The Story of Lillian: A Seamstress and Her Profitable Journey
By Annabel Mumba
Annabel Mumba is AYC’s Donor Relations Coordinator in Zambia. She is a Scholarship Fund recipient, high school graduate and current college student, and also one of our Success Stories.
Co-written by Pamela O’Brien, African Education Program’s Development Director, who is mentoring Annabel as she pursues a journalism degree.
Lillian enjoys spending time with her sons Mapalo (l) and Samuel.
Lillian has been in the tailoring business for more than 20 years, which has earned her an income that she has used to sustain herself and her family. The mother of five shares how the growth of her business is attributed to the training that she received at the Amos Youth Centre (AYC) Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, Zambia. Despite being a skilled seamstress, she still didn’t fully understand how she could manage her business successfully and yield a profit. So, entrepreneurship training was a needed guide for her.
At the age of 27, Lillian developed an interest in tailoring after being unable to complete her secondary education that ended in grade nine due to a lack of financial support. Encouraged by her family to follow her ambitions, she decided to pursue her passion. Before enrolling in short tailoring classes, Lillian managed several small businesses from home, such as selling pre-packed groceries to her neighbors. Her ultimate dream has always been to achieve financial independence.
With the pandemic came so much uncertainty for Lillian because she had to close her doors to the tailoring shop that she ran in the local market and stay at home. With one income from her husband, who also depends on doing piece work, it was not easy to survive. But that was when the light at the end of the tunnel shone. Shortly thereafter, Lillian was one of the women that was selected to participate in the Women’s Business Training under the Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy Program. She welcomed the four-month training opportunity with open arms and joy because it was the first time she received formal training. Lillian was in the 2nd cohort which consisted of 30 women all looking to improve their financial literacy. For her, this marks her very first graduation—a dream come true.
With the onset of the program, Lillian became confident with each class that surely her business was going to be different once she opened her tailoring shop. She learned insightful lessons from the training, such as small business management, customer care, managing profits, and saving money—all things that she struggled with.
“I quickly found out that I lacked knowledge on customer care and how to maintain a relationship with my clients. I was also lacking in money management and would misuse money.”
Lessons Learned and Profitable Highlights
Now, with a bountiful amount of knowledge within her, she is taking the tailoring business by storm. She shares that she is now able to find return customers due to the lessons she learned during the training. She has evolved and is not inclined to tailor in the same style as before because of the lesson she had in the Creative Thinking module. The Women’s Business Training has not only empowered Lillian to attract and retain customers, but it has also transformed her approach to business by incorporating creativity. This newfound perspective allows her to offer unique and personalized services that set her apart from others in the industry. Lillian shared that her income has grown by almost 50% since completing her training. Previously earning $25, she now makes approximately $42 per month.
Lillian is not the only one who has benefited from AYC; all five of her children have participated in the holistic programs offered at the Learning & Leadership Center. Veronica, Bernard, and Emmanuel have successfully completed their secondary education, with Bernard even finishing tertiary education through the College Scholarship Fund. Her two youngest, Samuel and Mapalo, are thriving as well—Samuel is currently in Grade 8, and Mapalo recently completed Grade 12—an achievement made possible thanks to the unwavering support of the Center.
With a thriving business now and children settled in school, Lillian only has to worry about how to grow and monetize her business further.
Truly, the Amos Youth Centre is empowering women and taking care of families. Currently, 202 women through eight cohorts have graduated from the Women’s Business Training since 2021, and more than 1,000 lives in the Kafue community and beyond have been improved since the program’s inception. The impact extends beyond Lillian's family, as many other women have also found success through the program. By providing resources and support, the Amos Youth Centre is breaking cycles of poverty and creating a brighter future for families in the community.
