By Alka Subramanian | Director
Looking back, 2024 was a year that made the communities we serve stronger and better equipped to navigate problems in the areas of health, education and income generation.
How we strengthen communities: We strengthen communities by the provision business training, multiple small loans, and ongoing training and support to women living in slum neighborhoods in Lusaka, Zambia. In 2024, 700 women received entrepreneurial training so they can run successful businesses, 615 women received refresher training in business, and 304 women received loans to start new businesses. At this time, more than 2,000 businesses are owned and operated by first time women entrepreneurs who are currently enrolled or graduates of Power of Love's micro loans program. Earnings from these businesses help pay for food, rent, medicines, and school expenses. With family incomes growing, more than 2,500 children attend school every year because of this program.
Each one of the women from this program, currently enrolled/graduated, is a role model and leader. Here is a story of Sue, who is currently enrolled in the program. Sue, a single mom with seven children, and two dependents received business training and her first loan last year. She used her modest loan capital of $150, to open an electrical goods store. Her business is doing well though the frequent power cuts have been a challenge. Earnings from her business have enabled Sue to rent and move into her own place. In addition, she has been able to pay for school expenses for her children and the diet and nutrition of her family is vastly improved. With her second and third loans, Sue plans to grow her business. Her dream is to own her home and with this goal she has started making payments toward owning a plot of land. Her plan is to build a house on the plot in the next 2-3 years.
Our experience has shown that women and children enrolled in our programs become leaders and role models in their communities and the impact is both long term and multi-generational.
We could not have done this without your support. Thank you!
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