ElevateHer Zambia: Elevate Women, Transform Communities

Last month I went back home to Zambia for the first time since I left for Canada 7+ years ago! Reconnecting with my family after so long really left me feeling loved, poured into, and so empowered that I was re-energized on my journey to empower others.

Thanks to the support of headmen & chiefs, I purchased about 150 acres of land in rural Lusaka, with the vision of building a training centre — an eco village, Okwera Village — that allows work on the ground, in the rural areas where our work is most needed & most impactful. 

Okwera Village is not just another community initiative; it’s a living, breathing embodiment of the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.”

We’re blending the ancient wisdom of African communal life with modern innovations to create a sustainable, empowering space where education, support, and elevation are at the core.

Okwera Village is the in-person version of what we laid the foundation for through Okwera Academy —now rooted in the land, the people, and including our rural communities in this digital future 

As you can imagine, this is a long-term goal that requires planning and a large amount of resources. Ambitious? Absolutely. Achievable? Without a doubt! 

But as I often tell entrepreneurs I mentor: Start with what you have, where you are. And I had to take my own advice. I don’t have to wait until we have a facility fully built out to be able to start empowering and elevating women in rural communities. I decided to start by partnering with the Bethel Youth Resource Centre in Zambia and leveraging their established skills training facilities. 

Together, we will upskill 30 young girls from Situmbeko Village in Lusaka, Zambia, providing them with a 6-month TEVETA-certified computer literacy program, paired with a soft skills curriculum to enhance their employability.

This will be followed by 4-month internships at African startups, equipping these young women with the tools they need to succeed in today’s digital economy.

On this International Day of the Girl Child, I invite you to join me in launching this pilot program. These 30 girls—many of whom have dropped out of school—are being given a second chance.

We are raising $20,000 to make this happen. This will cover skills 6 months skills training (including room & board) for 30 young women, & a 4 months paid internship.

You can donate through the link, or reach out if you can support in other ways—whether it’s through mentorship, partnerships, or sponsorships. 

I’m especially calling on Zambians in the diaspora to offer support and mentorship to help elevate these young women.

Because ”it takes a village to raise a child”, & when you educate a woman, you truly educate an entire village, a whole nation.