Feelings of excitement and fear filled John. He never thought he, a 22-year-old orphan from rural Kenya, would fly in an airplane. Now, he found himself 10,000 feet in the air, staring out at the clouds from his window seat on the way to Malawi. Next to him sat his friend Pamela and Mercy, a Zoe Empowers Kenya facilitator.
Pamela, like John, never imagined she would own a passport, much less get the opportunity to use it, especially at the young age of 29. She pictured her friends’ reactions when she returned with stories from her experience. John and Pamela both graduated from Zoe Empowers Kenya.
John graduated in 2018 and operates a spare parts shop and taxi service, while Pamela, a 2012 graduate, runs a tailoring shop specializing in wedding fashion. With the help of their employees, they were able to take four days away from their respective businesses to join Mercy in Malawi, a trip gifted to them for their leadership.
Last fall, while hundreds of Zoe Empowers children in Kenya fundraised to give back to the program, Pamela donated $100 USD and John donated $50 USD to the effort. As representatives chosen by their peers from Zoe Empowers, they were gifted a trip to Malawi to visit the empowerment group the Kenyan children helped to fund.
John and Pamela are greeted in Malawi.
John can hardly believe he is now greeted as a donor. He video records the moment and sends his friends in Kenya an update. Read the back story about this moment here.
When asked why they chose to donate to Zoe Empowers, Pamela and John expressed a similar sentiment: Their lives had been transformed by the generosity of strangers. Now, their deep gratitude for what God has done in their lives is what motivates them to give more children the same support.
Pamela greets their empowerment group on behalf of the children in Kenya.
Upon arrival, the Malawi children greeted John and Pamela with singing, dancing and homemade musical instruments. During the visit, both Kenyan travelers shared intimate details of their transformation through Zoe Empowers.
John explained how the sudden passing of his father left him responsible for his household when he was just a young teenager. In his empowerment group, he found friends who related to his struggles and helped him overcome them. “Nothing is impossible in this world as long as you put God ahead,” John said to his captive audience.
Pamela told the children about the substance abuse issues of her father, and the tragic loss of both her parents. The love she found in her Zoe group filled a significant void for connection and belonging.
“Ensure you love in your group. Love one another,” said Pamela, confidently. “With love, you can surpass money. With love you can do more for each other. That is why Zoe children are now supporting more children with fundraising. It is because of love.”
The Malawi children were shocked to learn Pamela and John were once Zoe children. Before the Kenyan donors departed, one charismatic girl in the Malawi group made sure to tell the Pamela and John that their partnership had inspired them and, one day, they also want to fund an empowerment group.
John and Pamela encourage their partnered group.
Through Zoe Empowers, $100 USD will fund the empowerment program for an orphan on their journey out of extreme poverty for one year. Match Pamela’s donation of $100 and your will continue to grow for years to come as the young people you support become independent business owners, community leaders and philanthropists, just like John and Pamela.