Empower 180 Malawian Girls with Business Skills

We are here to bring you happy news!

On March 18^th we welcomed 35 alumni to the Student Driven Solutions' family!

Here are just a few of the highlights:

•  91% of graduates at our partner school, Tsokamkanansi, are now saving at home. They even started a savings club all on their own initiative.
• Over half of our graduates at our partner school, KAPS Model School, say they now feel comfortable paying for major purchases.
• 84% of graduates advocated for an issue that was important to them, including advising girls to stay in school. They spoke to family members, friends, schoolgirls, and neighbours about their views. Did someone say “Girl Power!”?
• A whopping 97% of graduates said they recruited someone to apply for SDS in the next class.

Hear about the graduation on the radio! Through this program I have learned what things to consider when running a business and how to find out the problems that could become opportunities in my community. I want to encourage my fellows to work hard by working hard myself so that they may take me as their example. We only think we can’t do anything helpful, but we can.” Rabecca Chikwangwala, SDS graduate ’17 “My favorite lesson was budgeting because this was a serious problem that I had. I didn’t know how to save and plan for money. Instead I was just getting my wants instead of needs.”
Mwende George, SDS graduate ‘17

Pictured are Mwende and Executive Director, Rebecca Gross, with Mwende's twin sister who came to support her at the graduation!
At the graduation we had several inspiring speakers including local chiefs, head teachers, parent teacher association members, business leaders, and a local theater production.

The moment that touched me the most however, was a poem by our graduate, Ruth Fred, about the impact SDS has made on her life.
  Watch the video and read the poem! Honorable Guests: Chiefs, Parent Teacher Association, Partners, Speakers, Friends, and Parents

After the graduation we spoke to local government and partners about the program. Many of them said, “increase the number of girls you work with.” We’re working on it :)
 
Next month we will be re-starting the program with a new cohort at our partner schools in Lilongwe and Zomba and expanding to serve a rural community just outside of Lilongwe called Nathenje. We look forward to sharing our model with even more girls this year!

I hope you are proud of what your support has made possible. We couldn’t have done this without every single individual who made a contribution to SDS whether monetary, ideas, passion, time, or love. All of it matters. Your contribution matters. Thank you!
 
Please consider continuing your relationship with Student Driven Solutions. I want to make sure you feel that you are truly a part of the work. Reach out to me directly at Rebecca@studentdrivensolutions.org to brainstorm how we can get you more involved or simply just to chat :)
 
With gratitude,
Rebecca and the SDS Family

P.S. Please help us spread the word about our Little By Little campaign from April 3rd - April 7th. All donations up to $50 will be matched by Global Giving at 50%! New recurring donations up to $200 will be matched at 200%! Just a little really does go a long way.