Zoe Empowers
ZOE Empowers uses a radically different self-help model. First ZOE staff (all local nationals) identifies a village with “street” children and then engages its leaders. With their support, ZOE organizes a group of children and guides them through a 3-year self-help program. The children are taught about health, hygiene, nutrition, child rights, spiritual life, business and money, and are provided access to education and vocational training.
Each household is supported in starting a small business and many become hairdressers, barbers, welders, electricians, seamstresses, tailors, cellphone repairers, shopkeepers, or farmers. Along the way, the group self-manages the process with advice from a village mentor, handles its own funds, makes loans to the members, and supports each other.
At the end of three years, the group "graduates" and ZOE involvement ends, but the group continues to function on their own. Research shows a 95% success rate of each household being fully self-sufficient by graduation. Currently the cost averages about $345 per child to empower them to lift themselves out of poverty, an amazing return-on-investment.
In 2013, ZOE was introduced to FUMC by members Carol and Austin Watson and the mission was immediately embraced. Since then, FUMC, church families, and other church partners in the area have sponsored 28 groups and lifted 2,082 children out of poverty!
For more information, follow any of the links below:
ZOE Vision Trips / Ambassador Visits
Zoe Empowers General Information
The most recent annual report can be downloaded at https://zoeempowers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ZoeEmpowers_2024AnnualReview.pdf