Heal & Empower Sexually Exploited Girls in Uganda

Last month, two of the women who have grown up in Zion Project were able to get married and commit their lives to a husband who loves them. It was a dream come true and an incredible testimony to what can happen when a heart gets healed.

One of our Imani women, Elizabeth, invited local government leaders, neighbors, and friends over to her home to celebrate after the wedding. A local government leader stood up and said something which made me so proud that we are seeing such transformation in our women’s lives:

He said: “I have seen a huge change in this community within Gulu over the past few years. I no longer see these women causing problems, but taking people in and helping others. Elizabeth is a very important part of our community because she takes in so many children who have no other place to go. I thank those of you who have been working in the slums with the prostitutes and this community, because there has been an incredible transformation. No longer do I see them in the discos or at the bars selling themselves or getting in fights, but taking children in, helping each other, and changing their community.”

These women are making a difference in their communities. Even the local government is starting to take notice, which is a huge leap from where they were 3 years ago when they evicted many women from their homes for doing prostitution.

It’s amazing to see the reality of multiplication: that a healed heart gives back.

New Home

After many months of searching, we have finally found the PERFECT new HOME for our GIRLS which is very spacious and gives us room to grow. Our desire is to help several more girls who are in need of a safe place to grow. However, before we can take in more girls, we are in need of sponsors! It costs an average of $209 per month to holistically care for 1 girl so that she can live in our safe home and receive an education, food, tutoring, mentoring, medical care, and lots of love from the Aunties! You can sign up to sponsor a girl for only $35 a month, which helps contribute to changing a girl’s life and preparing her for the future! For more information on sponsorship, contact Bethany at: Bethany@zionproject.org.

If you really want to change a culture, to empower women, improve basic hygiene and health care, and fight high rates of infant mortality, the answer is to educate girls.” – Greg Mortenson-

Better Schools

It has been shown that an educated girl will invest 90% of her future income in her family, compared to 35% for a boy. Yet 250 million adolescent girls live in poverty and are more likely than boys to be uneducated, married at a young age, and exposed to HIV/AIDS. (The Girl Effect)

Here at ZIon Project we believe that if you change a girl's life, you can change a nation. One of the most powerful ways to do that is to make sure that girls who would normally not have access to education receive a quality education and the support to do well in school. This year all 16 of our beautiful girls rescued from lives of child prostitution, forced labor, and slavery, have started attending new schools which are the best in Gulu, Uganda. Not only that, but because they live in a loving home they get help with their homework, and mentoring for their futures.

Amazingly enough, many adolescent girls stop attending school when they reach puberty because they cannot afford sanitary pads. Our girls never have to worry about that because they receive all they need for a healthy life. One of our girls says, "I am happy to be at Zion because I am now safe. I love my school and someday I want to be on the radio." 

Last week we also had the privilege to attend a Sports Day at our children's new school and it was so much fun to watch them glowing with excitement as their self-esteem expands with the knowledge that they actually can succeed! 

In February, we also ensured through our Imani economic empowerment program for women, that their children would now be able to attend school because of the income they earn. That's another 30 children receiving an education through our programs.

Saving Lives

Because we have relationships with all our women in Imani, we care about all the issues in their life. Last month we had a mother with a very sick baby who we took to the doctor and was hospitalized for over a week due to a bacterial infection turned septic. The doctor told us if the mother had waited a few more days, the baby would have died. Thankfully, through our medical care, the baby is now doing fine and smiling again. The mother testifies, "I thank God for Zion Project because without them my baby would not be alive." 

All our Imani women are now receiving medical benefits which allow them to take care of their sick children. In Uganda the number 1 and 2 killers of children is malaria and pneumonia. Through our medical care we can now be sure these children will not die from preventable diseases. 

There is still so much more to do and so many more girls and women's lives to impact. Just last week I spoke to a little girl who has been orphaned and was strangled by a step-mother. There are so many more like her who need our help.

Thank you for supporting us to reach out and change lives to transform a nation.

Links:

• Sponsor a girl to receive an education
• Buy Our Imani Women's Jewelry