Zoe Empowers.

Zoe Empowers employs a three-year empowerment program for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) in life threatening poverty. These vulnerable children need to move beyond charity.  We produce producing amazing results in the 7 countries in which we operate.   I would use the funds to expand the program into Uganda. Uganda is one country that has so many vulnerable children who need this kind of help.  Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, our model, if deployed by governments, NGOs and foundations, would be transformative at lifting these young people out of poverty.  Zoe’s results are unmatched by any program of which we are aware.  After the three years in our program, these young people are living self-sustained and thriving lives.   Unfortunately, our model is not well known nor is it practiced by others.  If I am selected as a winner, I understand the MIT Solve organization will mentor me and provide introductions and connections and advice to help me grow Zoe Empowers and help me teach our approach to others.  If so, we can have a significant global impact on this most vexing problem of OVC ultra poverty.

After University, I went to work for large US western aid agencies and became disillusioned with the cycle of relief and dependence such that when the aid agency changed focus those who were supposedly being helped were left in a worse situation than before. The beneficiaries became so good at receiving handouts, they forgot how to do things for themselves. This led me to believe that there must be a better way.  At the same time, I joined executive team of Zoe Empowers and together with others in the organisation we developed this three-year empowerment program which has now grown to seven countries with 58,000 orphaned and vulnerable children currently enrolled and over 120,000 either currently in the program or having graduated. 

My desire is to influence the development partners to shift their paradigm in ways of supporting.  From donor-recipient approach to partnership relationship and challenge traditional ways of operating, motivating both community and all generations to embody open-mindedness to new ideas. I envision a world where everyone has the right opportunity to learn work and prosper. I believe that all young people, no matter their starting point in life have an equal opportunity to succeed and transform their lives. 

One of the greatest humanitarian crises of our age is the almost 385 million children living in extreme poverty.   Among these, orphaned and child-led families are the most vulnerable to disease, starvation, and abuses. In partnership with local leaders, Zoe Empowers identifies these young people and provides them with resources and training to pull themselves out of poverty—for good. Zoe employs an innovative approach to creating livelihoods/income generation that also takes into 

account the overwhelming needs of orphaned and vulnerable youth living in extreme poverty.     

The program combines a ‘graduation approach’, (a globally recognized model offering a holistic solution to ultra-poverty that creates pathways into sustainable livelihoods), with an ‘empowerment approach,’ (helping youth gain the capacity, confidence and voice to change their own lives.)  Over three years, Zoe layers, integrates, and sequences resources as youth simultaneously build their skills and capacities. Integral to this approach is a commitment to engage with youth as partners and leaders who are responsible for creating their own pathway to a sustainable life, rather than seeing them as a ‘problem’ and treating them as ‘beneficiaries.’  

The OVC with whom Zoe partners lack food security, safe housing, water, sanitation, and hygiene, are in poor health, socially isolated, out-of-school, often exploited and abused, without a sustainable livelihood.  Through this program, the multiple causes of their poverty, their lack of financial, personal and social capital, and the cumulative impact of their situations are addressed in a holistic way.  They create a pathway out of extreme poverty through simultaneous training in the following areas: 

Livelihoods/Income Generation: Youth develop multiple income streams including informal employment, self-employment, and agriculture-based activities. 

Nutrition and Food Security:   Youth either buy healthy food from business profits or start kitchen gardens and raise livestock. 

Housing: Youth are supported to find safe and stable housing. 

Education: Younger youth are reintegrated into school.  

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene:  Youth learn to use clean water for drinking and cooking and establish safe sanitation practices.  

Health Access and Information:  Youth are trained in reproductive and sexual health, nutrition, and HIV and malaria prevention.   

Community Integration.  Youth are supported to develop relationships within the village community and in churches.  

Human Rights:  Youth receive human rights education: to stand up for themselves and others, and learn where to go if their rights are violated

There is an ongoing humanitarian crisis of 385 million orphaned and vulnerable children living and dying in extreme poverty.  Zoe provides a three-year, community-based empowerment program for orphaned and vulnerable children living in extreme poverty after which 95% of participants should never need charity again.  Upon graduation, households in the Zoe share these characteristics:

• The head of household can provide sufficient food, clothing, school expenses, and other necessities for the household.
• Each of the participants eat enough food and quality food.
• The participants are able to grow or buy food whenever they need it.
• The participants live in a safe and adequate home.
• The participants have access to medical care.
• The participants know their rights and can enforce them.
• The participants feel they are valuable members of the community.
• The household has savings -cash, livestock, or other resources.
• The household owns more than one business.
• The head of household is able to pay the expenses (fees, uniforms, books) for all the school-aged children in the household.

Zoe sees these same results in each of the seven countries in which our program operates.  The scale of impact on this segment of humanity is limited only by our reach.  This grant and the associated support from MIT Solve will only help to expand that reach.