What We've Achieved.

• In 2000 when the Foundation was started, school fees were paid for 50 orphans. In 2012, 800 orphans were being sent to school, and now there are over 1,000

• One Child-Headed Household received extra help in 2000; we now regularly support between 50 and 70 households, based on need.

• The number of basket-making groups has grown from 2 to 46!

• Zienzele started with 2 garden projects; now there are 54!

• In 2000, there were no sewing groups. Now there are 9!

• In the past several years, many of our women’s cooperatives have started chicken projects and goat projects.

• We are very excited about the informal micro-lending initiatives that our women’s cooperatives have started as a way to lift up others.

What We Do.

Zienzele has three types of programs which all work toward the same goal: empowerment of women and children through self-reliance, education, and community building.

Orphan School-Fees Program

Access to an education makes a world of difference for any child, but this is especially true in the villages where Zienzele operates. We
work with caregivers to facilitate revenue-producing projects like basket weaving and sewing projects, that empower them to provide school fees for all the children under their care.

Child-Headed household program

We see increasing numbers of households being run by children who no longer have an adult to supervise their care. These are our most
vulnerable families. We provide these families with basic food staples, household necessities, school fees, and school supplies. 

women's cooperatives program

We work with women’s cooperatives in 38 different communities, operating self-sustaining projects that include goat and chicken-raising, sewing, gardening, and basket-weaving. These
cooperatives empower women by creating the opportunity to work toward their own self-
reliance and to provide for the children in their care. 

Where We Work.