Fund a Small Business Grant in Southern Africa

They didn't quit, and neither did we.

If you caught our update back in February, you know we were facing a massive funding squeeze that left our loan pot completely empty. In a tough economic climate, we simply couldn't hand out the physical cash or startup kits our entrepreneurs needed to launch their businesses.

But instead of throwing our hands up, we pivoted hard. We realized that if we couldn't give them capital today, we would give them every single skill imaginable to ensure that when they do get that funding, they are absolutely unstoppable. We jumped straight into intensive masterclasses, teaching our graduates everything from pricing for profit and margins to budget marketing and sales confidence.

The strategy worked beautifully. Our graduates completely shifted their mindset from waiting for a break to actively creating one. They have been utilizing their expert global mentorship sessions to find incredibly creative ways to start small and hustle with what they have.

Now, we are ready to jump right back into fundraising to refill that loan pot and give our current trained graduates the physical financial nudge they need to scale. If a donation isn't possible for you, you can still be an absolute superstar for free just by sharing our link or even volunteering your time as a remote business mentor!

We also have a major save the date that we are incredibly excited about!

The GlobalGiving July Bonus Day is officially locked in for July fifteenth and sixteenth! During this special window, any unique donation you make up to a hundred dollars gets a fantastic matching boost from a special bonus funding pot. It is the absolute best way to stretch your support further, help us refill our loan pot, and turn another graduate's hard-earned skills into a thriving local business.

Thank you for staying in our corner and backing the drive of these incredible entrepreneurs!

With huge respect and gratitude,

Hello to our wonderful community of supporters,

When I last wrote to you in September, we were just launching our Professional Volunteering Program. Today, I want to give you an honest update on where we are, the challenges we’ve faced, and the incredible ways our graduates are still moving forward.

The Reality Check I’ll be transparent: the end of 2025 didn’t bring the level of funding we had hoped for. In a difficult economic climate, our loan fund hasn't reached the goals we set. This means that, for now, we haven't been able to provide as many of the physical grants and micro-loans as we wanted to help our graduates purchase the materials they need to kick off their businesses.

But here is the thing about our entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe: they don't quit, and neither do we.

Pivoting to Empowerment While we wait for the funds to provide capital, we have doubled down on what we can provide: Knowledge, Mentorship, and Strategy.

We decided that if we couldn't give them a loan today, we would give them every possible skill to ensure that when they do get that capital, they are unstoppable. Since our last update, we have launched intensive advice and guidance workshops focusing on:

• Pricing for Profit: Moving beyond just "selling" to understanding margins and sustainability.

• Marketing on a Budget: How to find customers without a massive advertising spend.

• Employment & Interview Techniques: Recognizing that some graduates want to build a career while saving up for their own business ventures.

• Sales Strategy: Teaching the confidence to pitch their value to the community.

The Impact The results have been humbling. Even without the "startup kit" in their hands, our graduates are using their mentorship sessions and workshop lessons to find creative ways to start small. We are seeing a shift in mindset—from waiting for a break to creating one.

The mentorship program we mentioned in September is thriving. The direct support from experts around the world is proving that while money is important, belief and guidance are priceless.

We Still Remain Hopeful We haven't given up on the goal of providing micro-loans. We know that the right person with the right training just needs that one small financial "nudge" to change their life.

How you can help today:

1. Stay with us: Your continued interest and small donations keep our training workshops running.

2. Share our story: Sometimes the right donor just hasn't heard about us yet.

3. Offer your expertise: If you can’t give financially, your time as a mentor is a gift that changes a life.

It’s been a tough season, but seeing the determination in the eyes of our graduates during our recent workshops makes it all worth it. We are building the foundation. The "big dreams" are still very much alive—they are just being built one skill at a time.

Thank you for staying in our corner.

Rich