Women’s Empowerment Program: December 2024 Impact Report
Empowering Women in Kenya and Tanzania
HopeCo’s Vision: Transformed Lives, Flourishing Communities
HopeCo exists to rescue children in East Africa from abuse, hunger, and exploitation. We are dedicated to helping them reach their full potential and become leaders and changemakers in their own nations. And we are passionate about seeing individuals, families, and whole communities transformed forever by the power of Jesus Christ!
EMPOWERING WOMEN WITH SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE
One HopeCo program that addresses the needs of young women in East Africa is our Women’s Empowerment Program (WEP). The success of this program – 80+ women have graduated to date – is evidence of the need and the interest. In 2017, we opened our first WEP at City of Hope in Tanzania; in 2020 we expanded this program and opened a location in Kenya. Seeing the critical need for young women to have a sustainable and secure employment option in the Kenya/Tanzania district of Tarime (where there is a high rate of prostitution in one of the border towns), we opened our third location this summer (our second location in Tanzania).
“Household financial buoyancy will remain a mirage if the women are not empowered.” - Hilda Boke, Kenya Programs Director
The truth of this statement fuels the determination of our girls and women to avail themselves of the training we offer. Meet Marian* who is already making money while training. She receives orders from her relatives and neighbors to make wrap skirts for them. She arrives at the center early to work on her orders, taking advantage of the available sewing machines. She’s already building her clientele!
Marian has been a great inspiration and encouragement to the rest of the ladies.
SEW (Sewing Empowers Women) is an arm of our Women’s Empowerment Program. However, we hope to expand our offerings in the future to include cosmetology and other income-producing skills that women would enjoy and find profitable.
These women produce beautiful items (dresses, wrap skirts, pants, school uniforms, handbags, aprons, and so much more) as you can see! In addition to sewing skills, they are taught the marketing side of the industry. With this knowledge, they learn customer service skills and how to price their items. Some, like Marian, have even started their own business.
Because these women have suffered extreme hardships and struggle to overcome their hurts, HopeCo believes it is critical to care for the whole person. Opportunities to nurture and support their need for spiritual and emotional care are an intentional part of our program. We believe sharing the love of Jesus is an essential component to our program.
*Name and photo changed to protect privacy.
EMPOWER a woman…
CHANGE a family…
BREAK the cycle of abuse and poverty!
Thank you for helping more young women in East Africa with opportunities to learn marketable skills to better and more safely provide for their young families!
