Support a Female Entrepreneur in Zambia

Hi friends,

Last year, thanks to many generous donations, my friend Huldah was able to get her business space renovated and licensed to start a small restaurant. She was also able to purchase other necessary items such as tables and chairs, a gas stove, pots and pans and other necessary kitchen items.

However, this year, Huldah has faced some significant challenges. Zambia has experienced a major energy crisis due to the worst, unprecedented drought in over a century. Power can be out for 8-16 hours of the day and even days at a time (see more here: https://e360.yale.edu/features/zambia-drought-hydro-solar-power).

You can imagine the challenges of running a restaurant in these conditions, most significantly, the financial loss from wasted food (the inability to preserve food in a fridge or freezer) and major spikes in food costs.

Further, Huldah has not been able to use her new gas stove because she hasn't been able to afford a propane tank. Thus she has resorted to having to purchase expensive bags of charcoal, which is cheaper day to day, but far more expensive over the course of the month. It also makes the air smokey, and the restaurant environment less pleasant.

If you'd like to help her leverage a bit more income this year and reduce some of her daily stressors, please consider contributing to some of the purchases below:

1. A solar fridge/freezer (approx $700 CAD, plus approx shipping costs from South Africa $100-200 CAD)

2. Industrial (12 liter) propane tank and fuel (approx 150 CAD).

3. Food & Soda: She would like to increase her menu options and since food prices have gone up, I would like to help her with some purchase needs, particularly for bulk soda (250-300 CAD).

Total: Approx $1300 CAD.

As a heartfelt thank-you for your generosity:

For every donation under $20: You'll receive one of my handmade lip butters as a token of appreciation. ✨

For donations of $20 or more: For every $20 you contribute, you'll get an additional lip butter to share as holiday gifts!

Thus, if you are able to give, please email me or leave your mailing address in FB messages.

Every donation, big or small, goes a long way. Thank you SO MUCH for helping to make the life of one person a little bit easier this year.

Love you all xo

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2023 Donation Request: While living in Zambia I had the privilege of getting to know Huldah. She's not just a friend; she's a 27-year-old single mother with an incredible talent for baking and cooking. At present, Huldah is running a small home business selling broiler chickens and baked goods. However, she's facing significant financial challenges due to increased costs of broiler feed, rising Zambian inflation rates, as well as her daughter's ongoing medical needs.

Huldah's dream is to open a small restaurant, utilizing a space passed down from her father. However, this space requires significant renovations, as well as essential appliances and furniture to kickstart this venture.

Reaching out to see if you will help make Huldah's dream a reality. Every contribution, regardless of its size, will have a huge meaningful impact.

Thank you!