The impact you have on those who surround you, near and far, is greater than you know!
Greetings from Kasama <<First Name>>,
Thank you for being a part of this work. That you are receiving this newsletter shows that you have at one point contributed resources, time, positive thoughts, money, and/or prayers to Bakashana. Therefore, YOU are a rainbow in somebody's cloud. Within your community or across the world to your global community, may you continue to be held in the security of knowing that you make a difference, big and small.
In gratitude and admiration,
This Strong Mama, Helen, was one of our first scholarship recipients in 2010. Since then, she has graduated high school, has three beautiful children, and is also a survivor of domestic abuse. You shone light on her life when you empowered us to take her to tailoring school, provide for her and her children safe housing, and offer her a monthly food allowance during her studies. She has inspired us to prioritize other victims of SGBV (sexual and gender-based violence) in our programs as we expand our reach and impact. These programs include survivor support groups, trained female counseling, increased advocacy through existing SGBV reporting structures, and outreach to boys and girls through our Life skills clubs.
Dressed as the royal court for Independence Day celebrations are members of our Life Skills club. Our peer coaches bring life skills, gender equity, sexual and reproductive health, and SGBV prevention knowledge to more than a thousand boys and girls through our 'Girls Leading Our World' and 'Boys For Change' clubs- active in 11 collaborating secondary schools and two clinics. Our guiding light, Cecilia Lesho, founded these clubs in 2018 to ensure thatyouth are better equipped to cope with the physical and emotional changes they experience during adolescence, as well as empowered with the knowledge and skills required to actively challenge discriminatory traditional norms within their homes, and society at large.
Joyce is one of 70 women with whom we have worked over the last year to grow and sustain her small business. We utilized community outreach, hospital staff, and the Zambia Agency for People with Disabilities to identify Mamas and Grandmas who have a lot of people to care for- including many dependents who have physical challenges. We then paired these budding entrepreneurs with Mentors who walked them through financial literacy, business planning, and marketing sessions. Finally, we offered each woman a start-up capital loan of 2,000 kwacha ($115) to launch their business and help them save. More than 75% of the women brought back and saved money. Many of them, like Joyce, are still operating their businesses, which help them meet their daily needs and the needs of their families.
