of our HOPE Club family. 100+ of you who choose to give monthly, some for many years now. From $10/month to $150/month, these folks are our foundation. They are the ones who keep this program going, who keep advocating for HOPE for vulnerable women in Zambia. They send encouraging emails, they host their own fundraisers, they invite their friends, they gift our products. They carry Clothed in Hope as their own, as it absolutely is. They are partners in HOPE, choosing to invest in the lives of women and children across the world.
 
I have met so many incredible people over the last 8 years. From professors to deans who chose to support a crazy dream, to musicians and graphic designers who volunteered their talent to fundraise for us, to single mothers in the US who want Zambian single mothers to be encouraged and equipped, to moms, dads, grandparents, students, millennials, retirees who all choose to be part of something bigger. These seemingly ordinary people are choosing to be part of something extraordinary – proclaiming freedom for the oppressed, giving HOPE to the hopeless, and bringing forth beauty from ashes.
 
It is YOU who we are thankful for. It is YOU who is making life-change possible for over 250 women in Zambia. It is YOU who is playing an active role in the orphan crisis by keeping families together, providing children with happy, healthy homes through empowering their mothers. It is YOU who is choosing to do more with this precious life we’ve been given.
 
Here’s to you! Enjoy a cupcake and light a candle to celebrate with us. Because without you, we wouldn’t be us. Let’s keep writing stories of HOPE together, friends!
 
With Chikondi (Love),
Amy


*Names changed for privacy purposes

Filled with Gratitude

Of all the fun things I got to design over the years, I’ve always loved designing our CiH tees — our HOPE Club shirt may be my favorite!

There are less than 6 weeks between now and the due date of my second daughter.

It’s honestly pretty hard to write this blog post, but for a reason other than it being my final task with CiH before venturing into the world of full-time mom of two. Instead, it’s because this organization has such a huge part of my heart that it this doesn’t really feel like “Goodbye,” but more like a shift from team member to over-enthusiastic fan on the sidelines (hand painted ‘Go Team!!!!’ sign and all).

I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to work with this organization. I have experienced with Amy, Kathy, Elina and the rest of our staff in Zambia what it means to “do what you can, with what you have, where you are” (a quote we’ve come back to several times over the years as we’ve sought direction towards our vision). Clothed in Hope — though we are small in comparison to organizations with more people, bigger budgets, and more reach — is sustainably empowering Zambia’s most vulnerable people; one woman, one family at a time. It has been an honor to call myself part of this team.

While I’m saying goodbye to my Creative Coordinator position, I look forward continuing my membership in the HOPE Club, and being part of the work CiH is doing this year and beyond. As cliché as it sounds, this job has been so much more than a job; it was an answer to a prayer I had back in 2012 (when I first met Amy and heard her vision), it has opened my eyes to the profound need for HOPE in the world, and it has taught me that every. single. one. of us is capable of making an impact.

Gratefully, with Chikondi (Love),

Meredith

Myself, Elina, Amy & Kathy at our 2017 Gala for Hope

I will never forget the feeling I had when we pulled up to our Chikondi Community Center. I was overwhelmed with joy (and LOTS of tears) in seeing our home base for the first time!

Some of our Zambia staff before the March 2018 Graduation

Big Plans to Get Small

Typically a New Year’s Resolution includes a new goal, a bigger, better self. Ours is a little different this year. We have experienced much success and faced many challenges over the last 8 years (how has it been 8 years already?!). As a Board, we took time to step back and look at the big picture to see how we could be doing this better.

And the answer was in getting smaller.

You heard that right.

Some changes have been beyond our control, like a Development position that didn’t pan out as hoped, and saying goodbye to our beloved Meredith as she transitions into full-time mom of 2. We didn’t anticipate a drop in funding last year. But rather than react emotionally, we are choosing to respond wisely.

Our mission all along has been to empower women through sewing and business as a means of orphan prevention – keeping families together and out of poverty.

This year, we’re making 3 big changes to get smaller:

1.     PRODUCTS: Somewhere along the way, products became less about opportunity and more of a burden on our ladies competing for time with their own small businesses that we all work so hard to get going for them. Starting on January 28, we’re permanently slashing prices in our online shop for a mega Closeout Sale. Women have already been paid full price for these products, so all of the profits from these sales will be invested into our skills-training program, our heart. We’re excited for our ladies to benefit most in the long-run through investing all time and energy in growing their small businesses through our microloan program and mentorship.

 2.     LOCATION: Looking at the budget, it would be too tight to keep running all 4 locations. Our Kaunda Square location is the only facility where we’ve had to pay rent, a water bill, and have extra security because of the area. Bottom line: it’s our most expensive facility. So once this current Kaunda Square class graduates in March, we will pause our Kaunda Square program until HOPE Club grows enough to sustain the monthly cost of operating this most-expensive location. Our focus will be even more concentrated at our Ng’ombe Chikondi Community Center, our House of Moses partnership, and our Muchochoma Village Chikondi Community Center.

3.     STAFFING: Life for me has changed drastically and excitingly over the last 2 years with the arrival of our 2 sons. Two kids under 1.5 years old is enough of a challenge, and running an organization simultaneously is an enormous undertaking. I hate to break it to y’all, but I’m not wonder woman. I have my limits and as much as I want to say “more!” this is a season for a bit less so everyone can have my best. Including CiH. Our US staff is back to where we were in 2015: Kathy, running admin (and 100 more things), and me, running big picture ops, communication, etc. All with the support of our amazing Board of Directors and incredible advocates like you.

Our heart is orphan prevention and women’s empowerment. To see lives changed through HOPE. To break the cycle of poverty, one stitch at a time through sewing and entrepreneurship. And we feel confident that these changes to “get small” will have big impacts in the lives of the ladies we serve in Zambia. We’re excited for this year of re-focusing, aligning us for success for years to come.

 As always, if you have any questions please reach out! I’m an open book and always love hearing from y’all.

 Thank you so very much for your support over these past EIGHT years, friends! Women are being empowered, businesses are growing, families are staying together, and lives are being changed. All because you chose to join us. Thanks for making it happen.

 With Chikondi (Love),

Amy
Founder & Executive Director

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To Join the HOPE Club to fund our Zambia Operations + get fun perks, click the button below:

The Letter I Never Wanted To Write

Dear CiH Family,

I write this letter to you with my heart racing, stomach in knots, and tears welled up in my eyes. A letter I never wanted to write.

Last Tuesday I spoke to a Girl Scout Troop in Durham, NC. A girl, around 7 years old, looked up at me while seated on the front row, hand raised boldly and excitedly. She asked, “Do you ever have moments when you want to give up?” likely expecting a superwoman answer.

Before I could filter my response to match her excitement, the truth leaked out: “I want to give up right now, this month.”

Her eyes switched from anticipation to disappointment. Much like my weary heart has over these last few months.

I use this phrase a lot, and while it’s less than professional, I’ll use it here. It’s time for “real talk.”

This year has made me want to give up. It has been so.hard.

I’m no stranger to struggle since starting Clothed in Hope. We’ve faced plenty of challenges over the last 7 years since all of this began. We walked through fire when someone tried to murder one of our staff members in the early years. I was stolen from when I lived in Zambia – multiple times. I’ve been told horrific stories of real-time abuse and oppression. We’ve looked corruption in the face time and time again. But nothing has brought me as low as I am now.

It seems as if every time we attempt the next step towards growth, we’ve been hit with an obstacle this year. You all gave money to start the Literacy Project, but then an entire shipment of product was ruined. You all sponsored over a dozen sewing machines, but then a few major contributions never arrived that we were counting on. We’ve endured staffing changes, inflation consequences, folks who have discontinued their HOPE Club involvement, cancelled Galas for Hope, and the list goes on (and on and on).

We have 14 Zambian staff relying on us. There are over 200 women who desperately need this program in order to keep their kids in their homes and pull themselves out of poverty. There are over 1000 children who need their mamas to gain a skill so they can have money to go to school and eat 3 meals a day. Need, need, need.

So here’s the bottom line: We need a lot. We need $50,000.

And here’s the honest truth: I’m scared. Scared of letting people down and having to make hard decisions about our future. I’m scared to hurt and to fail. I’m not perfect, and I can’t do it all. Though I’ve certainly tried over these years.

While I love everything about what we’re doing in Zambia, the reality of our current situation terrifies me. And yes, dear Girl Scout, it makes me want to give up. So here’s my raw, weary, honest heart. Here’s my plea. I don’t have a solution or a strategy right now. No flashy postcard or catchy social media campaign. Just this real talk.

This burden to save this organization isn’t just on me. The decision belongs to all of us. We can choose to pause programs when funding dries up. OR we can buckle down, dig deep, sacrifice much, and keep this program going. I vote the latter… you?

I’ve heard the phrase, “it takes a village” often especially since having my second son in less than 1.5 years. But I believe this phrase isn’t just for raising my own kids, but also in keeping this organization alive. You’re our village. This won’t happen, can’t happen, without you.

The flame hasn’t been extinguished just yet. There’s still time, there’s still a chance. A flicker, a glimmer, the very one I’ve seen in the eyes of oppressed women in Zambia: the glimmer of HOPE. All is not lost. Let’s keep HOPE alive, friends.

We need $50k by Thanksgiving Day to be able to continue.

Dear Village, will you give $100? $1,000? $10,000? You can give online HERE or via check mailed to 314 Bonniewood Dr. Cary, NC 27518.

With your help, we can keep breaking the cycle of poverty, one stitch at a time.

With so much Chikondi (Love),

Amy Bardi
Founder & Executive Director

Guess What?! She's Coming Back!

Elina is coming back to America this October!

Elina will be based in the Raleigh area from October 7th through November 9th.
She's excited to share her story with YOU - our CiH family! 

We're filling up her calendar now for speaking engagements and events. Do you have a Supper Club, Small Group, Civic Group, Church, etc. who would like to hear her powerful story of HOPE? Send me (Amy) an email HERE by August 14 and we'd love to get something scheduled! She's happy to travel around NC/SC/VA for your event, and can be available for Skype interviews also.

Here are a few fun facts about this amazing lady in the middle:

• She's our Zambia Director and manages 11 Zambian Staff #girlboss
• She graduated from our program in Spring 2014
• The entire CiH program began in HER living room in 2012 when I launched the program in-country, before we had our Chikondi Community Center
• She has 6 children and 4 grandchildren and has housed many orphans over the years
• Her favorite food when she came to America last year was Chick-fil-A (especially the CFA sauce!)

Let's show this dear friend a very warm welcome to the U.S. and make her month here one to remember!

With Chikondi (Love),
Amy Bardi
CiH Founder & Executive Director

We're Growing...

Ready for a BIG announcement?!?

I'm the worst secret keeper out there, but somehow I've kept this one for over a year now. And I'm excited to share it with you now that I'm able to do so!

My husband and I are excited to announce that we're growing our family AND the CiH family by FOUR tiny feet! And no, it's not twins...

Last summer we became parents to the sweetest baby boy through adoption! We're still in the finalization process - thus the secrecy - but we'll share his adorable face with you as soon as we can. Trust me, it's worth the wait. :)

Summer 2017: Day 2 of our son being home

AND this summer, as in one month from now (!!), we'll be welcoming a second baby boy to our family: Baby Luke (insert heart eyes emoji here)

Summer 2018: Baby Luke on the way

For those of you who aren't familiar with our personal story, here's a bit of it. We lost 2 babies in 2014 and 2016 through miscarriage. Those losses were devastating and their little lives continue to impact us even today, and will for the rest of our lives. We miss those babies and who they would've been in our family and this world. We didn't know what it would look like to have a family after only being familiar with loss. So we rejoice and give thanks all the more for these TWO gifts in our lives that we're completely undeserving of. 

It may start to make sense why we've started cranking out the CiH elephants and giraffes and kids backpacks. We've entered a fun, challenging, exciting new season of life, and CiH is still very much a part of it! I'm so thankful to get to raise our boys knowing a life bigger than themselves and their little bubble, to know about issues around the world, and take part in making a change right where they are.

We GET to invite our families into empowering families around the world. And while my babies won't understand that for a few more years, it's one of the greatest gifts we can give them. 

Life is now less business casual outfits and more spit-up stained t-shirts with nap time work crunch time, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Funny how the unexpected can be exactly what we need.

I'm starting my maternity leave on August 15, but we have some super exciting things coming up this fall that I can't wait to share with you! And now that the secret's out you'll be seeing a lot more of me around these parts :)

Thank you for walking this road with us!

With Chikondi (Love),
Amy
CiH Founder & Executive Director

Meredith's Trip to Zambia

Six years ago, I fell in love with the mission behind Clothed in Hope. I was in college studying graphic design when I heard about this little organization another girl at UofSC had started and I was immediately sold; the heart for vulnerable women, the grassroots beginning, the opportunity to make an impact in a little corner of the world...I wanted to be a part of this and (if I was being really honest) I wanted to, one day, visit Zambia and meet these amazing women who were trusting this little organization to change their lives. 

I truly believe that God heard the little unspoken desires of my heart, because I am now sitting in a coffee shop, as the CiH Creative Director, writing a blog post on my recent trip to ZAMBIA, and let me tell you (with an extreme risk of sounding cliché) it was incredible.

When we finally arrived after a grueling 24-hour journey, it all felt strangely familiar. Driving through the streets that I have seen in so many photos — dusty roads, children in school uniforms, little shops with hand-painted signs — this was the Ng'ombe I had imagined. What I didn't expect were the tears that came streaming down my face as we pulled up to the gates of the Chikondi Community Center. It was in this moment that everything hit me...

THIS. IS. REAL.

All these years I had known of this place, known of the people who lived here, known of our skills-training program. But in a single moment the reality of these things came flooding in — all of my knowledge came ALIVE! 

Through the gates, we were welcomed with singing, dancing, hugs and prayers from our staff and students.

After our first day — which was full of happy tears, introductions and planning — Kathy asked me what I thought of the center. Thinking back on this day, it feels a little like a dream. Everything was just as it seems from almost 8,000 miles away. I kept finding myself wanting to take photos in front of different things as if I was visiting a famous landmark. Every time I saw a familiar face, I felt like I was spotting a celebrity. I was hugging the necks of the women whose stories I have read over and over — it was the most surreal experience I have had to date. 

Cooking with "Chef Maggie" (Margret) is one of my favorite memories from the trip. 

In a few meaningful, soft-spoken words, Margret shared her gratitude for her job on staff and what it means for her family. 

Nshima, chibwabwa (a pumpkin leaf stew), and chicken for lunch with the staff!

We only had five short days in Zambia, spending a bit of time at each of our locations (besides the Muchochoma Village location, which we didn't have time to visit this trip). We also paid a visit to the market to select fabric for ALL of this year's HOPE Club Champion and Limited Release products. Busy with local shoppers (and pick-pockets, I was warned), the market street was lined with shop after little shop, filled with neatly folded fabrics and practically anything else you might happen to be looking for. I was overwhelmed in the best way hunting down the prints our producers would use to create our next products. I am so excited for you guys to see what we found, but until then, here's a photo of me in heaven...

By far, the most remarkable day was GRADUATION DAY! Kathy and I arrived on Wednesday morning to students and staff buzzing around the center as they prepared for the big day. Just minutes before the ceremony began, Fridah (our lead sewing instructor) handed me a folded outfit and said with a smile, "Put it on now." She and some of our other staff members (without taking a single measurement) had made me a gorgeous outfit to wear that day! Now, I can not stress to you enough how BUSY this week had been since we arrived, but these women took extra time out of their day to make me a gorgeous two-piece dress. I will truly cherish it forever!

Elina (In-Country Director), Jessy (Micro-Loan Coordinator), Emeli (Asst. Director), Fridah (Lead Sewing Instructor), and myself in my gorgeous outfit!

If I had to sum graduation day up in one word it would be JOYFUL! To see all of our students gathered in one place, donning their handmade outfits, laughing with their friends and family, their children by their sides, I just kept thinking, "What an honor."

I, coming from so far away and having only met these women a few days ago, was invited to take part in a day that would likely change these women's lives forever. I was able to hand these ladies (and one gentleman), a diploma that tells the world, "I have a skill. I am capable. I am worthy." Again, I found myself in a moment that could have felt like a dream, only the JOY, and the tears, and the HOPE were all too real! 

Over and over again, the story we heard was, "Before, I didn't have any skills. Now, I have a SKILL. I can do something." What may seem like a simple sewing and business/entrepreneurship course is, for our students, the key to a better life. For themselves. For their children. And this is something to CELEBRATE!

This was a happy day. These are women empowered. Our staff is a group of people who love deeply. And this little corner of the world is being changed because of these things, and because of people like YOU who believe in us. But more notable than any of this is something that became real during this short and busy week — these are women of FAITH. 

My time in Zambia has changed me. It has changed the way I work. Working for a nonprofit can be challenging; we all work outside of our wheelhouses, within tight budgets, and without knowledge of the future to some extent. But I can now say that I've FELT it. I've SEEN it. I've HEARD it. I have experienced our vision playing out in real time, and that is invaluable. If you're still with me, thank you for taking the time time out of your day to read this. If you're a donor, please know that your sacrifice — big or small — is truly changing lives. And if you're not a donor, I hope that you'll join us in this amazing, humbling work. 

Zikomo (Thank You),

Meredith

International Women's Day 2018

Today, we are celebrating all of the women in our lives.

To the hardworking mothers who make daily sacrifices to create stability and provide for their families, to the young girls who encounter decisions each day that will impact their futures, to the women leaving their homes each morning to pursue their careers...each and every one of you is making an impact. Thank you for doing what you can, exactly where you are. 

Today is a special day for us at Clothed in Hope because women's empowerment drives everything we do. We have seen first-hand the impact that can be made when women are told "You are seen. You are important. You are capable." So, it can be expected that International Women's Day is a day that we hold very near and dear to our hearts, and we hope you'll join us in celebrating!

We've created these images for you to share on your social pages. Will you join us in creating awareness around this special day?

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Facebook + Instagram (right click to save)

Instagram Story (right click to save)

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Are you ready to make a difference?

We also want to invite you to celebrate this holiday by donating to our skills-training program or another women's organization. Either way, YOU are capable elevating women's roles in the world, and when you support Clothed in Hope you empower women to pursue their dreams!

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Zikomo (Thank You),

Meredith

Why Live Her Life?

We've been to all of them — jewelry parties, makeup parties, cooking parties...the list could go on. While each of these get-togethers has a different collection of objects to pass around and purchase, that's not always the reason you're there. It's just fun and relaxing to get together with good friends, maybe some new faces, and (hopefully) some yummy snacks. 

When Amy and I were designing and planning our Live Her Life Party, we wanted to create an event like the home parties we're all familiar with, except for one amazing element — the opportunity to EMPOWER women across the globe, right from your own living rooms.

A few weeks back, we threw our own Live Her Life Party so we could show you what it's all about. So before we talk more about the why, we want to show you the how — and it's really pretty simple...

As soon as you sign up to host a Live Her Life party, we will send you a box with mostly everything you'll need for your get together (besides a few household items like a laptop and scissors). For our party, I picked up some simple snacks from TJ's and decided to have a frozen pizza ready since it was during dinner time. The main thing to remember here is, keep it simple! We want your party to be a fun, laid back evening for you and your friends — no need to get all Martha Stewart on us (unless you find that sort of thing relaxes you, and if that's the case...send us a pic of that tablescape, girl)! 

Once you catch up and eat a bit, you will huddle around your laptop or tablet to hear Jessy's story. Kicking off the night with this short video is an easy way to introduce Zambian culture, and to hear directly from someone whose life has been changed forever because of people who chose to make an impact! 

After Jessy's story it's time to get cooking — Everyone takes part in making this Zambian dish!

Our nshima comes in a pretty little bag made by our students and a wooden spoon from our local market in Zambia (that our hostesses get to keep)!

Making the nshima together was so fun! If we had to make this every day, there would be no need for tricep dips at the gym, hah!

After a little more snacking and trying some Zambian food, you and your friends will make your own chitenge bracelets. These bracelets were designed exclusively for our Live Her Life parties. Working together with beautiful African fabrics is something our students do everyday as they learn a new skill that will improve their lives. We wanted our partygoers to experience this hope-giving part of our training program, and love that everyone will have something to take home with them after the party is over!

Once everyone finishes their bracelet, your group will take turns reading real stories from women in the Clothed in Hope program.

This part of the party is a little hard, and maybe even a little uncomfortable...but it's our favorite part. While a lot of the stories included in this party talk about immense adversity in our students' lives, it's the HOPE and success that we need you to know about! We need you to understand that it is because of people like you — who do what they can, where they are to make an impact in the world — that these women can stand up and say that they are proud, empowered, and capable. 

The final part of the Live Her Life party is inviting your friends to keep the party going! We not only want to raise awareness about the need, but provide a way for you and your friends to take part in our mission. Your group can sponsor a student during her 12-month training program, decide to give a one-time donation, or shop our product line! However you choose to get involved, this is the most important part of the night...empowering women from right where you are (and how fun to get to do it with your friends)!

So, why host a Live Her Life Party? We need you to help us tell these stories, we need you to believe in and take part in our mission. We could have sent you a box of things to sell to your friends, but we think you can do more, and we can't wait for you to join us!

Photography by Abbey Eaves

Chikondi (Love), Meredith

Zambia Christmas Party!

Every year we get to host a big and fun Christmas party for our entire CiH family in Zambia. This year over 150 women attended and brought their children for singing, dancing, skits, and of course a Christmas feast! Enjoy a few photos from our ZamStaff from the exciting day!

Women from Muchochoma Village made the 2 hour trek to our Chikondi Community Center! They performed skits they prepared as a group. 

Music by Jona, the youngest child of our Zambia Director, Elina

Time for the feast! Chicken, rice, potatoes, sodas, fritters, vegetables, potato salad, spaghetti, and this year's treat- apples! Looks like those nutrition lessons are paying off for the ladies to choose apples as their special treat. 

Keeping the littles growing big and strong

Margret's twins made sure to get their plates filled up!

Beautiful fashions on our beautiful students!

Such a fun Christmas party this year! Thank you for making 2017 an amazing one. We hope you'll join us for 2018 as many more women and their children will get to join our CiH family.

With Chikondi (Love),
Amy

Join Us For #GivingTuesday 2017

This year, you have the opportunity to TRIPLE your giving, and set up your own fundraiser!

This year for #GivingTuesday (Nov. 28), we were thrilled to find out that a generous donor is matching all donations up to $5000. THEN we were told that Facebook and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be matching up to $2 million of funds raised for US nonprofits through Facebook's charitable giving tools. Donations can be matched up to $50,000 per nonprofit, with a max of $1,000 per fundraiser or donate button, until the $2 million in matching funds run out (the match will begin November 28th at 8AM EST). Additionally, Facebook is waiving all fees for donations to nonprofits on #GivingTuesday.

Not only does this mean that when you give through Facebook your donation will make three times the impact, YOU also have the opportunity to set up your own fundraiser! Will you join us in making this #GivingTuesday the best one yet?

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Here's all you need to do...

1.) Starting at 8AM on November 28, click on this link: https://www.facebook.com/pg/clothedinhope/fundraisers/?ref=page_internal, or click Fundraiser on the left-hand side of our main Facebook page. 

2.) Click the blue + Raise Money button on the right side of the page, Click Get Started in the pop-up window

3.) Set the goal amount to $1000, and change the end date to Nov. 29, click Next

4.) If you'd like, you can copy/paste the following text in the description:

"Dear friends and family, I'm raising money for Clothed in Hope for #GivingTuesday and I'd love your support. Today ONLY, Facebook is matching every donation up to $1,000! Any amount is appreciated. I've included information about Clothed in Hope below.

Breaking the cycle of poverty, one stitch at a time.

Clothed in Hope's goal is to provide hope to vulnerable women in Lusaka, Zambia through training in sewing and business, in an effort to alleviate poverty at the grassroots level. We believe hope means much more than financial assistance. By empowering women through life-skills training, we want to play a role in renewing their confidence, impacting their culture, and inspiring women across the globe."

5.) The photo generated in the final step is ready to go! Click, Create

6.) Encourage your friends and family to donate by giving total updates throughout the day! People love to see progress, and are more inclined to give when they know they are part of a successful event.

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We are beyond excited to invite you to be an even bigger part of our #GivingTuesday efforts this year! Thank you for standing with us as we break the cycle of poverty in Zambia. We are truly grateful!

Zikomo (Thank You),

The CiH Team

Patience's Story

If you're part of our HOPE Club, you're already familiar with this story since it was our October HOPE Story. But it was too special to keep within the Club, so we're sharing it with all of you!

Patience'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. 

Patience has a voice and she's excited to use it. It's up to us to listen, to be inspired, and to act.

"My name is Patience Mulenga. I have one boy who is 4 years old and one girl who just turned 1 year. I started at this Kaunda Square class in March.
 
I heard about the class from the first group of students. I was standing by the road one day and helped them carry chitenge fabric and a machine. I told them that I wasn’t doing any business, and they invited me to join the class since I was just sitting at home. I met with the Teacher to find out if I could join and she said I could start in March.
 
I have enjoyed learning everything so far. I’ve always had the passion to sew but didn’t know anything about it. Someone bought me an old sewing machine a while ago, and now I can actually start to use it. Learning has given me so much joy and I’ve been inspired. I’ve managed to learn how to sew other things. I can see clothes I like and then cut out the design on fabric to make it. I can imagine a design and then make it. My sewing isn’t perfect but I am still practicing.
 
When I finish my course and start my sewing business I will be able to enroll my son into preschool. I want to name my business 'With God.'
 
You should continue with funding this program. You are really empowering a lot of us and it’s helping us women who are less privileged. The skill will take us far. There are many women going about and sleeping with men so that they can feed their children. But with this, a lot of women will be able to stand on their own as women. When you have this skill as a woman, you can go far. You will never lack. So I am saying thank you for this program."

Did you catch that?

When you have this skill as a woman, you will go far. 

You will never lack. 

THIS is what you are giving to women in Zambia when you partner with us. This dignity, this hope, this confidence, this success. While Patience is the one overcoming much, you can be the facilitator of that change. You get to link arms with her and see lives changed in Zambia. 

Want in?

Our FOURTH Location!

Yes, you read that correctly! We are launching our FOURTH location on August 2nd!!

As you may know, we launched a partnership with Alliance for Children Everywhere (ACE)/Christian Alliance for Children in Zambia (CACZ) as part of their Empower & Earn component of their Family Preservation programs. I first learned about their House of Moses infant home when I moved to Zambia in 2012. I loved their facility, enjoyed their friendly and attentive staff, and could only ever dream of partnering with them. One of our deep-rooted motivations at CiH is orphan prevention. So when I received the call from a staff member at House of Moses wanting to explore a partnership together in the name of family empowerment and orphan prevention, I was thrilled!

Fast forward a few years later. We will be graduating our 2nd class of students from ACE/CACZ this September! We've learned that families in these vulnerable situations are highly motivated and highly capable of providing for their families to keep their children in the home and out of the orphanage. We never thought we'd get to play such a direct role in orphan prevention, but we're here. And friends, IT IS THE BEST!! Graduation Day is always exciting getting to recognize the determination, courage, and skills of the women in our program, overcoming immense cultural obstacles and oppression to do so. But when you throw in these students who also get to celebrate keeping their children in their home because they can financially provide for them, it is a PARTY!!

This partnership is really just beginning, and we can't imagine better people to work alongside. The folks at ACE/CACZ have invited us to open a FOURTH location at the House of Moses in their Skills-Training Room. We will provide the training, curriculum, and materials needed to run this 2x weekly, 12-month program operating in the same format as Ng'ombe and Kaunda Square (but differently than our Village Program in Muchochoma Village). 

And the even more amazing news, an INCREDIBLY GENEROUS businessman stepped up and pledged to sponsor this class for the NEXT 5 YEARS!!! He is moved by the need in Zambia and wants to see women empowered for the sake of their entire families. With 12 students averaging around 100 children impacted per class, that's around 500 children who will be benefitted through this incredible commitment. Children get to stay in families. Children get to eat. Children get to go to school. Children get to grow up walking a different road than their parents, all because their mothers (and some fathers!) took these brave, bold steps to make a change and break the cycle.

Francis graduated from the first class of the House of Moses/ACE/CACZ students. He now runs his own successful tailoring shop AND is the mastermind behind the Francis Shopper Totes.

Rejoice with us, friends! There is so much beauty in this partnership and we are so grateful for it and the opportunity to play a role in orphan prevention and family preservation in Zambia! We are excited to share photos and videos of this class in the coming weeks and months as they settle into their new home in Chelstone, Lusaka, Zambia.

Welcome to the fam, Chelstone location! And the biggest THANK YOU to the company who made it happen!

(And if you know a business or run a business that would like to invest in changing lives in Zambia through class sponsorship, we have 2 other locations of folks who are ready and desperate to begin their training. All we're waiting on is the funding to make it happen! Contact me HERE to get the ball rolling with this high-impact opportunity with long-lasting benefits)

Our first HoM/ACE/CACZ Graduation with some of their amazing staff who attended

Meet our Summer Interns!

We love finding college women who are as pumped about women's empowerment as we are to come along as our seasonal interns! This summer has lived up to the excitement in every way. Haley and Kara are college students in SC & NC, working with Meredith and Amy on all things Gala, Limited Release, product development, and a few other goodies. They have been a HUGE asset to our organization, and we've also enjoyed showing them the ropes at our nonprofit. While we gain, we also want our interns to gain valuable life and career experience that will get them one step closer to that dream job. We're excited to introduce y'all to Haley and Kara - enjoy getting to know them!

HALEY
Student at the University of South Carolina

1. How did you learn about CiH?

I learned about CiH from my bible study leaders freshmen year who knew Amy. I was working on a project for English and needed to interview someone about how nonprofits work and I remembered Clothed in Hope so I reached out to Amy! 

2. If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?

Definitely would have to be breakfast: French toast, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon and LOTS OF COFFEE.

3. What is your favorite CiH product?

I love the Francis Shopper Tote!!

4. What is your favorite thing about summer time?

Being tan and getting to go on fun trips with my friends. I especially love going to the beach!

5. What drew you to join the CiH team?

I love the mission of it. When I first heard about CiH I was captivated by what they do. I would love to one day do photography for non-profits, so when I was asked to join the team I couldn't say no!

6. If you had to describe yourself as an animal what would it be?

Probably a cat haha. I am independent and like to keep to myself. I will chill in the background most of the time and then when people least expect it I make myself known.

7. Name one fun fact about yourself.

I am a superhero fanatic. My favorite movies are the Iron Man movies, but Spiderman is my favorite superhero. And my guilty pleasure Netflix Show is Arrow, which also happens to be based off a comic.

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KARA
NC State University

1. How did you learn about CiH? 

I learned about CiH through a friend in the College of Textiles at NC State who works with The Flourish Market.

2. If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?

I would eat shrimp tacos and chips and salsa for the rest of my life :)

3. What is your favorite CiH product?

My favorite CiH product is the Grace Bow Clutch because it matches everything and is big enough to hold all I need for the day!

4. What is your favorite thing about summer time?

My favorite thing about summer time is laying on the beach with my girlfriends!

5. What drew you to join the CiH team?

What drew me to Clothed in Hope was the educational foundation of the organization, along with the opportunity for women in Zambia to express themselves through designing and creating products to create a sustainable living for themselves.

6. If you had to describe yourself as an animal what would it be?

If I had to describe myself as an animal, I would be a cat, because they are sassy, but loving and loyal.

7. Name one fun fact about yourself.

A fun fact about myself is that I've studied abroad in England, and traveled to 12 different European cities while there.

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There you have it! Two cat personalities, lots of beach-love, and a whole lot of fun. It's a joy to have you on our team, Haley and Kara!

The Very Beginning Pt. 6 + Final

This is the final post in our 6 part series "The Very Beginning." If you haven't been following along, you'll want to start HERE for the whole story!

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The women in our CiH class told me that I couldn’t live among them in the compound because people would know that I was there and I would not be safe. And if I wasn’t safe, I wouldn’t be able to help them and teach them.

I 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.

So today I'm meeting with a USC-Aiken professor’s son who heard about me from some generous press that USC (University of South Carolina, of course) did for Clothed in Hope. He has a room for rent at his home in a prominent neighborhood in Lusaka. Maybe I’ll just go for dinner to feel it out and see if it’s even an option. Living with two guys wasn’t in my plan for Zamlife, but at this point I can’t eliminate any options.

Since I don’t have a car, they pick me up at the cottage. Both of these guys are also new graduates, all of us the same age. The professor’s son is from the south and somehow that brings a bit of familiarity to the weird situation. I made no-bake cookies to bring them a taste of home. I know how hard it is to be somewhere so different.

We pull up to their house and it’s amazing. Super safe with 24/7 on-call security, an automated gate from remote only. Beautiful grounds, a pool, a garden. Like an oasis. We sit down to dinner, a soup and some chicken tenders that had been prepared by their housekeeper who they are able to provide employment to with their social enterprise start-up funds.

Even though they’re talking about global economics and other really smart things that fly over my head 100x, it feels familiar and safe and welcoming. I feel like I have a pretty good judge of character, and these guys feel more like family than creeps.

But how will I explain to my parents that I’m moving in with two guys, soon to be three after their friend joins them? Mom and Dad don’t know what happened the other night. And I feel that this meeting is a divine one, that there’s purpose in the timing of me meeting them and this room being available for a very affordable price.

I sleep on it and think it through for a few days. The cottage seems lonelier than ever and I realize that I just need to be around people. That roommates would be good. Sure, male roommates aren’t ideal when it comes to finding BFFs, but I’m pretty much out of options. If anything, living with men would bring an added layer of security that I don’t get when living by myself as a woman in Zambia, unfortunately.

I call my parents and have to spill it all. They don’t say much but I know they’re shocked, scared even. And we all decide that moving in with them is the best option. They’re coming to visit in a couple of months and will see it for themselves. So I spend the evening packing up my things and move across town into the vacant room in the guys’ house.

My new bedroom, complete with makeshift curtains from extra muslin fabric and a chitenge I bought on the side of the road. Nonprofit budgets are real, folks.

There are a billion stories that can come from this unique living arrangement, but just imagine the show New Girl. But Zam style. With a few goat legs on the kitchen counter, a tortoise in the house, a black mamba once on the outdoor chair cushion, and plenty of other crazy tales.

A very dead, very venomous snake.

But here, I’m safe. And these guys have been incredibly helpful with finding a car for me to get safely around town, saving tons of time driving instead of riding. They have introduced me to people I should know, given me tons of advice, and provided the friendship and community that I really need these first few months. The biggest gift of this arrangement besides my safe place to stay has been the housekeeper/chef/new BFF, Faith. She teaches me how to cook with local ingredients and shares in much-needed laughs at the end of difficult days.

I’ve only been in Zambia for one month and already so much has changed. The program has taken off with our meetings a few times a week. We’re registered as a Zambian charity. We have a local bank account (thanks to the guys’ connections), a vehicle, sewing machines, and we just started making fabric bracelets to sell in America.

These bracelets - the Knot and Village Twist - are still available in our shop today!

What we’ve done in one month could’ve taken a year to accomplish. It hasn’t come easy, and there are plenty of days that I wonder what on earth I’m doing. But this job is so full of joy, of adventure, and I can see glimpses of how this really will be able to change a woman’s life. What these women desire is empowerment and education, so that’s what we’ll do.

I know we have a long road ahead of us to develop this start-up into a formalized program, but I’m here. And we’re still learning to trust each other. I want them to see that they’re worth the hardships of adjusting to life in Zambia. That I am excited to be here because it means being here with them, learning about their lives, their struggles, their joys, and being part of those stories.

We now have nine women in this first group, still meeting in Elina’s house. If even one of these women is impacted through this program, I’ll consider all of this worth it and a huge success. Only time will tell where this will go, how it will change, and what other adventures lie ahead for my life in Zambia.

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I lived in Zambia for over two years after this phase, in half a dozen other places with other people, with my husband (lots happened in that timeframe). I lived my formative early twenties halfway across the world in a culture so different, but I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world. I moved over to Zambia expecting to stay for years, decades, but after just three years I had worked myself out of a job.

What we thought would happen in 5+ years, raising up local leaders to fully run the program, happened in around 2.5. Elina, the first contact turned student, is now our Zambia In-Country Director, managing nine other staff members who were students or relatives of students. We went from five people in one living room to over 170 in three (soon to be 4!!!) locations, all because the women in our first class took the tools given to them and ran with them. They ignited their communities with HOPE, and showed what can happen when you dream big, work hard, and choose a new path for yourself and your family. We’re not perfect, and we’re not even close to having it all figured out.

But one of my greatest life joys and accomplishments is this group of 10 people who are now investing directly and intentionally in their own communities to see huge waves of change surge through places marked by oppression and abuse and poverty. THEY are the change-makers because of YOU. YOU set us on this course, keep us on this course, and what’s happening in Zambia through CiH is just so incredibly special.

If you do anything this fall, COME TO THE GALA FOR HOPE! One is in Raleigh and one in Columbia, so there’s double the chance to get there to meet Elina for yourself. To hear this story from her perspective, and to meet the most inspiring woman I have ever come across. I promise you won’t regret it.

Here we are, five years after that exciting, crazy launch of Clothed in Hope in Lusaka, Zambia, and we are just getting started, friends. Thank YOU for making it happen, for being our world-changers, our movers and shakers, our family. You are the very best. Let’s keep this going and keep HOPE spreading through Zambia and around the world.

Elina and I in 2012.

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If you're not in NC or SC and therefore can't make it to the Gala for Hope and still want to be a part of facilitating life-change for vulnerable women in Zambia, join the Hope Club! HC folks are our foundation, our family of supporters who keep the program running, thriving and growing. We'd love for you to join us. You can sign up HERE. 

The Very Beginning Pt. 5

If you're just now joining us, head HERE to start at Part 1.

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Mark is back in America. I’m living in a little cottage near the family’s house. Once I got all unpacked, I just sit on the couch and cry. What on earth am I doing? I had to get all of that fear and insecurity out of my system in order to move on and pursue what I know I’m here to do.

I walk to the compound by myself every day and it feels really good. I have my morning routine down of $7 Rice Krispies for breakfast (a worthy splurge to remind me of home), a hot shower (praise!), a little reading, and out the door to spend 10am-4pm with Elina and the ladies. I come home, stopping at the grocery store for fresh (mostly) vegetables, and cook up some rice to go with it, a three hour process from start to dishes cleaned and put away.

I’m housesitting for another American woman. This cottage is super cute, decorated exactly how I would dream of decorating my own place someday. It’s quiet and restful, and is a gift to be able to rent.

But I’d be lying if I said that nighttime isn’t hard for me. Often times, especially since it’s dry season, the power goes out around 8pm, and it’s just my laptop and me and bad cell service.  I’ll read a little bit, try to contact friends back home, try to catch my boyfriend during his work break, but usually just end up writing emails to people I miss. It’s only been a few weeks, but it’s pretty lonely here.

Tonight is a night like every other. The power just went out at 8, just after I finished the dishes and got a hot shower, thankfully. Today I had a lot of work to do on my computer and phone, and pulled a rookie move- I wasn’t charging them while I was using them.

Phone is almost dead, computer is dead, and I’m out of candles. It’s pitch black. I’ve always been kind of afraid of the dark, so I’m already on edge. I lock the house with the padlocks. Bars are on the windows (as most houses have), and I lock myself in the bedroom for some perceived safety. This night feels especially creepy, but I can’t tell my parents who are 6,000+ miles away. It’ll only worry them.

An hour or so has passed. I’m about to go to sleep when I hear a strange noise. Pow pow. Brakes? The road is quiet and I don’t think it’s a car. It gets louder.

It’s gunshots.

I 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.

I look around the room. There’s nowhere I could hide that wouldn’t still be exposed with the windows filling up most of the wall. Usually I like those windows and the breeze that flies through them.

So I lay there. Praying. Crying. Regretting every bit of the go-getter in me who thought I needed to live alone to prove my independence and such.

And I realized in that moment that there are two options: I will either be shot by this gunman approaching the property. Or I will live. That’s it. It may sound wild, but I just felt overwhelmed with the sense of doom, fighting fear with every ounce of my being. A physical pain almost. Would I survive this, or would this be the end of my story, my life?

By the grace of God, I somehow fell asleep. I woke up from the light shining in my window, birds chirping, the world seemingly unaware of the horror of the night before.

Cautiously I unlocked the bedroom door and tip-toed around the house. Everything was intact, the padlock still on the front door. I was okay. I made it through.

And I had two choices: either stay locked inside forever and live in the fear of what could happen, or choose to take that step of faith outside the house, trusting that the God who brought me to Zambia was the one who would walk with me every step of the way.

It changed me. It changed my idea of faith, of trust, of God.

I chose to get ready for the day, open the gate, and take the step outside, walking the same path I’d walked every day so far.

But I knew something had to change.

Part 6, the final piece of The Very Beginning, goes live 7/19

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Only ONE MONTH left to grab your ticket for our Galas for Hope! Meet Elina, our very first student and now Zambia Director, who is coming to the U.S. for the first time to share her powerful story with YOU! It's going to be great and we hope you'll join us.