Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Eunice’s Story of Resilience and Success
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.
Eunice poses with her family.
In the face of adversity, some individuals crumble, while others rise above the challenges, transforming their hardships into opportunities for growth and success. Eunice's story exemplifies the latter, as she emerged from tragedy to become a thriving entrepreneur, thanks to the transformative impact of the Amos Youth Centre Entrepreneurship & Financial Literacy Program.
Eunice's journey began with heartbreak. Following the untimely passing of her husband in 2022, she found herself the sole provider for her four children. Struggling to navigate the harsh economic realities, she embarked on a path of entrepreneurship, albeit with little experience or knowledge, leading to minimal profits and financial instability.
However, Eunice's life took a turn when she received a call from the Amos Youth Centre, inviting her to join their Women’s Business Training, a part of the Entrepreneurship & Financial Literacy Program. This program was launched in 2021 during the pandemic to address the needs of the youth and families involved with our Learning & Leadership Centre in Kafue. As a Global Catalyst Partner of the Street Business School, Amos Youth Centre adapted their transformative entrepreneurship program—designed specifically for women living on less than $2.90 a day—to fit the local context. To date, 180 women have graduated from the impactful 4-month workshop, with an additional 30 participants in the current, eighth cohort.
Recognizing the potential for growth and empowerment, Eunice eagerly embraced the four-month training program, determined to alter the trajectory of her family's future.
A New Hunger for Knowledge
As Eunice immersed herself in the Women’s Business Training, she quickly realized the profound impact of the knowledge and skills being imparted by her teachers. All women that go through this impactful training who have graduated have reported an increase in income in their respective businesses. The overall average percentage increase in income across the first six training cohorts was 107% and 246% is the record-breaking average percentage change in income for our third training cohort of 30 women entrepreneurs.
Through lessons on finding capital and starting small, customer care, and many others, Eunice was able to pinpoint her challenges and spot where she could make a change so as to grow her business. Within two months of attending the training, Eunice identified her strengths and realized that she possessed valuable assets within her own home, including solar panels left by her late husband. This was thanks to the lesson on ‘Finding Capital and Starting Small.’ With newfound clarity and determination, she seized the opportunity to leverage these assets, selling them to kick start her chicken farming business.
Armed with the tools she acquired during the program, Eunice embarked on her entrepreneurial journey with zeal and perseverance. Starting with just 50 chicks, she dedicated herself to the growth and success of her business, fueled by the desire to secure a better future for her children. After successfully selling the chickens to the local markets and making a profit, she increased her production capacity and is now buying 100 birds, growing them, and selling them every six weeks.
“Before the training, I was not clear-minded on how to successfully run a business. I did not know that I could find capital by selling a few things in my home. The teachers taught me that a little determination and perseverance go a long way in becoming a successful entrepreneur.”
AYC Makes a Difference with Family and Community Support
Eunice's story has inspired hope and resilience not just within her community but also in her own family. Her eldest daughter, Martha, attends the Learning & Leadership Center and benefits from the resources offered by the Amos Youth Centre. Through one-on-one tutoring and the holistic program support, she is excelling academically, paving the way for a brighter future. Amos Youth Centre’s programs, such as the Reproductive Health Access Initiative, have provided Martha with a safe space to consult on her growing body and receive sustainable menstrual supplies aimed at ending period poverty.
“My children are my inspiration; they motivate me to work hard. I am very happy that my daughter is able to benefit from the Centre just like I have. ”
Eunice's journey serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of education, empowerment, and resilience. Through the support of the Amos Youth Centre Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy Program, she not only found the means to overcome adversity but also unlocked her potential to thrive as a confident and successful businesswoman. As she continues to build her legacy, Eunice's story will undoubtedly inspire countless others to pursue their dreams, no matter the odds.
