Chapelwood Foundation Impact
The Chapelwood Foundation provided a grant which funded the purchase of 20,000 loaves of bread and 1500 “Parcels of Hope” or care packages. Additionally, 1000 copies of the New Testament have been distributed through local churches from home to home as teams of volunteers share the Gospel in a non-intrusive way, offer prayer and make connections with families in the community.
ZENA’s Story
ZENA's unique hybrid model facilitates female entrepreneurs living under the poverty line to start their own businesses. ZENA believes that educated female business owners are positioned to address systemic and pervasive community issues. With little-to-no financial literacy or infrastructure, female entrepreneurs living in rural poverty are vulnerable to exploitation and pitfalls of loans and handouts.
ZENA has a hybrid model of social enterprise and nonprofit. The Zena Launch Pad provides debt-free access to skills and capital for female entrepreneurs under the poverty line to start their own businesses. Through short-term apprenticeships, Zena program members can earn a living wage above the poverty line while saving monthly towards the startup capital they need to start their businesses. While on the program, Zena women work together to create their collection of Ankole cattle horn jewelry sold in the US and UK. The profits are reinvested into The Zena Launch Pad and used to employ more female entrepreneurs.
ZENA believes in the power of community as an engine to equip confident leaders. Their comprehensive entrepreneurship curriculum provides holistic, pastoral, and leadership development sessions. When Zena entrepreneurs graduate, they have a network of support in their community. Zena women are not beneficiaries, they are benefactors and create opportunities and income for others in their communities.
