Chipulukusu is a slum community of 65,000 people outside the city of Ndola, Zambia. There is no sanitation service, no clean water source, and no infrastructure. People live in poverty and poor health due to the lack of sanitation, lack of work skills, and inability to generate enough income to do more than barely survive.
We are working with 15 women who are among the poorest of Chipulukusu, who support a total of 35 children of school age and below. At present they eat once a day or less, cannot afford to buy clean drinking water, and cannot afford to pay for uniforms and school fees in order to keep the children in school.
The women pictured below are representative of the neighborhood. Dorothy K. is 45, supporting three children including two teenagers. Rachel K. also 45, supports two teenagers. Cathy L. is 61 and supports four children between the ages of seven and 12. The women survive by selling charcoal and mealie meal (cornmeal, a staple food).
We will invest ZK 200,000.00 (approximately USD$40) in each small business so that the women can build up their inventory and expand their businesses, enabling them to turn more of a profit. Evaluation will be done every three months and further cash investments made in those businesses which are successful.
Those who do not have a source of income other than begging will be assisted to locate a place where they can learn a skill, and upon completion will receive a cash grant following the above protocol to start a business endeavor.
It will cost about $600 to get all women started with either start-up or business capital funds. The other $400 will be held and used to give additional grants to those who are able to build up their businesses. Those who don't qualify for additional funds will be assisted to come up with a viable business plan, and will be allowed to start again with a second grant.
