From national and local advocacy, to involving government leaders in ZOE’s programs and celebrations, Zoe Empowers extends its influence by demonstrating the amazing outcomes for children in the empowerment program. From improving the lives of vulnerable children to influencing the institutions of government, Zoe Empowers is an effective change agent.
Community leaders are integrally involved in the recruitment of children for ZOE’s empowerment program and often become supportive and appreciative of ZOE’s work. When the children celebrate special occasions, such as the dedication of a new house, or the annual celebration of the Day of the African Child, they invite government leaders to participate with them.
Recently, Zoe Empowers working groups launched several new businesses in Meru County, Kenya. The governor of the county, the honorable Peter Munya, came and spoke to the groups at a celebration assembly. The recognition and pride felt by the children was immeasurable. Having a very high-ranking official congratulate them was a huge honor – and the county governor was thrilled to have so many vulnerable children in his county improving their lives and villages.
The invitation Zoe Empowers offered to county governor enhanced ZOE’s visibility with the government and connected Zoe Empowers to its resources. The Kenyan government has a youth enterprise fund, from which some of the Zoe Empowers working groups have received grants. This money, added in with ZOE’s micro-grants, increases the group’s resources for starting new businesses. The governor of Meru County is so supportive of ZOE’s empowerment program and its contribution to his area that he offered some of the county’s office space to Zoe Empowers in Meru rent-free.
In Rwanda, help from government leaders means that the working groups have learned to form recognized cooperatives when they are ready to graduate. The groups are eligible for grants of agricultural supplies as they continue with their group projects after graduation. Government leaders have been impressed with ZOE’s working group projects. One can easily see a clear difference between ZOE’s fields and others nearby, with ZOE’s produce being bigger and more plentiful. Farmers often come to the working groups for advice.
The Rwandan government frequently supports ZOE’s program of building homes for orphans by providing free land and roofing materials. In return, Zoe Empowers helps local leaders achieve their goal of reducing homelessness in their country.
In India, Zoe Empowers works closely with the local police departments to ensure the safety of vulnerable children as they start businesses and improve their lives. Director Jabez Williams says when an orphan senses a threat, they can call him and he can have the police there within 20 minutes. This cooperation is especially important in ZOE’s work in the slums of Chennai. Here, orphans are kept from turning to criminal endeavors in order to survive and empowered to start legitimate businesses, thus helping stabilize the community and making it more secure.
At one of the annual celebrations of the Day of the African Child, Zoe Empowers Kenya invited the Permanent Secretary of Gender, Culture and Sports of Meru County, to speak. (See photo at the top of the page.) In addition to exposing ZOE’s children to a government official and his presentation on the rights of young people, the young people demonstrated ZOE’s work on child rights to that official.
At the national level, the Kenya governors’ first ladies learned about Zoe Empowers and invited the staff to come to one of their meetings to honor Zoe Empowers with a Best Practices award. The women were so impressed with ZOE’s story, they wanted to start empowerment programs in their counties. Additionally, because of ZOE’s reputation for results, ZOE’s Chief Program Officer Reegan Kaberia was asked to serve on advisory committees at the national level. One commission was drawing up policies related to the country’s treatment of vulnerable children. Criteria the commission came up with included that the rights of children must be taken into consideration in any of the national policies and that any group working with orphans must be based on an empowerment model. The latter is a major step forward in that country’s policies related to vulnerable children.
ZOE Kenya also was invited to sit in on the vetting board for judges and magistrates due to the influence it has in child protection and advocacy. When children’s rights have been violated and Zoe Empowers accompanies them to court, Zoe Empowers has an interest in having judges and magistrates who are sensitive to the interests of vulnerable children. Being on the vetting board gives Zoe Empowers influence in choosing these officials.
In Rwanda, ZOE’s leader development through its empowerment process raised up a young woman with excellent leadership skills and commitment to her community. As a result, she was elected to her sector (county) council where she is held in high regard and advocates for vulnerable children as she serves her community.
A village, a county, a region, a country: Zoe Empowers uses its empowerment program and local collaborations to extend its influence as far as it can. Zoe Empowers leaders are not shy in advocating for vulnerable children wherever they are.