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. GCWE 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 trainer,  Jonathon Singyangwe in Zambia. To date we've had the privilege to support Pastor Doreen and Jonathan in the training of six active groups in Lusaka Province, twenty-two groups in four districts of Northwestern Province, and seven groups in three districts of the Copperbelt Province! Ambitious plans are unfolding to continue the training of these groups and develop new groups.

Their success stories are many!  These groups have undertaken such projects as the growing and selling of a variety of cash crops, raising and selling chickens and goats, making school uniforms, and paying school fees for families unable to provide the funds to do so.  However, the greatest benefit is each group member's increased ability to stabilize their own family's spiritual, economic, and physical health. Many are able to provide for their children's education!  

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!

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 time frame. Your investment through SPARK will nurture wholeness, health, and vitality in individuals, families, and communities for decades—and generations—to come!