Zambia

GROWTH

SPARK partners with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia to present the Global Communities Women Empowered (GCWE) Savings program. This Micro-savings Initiative provides the means for individuals and groups to create economic sustainability within their families and communities.  Training participants form groups and learn how to collectively save money and invest in income-generating activities to help realize financial goals. WE groups then elect their own leaders, decide on their own rules, and give each member an opportunity to practice public speaking. Once a group has completed initial training and are managing themselves independently, basic business skills training is added. 

God calls us to live in connected community, so we believe relationships are key! We work closely with ELC-Zambia's Pastor Doreen Mwanza, the GCWE Initiative Micro-savings Coordinator and Women Empowered Trainer,  Jonathan Sinyangwe in Zambia. To date we've had the privilege to partner with Pastor Doreen and Jonathan in the training of ten active groups in Lusaka Province, nineteen groups in four districts of Northwestern Province, and eleven groups in three districts of the Copperbelt Province! In the fall of 2023, two pastors and ten Community Facilitators received training in Southern Province. These Community Facilitators have begun forming new savings groups. Ambitious plans are unfolding to continue this vital work!

DISCIPLESHIP

Spiritual wholeness is nurtured through these groups as women hear the Good News, become vibrant disciples of Christ, and grow in their faith. Each group’s weekly (or bi-weekly) meetings include Christian education and discussion. So far, thirteen groups have received The Holy Bible in their own language! Several districts have seen an increase in active church membership and participation in church projects attributed directly to a connection with a savings group.

WELLNESS

WE groups also become a platform for members to increase their confidence, exercise leadership skills, form social networks, raise awareness about important topics, and act collectively to improve their lives and communities. Each group’s weekly (or bi-weekly) meetings include discussion of their plans for addressing health issues such as malnutrition, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and COVID.

To ensure sustainability, WE groups are designed to gradually operate more and more independently with the goal of becoming self-sustaining groups that thrive far beyond the program training time frame. Your donation through SPARK will nurture wholeness, health, and vitality in individuals, families, and communities for decades—and generations—to come!