28/06/2024
Today we are spotlighting Miss Lydia! From the beginning, it was clear that Lydia had a strong desire to become self-sufficient and provide a future for her unborn child. As a young entrepreneur selling bananas, fritters, and drinks, along with other females on the street, Bj and Sandy saw immense potential in her. In the beginning, Heart To hands provided her with a $25 monthly allowance. This money sustained provided her nutrient dense food so that she had the strength to breast feed her sweet baby girl “Destiny”. But that $25 didn’t stop Lydia from keeping her business along the streets and making a living on her own.
During their recent trip to Zambia, BJ and Sandy introduced Lydia to a trade they believed could transform her life: sewing. They arranged lessons taught by a young girl. Unlike typical sewing lessons in the States, these sessions involve a single treadle machine set up on the floor of a bustling vegetable market. These lessons not only enhance Lydia's life but also provide her teacher with a stable income.
Within just two months of lessons, Lydia is drafting her own patterns and plans to tailor uniforms for local schools. She has also kept up her fritter, drink, and banana business while learning this new trade.
Lydia’s story exemplifies the power of self-reliance through trade skills. Her sewing lessons, costing just $30 a month, have profoundly changed her life, equipping her with a valuable trade that she can pursue for the rest of her life. Previously, Lydia’s goal was $1.75 a day selling bananas, fritters, drinks, etc. It’s easy to see how gifting the equivalent $1.75 a day, could significantly impact her life. However, these sewing lessons have provided her with a career, demonstrating the true essence of Heart to Hands.
We are incredibly proud of Lydia, a wonderful mother and promising business owner. While life is far from easy, she can face the future with added confidence and hope. Her journey is a testament to the impact of our mission and the potential within every individual.