Stories of Hope: Sarah

Sarah at her sewing machine and reading her Bible.

Less than nine months ago, Sarah, 19 years old, was in a desperate situation. She was working day and night in other people’s homes as house help: cleaning, cooking and tending their farms. Her father died when she was 14, and her mother was HIV positive and very sick. Sarah was left to provide for her younger siblings, Peter, 16, Emily, 8, and Brigit, just four years old. All her hard work was not enough to provide for her family. They were often hungry, and unable to pay the necessary fees for the children to attend school.

Through ZOE’s support, Sarah has come a long way in a very short time. In less than one year, Sarah and her family have cultivated their land so they can grow their own food. She spent time learning to be a tailor.  She was even trained by another ZOE orphan, further along in the program, who had a successful tailoring business. After completing her training, Sarah received a start-up kit from ZOE in November to start her own business.  Business has been good and her brother and sisters are now able to attend school, and are performing well. Though her mother has not responded well to the medicine Sarah has been able to provide, Sarah’s hopes and dreams for the future of her family remain strong.

Sarah’s faith continues to grow and shapes her daily life. Gifted with a beautiful voice, she loves to sing each Sunday when her family goes to church. She carries her Bible to work each day.  When I met her she shared her favorite passage with me, Isaiah 54:4-5, which Sarah uses as her guiding principle: “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.  For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of host is his name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.”

Working in a rented space as her business grows, Sarah is well on her way to achieving her dreams of owning a large dress-making store and beauty shop. As she earns more income, and makes use of the low-interest loans ZOE provides to expand her business, her future becomes brighter as more opportunities for her family are opened.

Your gifts help vulnerable children like Sarah overcome desperate situations. As her voice rings out in songs of praise to the Lord, Sarah embodies ZOE’s dream for these children to grow into the people God wants them to be.

— Mandie Sellars
Director of Communications, ZOE Ministry

Stories of Hope: The Two Helens

Epiphanie Mujawimana, founder of ZOE’s empowerment model, was visiting with some Americans as many barefoot African children played around them. One American said to her, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could give shoes to all these children?” Epiphanie responded, “Wouldn’t it be better if they could buy their own shoes?”

Moving beyond traditional aid models, this is precisely what ZOE aims to do for orphans and vulnerable children in Africa. One essential component of the program is small business training, which gives these children the skills they need to provide for themselves and their family for the rest of their lives.

This summer I was privileged to meet two girls, both named Helen, whose lives were being transformed by ZOE’s Orphan Empowerment Program. I met both orphans in rural Kenya as they were hard at work in a hair salon started several months earlier by the older Helen. The younger Helen was training with her each day for about half the normal cost.

As they took turns working on styling their customer’s hair, who also happened to be the adult mentor of the Working Group, they went back and forth between smiles, laughter, and serious talk about the proper way to blow-dry hair and use a hot comb. A couple of customers waited in line outside this clearly thriving small business.

It was evident when you talked with them that the training they received had given them confidence, and dreams for a better future. The younger Helen had four school-age siblings she was supporting, and dreams of someday owning a large hair salon.

“I want to support my siblings to achieve their life goals,” she said. “Whatever they want to achieve in life, even if they want to be doctors, I will support them.”

Your support of ZOE provides the training and tools for these children forever changing their lives. ZOE’s training model not only addresses the needs of one orphan, but makes use of the ripple effect of training several children, encouraging them to train others, and then the others go on to share knowledge with even more members, until the whole group is lifted out of poverty.

— Mandie Sellars
Director of Communications, ZOE Ministry

Celebrating ZOE’s Youth Partners

ZOE Seed Grants are given to youth groups submitting fundraising proposals that demonstrate how they will multiply the grant investment to benefit ZOE’s Giving Hope Empowerment Project. Read more about ZOE’s Youth Seed Grant Challenge and the accompanying curriculum “Something You Can Give Away.”

Stories celebrating a number of youth groups that have already met the challenge are featured below. More ideas for fundraising and awareness-raising events are also shared on our Partners in Action page.

Seed Grant: Pine Valley UMC

Youth Yield LOTS of Hope!

The youth of Pine Valley UMC in Wilmington tripled their fundraising dreams for ZOE’s Giving Hope Project by raising more than $8000.

Their objective was $2500, which is the cost of one Giving Hope home in Africa.  They constructed a house out of Plexiglas to represent their goal and as a central location for donations.

Fundraising kicked off on May 31 with announcements about this church wide project during worship services and the selling of ZOE ministry t-shirts.  The good work culminated on July 19 with a Silent Auction and day of celebration.  Sunday school classes were challenged to provide themed baskets for the sale.  Other items were donated by church members and friends in the community. During the auction a “gourmet” hotdog luncheon with desserts was offered by parents of the youth.  The luncheon was $4 per person and $1 for an extra hotdog.

The church came to gather as one family and to help make this event happen and the donations were very creative: game night themes, parents’ night out, a day at the beach and even a handmade quilt made by some of the youth which was valued as priceless.

Youth leader Kay Creech said that, “The day of celebration was amazing.  The turnout was incredible and the fellowship, hotdogs and dessert were even better. There is no doubt in our mind that the Lord had his hands in this entire event. With his direction and our purpose in mind we surpassed our goal times 3. The church as a whole was overwhelmed with the generosity and the spirit of giving that we felt as we helped raise money for the children in Africa.”

Learn more about the Youth Seed Grant Challenge program and curriculum.

Seed Grant: Mebane UMC

Youth from Mebane UMC hosted a ZOE Festival and raised enough funds to support three full households of vulnerable children for their 3 years in the Giving Hope Empowerment Project.

The Youth of Mebane UMC turned their $100 Seed Grant into $2,668 by sponsoring a day of activities to raise money for orphans in Africa. The day began early in the morning with a pancake breakfast and Silent Auction of Talents donated by the Youth and ended with a Parent’s Night Out babysitting service at 8:30pm. Thanks to everyone who made this wonderful day possible.

This gift is the equivalent of support for three households of vulnerable children for their entire three years in the Giving Hope Empowerment Project! At the end of the three years, the children in Giving Hope have learned the life-skills necessary to be self-sufficient and eliminate dependence on outside relief programs.

Seed Grant: First UMC, Wilson

Q: Who filled the ark with animals and seeds?
A: The Youth at First UMC, Wilson!

Youth from First UMC in Wilson, NC created an ark and gave people in their community an opportunity to purchase dinner and make donations toward animals and seeds for the children in ZOE’s Giving Hope Empowerment Project. This event not only filled the ark with “paper animals and seed,” it turned a $100 grant into $4,000.  The youth did a wonderful job of publicizing their project and selling tickets to the event.  As an added bonus, guests received magnets made by children in a local Hispanic ministry who also wanted to support the work of ZOE.  Thanks to everyone for their support!

Learn more about ZOE’s Youth Seed Grant Challenge.

Seed Grant: Soapstone UMC

Q: How does a T-Shirt help orphans and vulnerable children in Africa?
A: When a Soapstone UM Youth turns it into a Pillow Pal!

Cutting out the pillow shape

Sewing the pillowcase

Completed pillows!

An assembly line of cutters, stuffers, and sewers turned a $100 Seed Grant into $2000. Church members handed over their favorite T-shirts to the youth at Soapstone UMC in Raleigh, NC and soon received their very own “Pillow Pal.”

Jean Damascene filming his part in Pillow Pals: The Movie!

Perfect for traveling, one of the pillows even made its way to Rwanda recently. Jean Damascene smiled during a video session that will soon be turned into “Pillow Pals: The Movie!” Jean was so happy to hear that youth who were inspired by his story are now raising money to help many other orphans as well. Thanks to all those who gave their time and talents to this wonderful idea.

This project was featured on United Methodist Television. Watch their video: “Teen Fundraisers Aid Africa”

Learn more about ZOE’s Youth Seed Grant Challenge.

Seed Grant: Philadelphia UMC

The Philadelphia United Methodist Youth Group from Fort Mill, SC, raised $2433 for ZOE Ministry’s Giving Hope Empowerment Project!

On February 8, the youth sold animals and seeds to church members who made purchases in honor of loved ones.

A ZOE Presentation Day, featuring a traditional African meal prepared by their United Methodist Women, raised awareness for the work of ZOE on February 22.

They also assisted ZOE in their Winter T-shirt sale by selling t-shirts in Fort Mill and by processing all of the t-shirt orders placed through our website during their 30-Hour Famine Lock-In on February 28.

We give thanks for their faithful work that turned a $100 grant into $2433 to help transform many lives.

Way to go Philadelphia UMC!

Learn more about ZOE’s Youth Seed Grant Challenge.