Sew Powerful Purse Program Expansion To South Africa In Partnership With Blessman International

Dear Friends,

We are thrilled to announce that after a lot of prayer and consideration, the board of directors has approved the Sew Powerful Purse Program expansion to South Africa in partnership with Blessman International.

This partnership will allow us to reach 4,000 schoolgirls within the first year, helping to ensure they can stay in school, achieve their educational goals, and build brighter futures.

More About This Decision:
Over a year ago, we began conversations with the ministry team at Blessman International about our purse program model. They were interested in the women's empowerment aspects of our work and the methods we have used to scale to such large numbers in Zambia. Their heart is to reach more girls with the supplies they need.

When I visited their campus in Limpopo last December, I was impressed by their leadership team, commitment to growing their women and girls empowerment program, and current sewing activities.

"Could God really be calling us to serve in Limpopo again all these years later?"

I also couldn't help but wonder if God wasn't up to something extraordinary because, in 2008, I visited their small town in South Africa with one of our board members, Toby Capps, and his daughter. That visit was focused on the response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. But we visited schools and saw the incredible need.

All these years later, in conversation with Dr. Jim Blessman, when he said they were located in Limpopo, I was stunned. Could God really be calling us to serve in Limpopo again all these years later?

In 2008, we couldn't have imagined that someday we'd be asked to help establish a women's and girls' empowerment program in that small town. But that's what has happened.

This expansion into South Africa is an important milestone for our ministry as we work with another organization to help them implement the Sew Powerful Purse Program. We've never done this before, but we're excited to see what God will do. Our energy and effort will remain focused on expanding in Zambia while the Blessman International team works to implement the Sew Powerful Purse model in Limpopo.

You Can Participate!

So today - we're inviting you to join us on this journey. Going forward - as you make purses and fill out a packing slip - you'll be given two options.

Designating your purses to Zambia
Designating your purses to South Africa

All purses, whether made for Zambia or South Africa, will be sent to the current mailing addresses - and drop-off locations. There is no change as to where you send your purses.

We're happy to receive donations and use them to achieve the South Africa ministry goal.

Giving To Support South Africa Initiative:

If you'd like to support the South Africa initiative, we're happy to receive donations and use them to achieve the South Africa ministry goal.

Note: In the event country goals are exceeded, or need to be adjusted for administrative purposes, we reserve the right to balance distribution to accomplish overall program success and get every purse into the hands of a girl in need as efficiently as possible.

Listen To The Full Conversation About This New Initiative:

More About The Needs In South Africa: South Africa holds the distinction of having the highest wealth inequality in the world. This disparity, known as the wealth gap, refers to the unequal distribution of wealth—highlighting the stark contrast between the wealthiest individuals and the poorest within a country, region, or demographic group. While wealth inequality is closely tied to income inequality, which measures earnings, it goes beyond just income. It also factors in assets like bank accounts, stocks, investments, real estate, and personal possessions such as cars, jewelry, and artwork. This significant wealth gap plays a major role in driving unequal living standards across communities. The four well-documented predicates of poverty in South Africa are race, gender, location, and education, which means that the poorest of the poor in South Africa are most frequently black women in rural areas with little or no education.

Photo Credit: World Population Review

About Blessman International: Blessman International is a Christian-based nonprofit focused on meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people in South Africa. Through their community outreach programs, they provide essential services such as food, education, and healthcare to underprivileged communities, with a special focus on children. In partnership with Convoy of Hope, they feed tens of thousands of children a daily hot lunch.