Chikumbuso

Crocheted handbag out of plastic sacks

"Remember where we came from, remember those who died, remember to do for others." --Chikumbuso's Motto


A widow slices a plastic grocery sack into strips. She links the strips together.  Then she crochets the strips into intricate handbags.  These bags are sold in the shop and markets.  50% of the revenue goes to the handbag maker.  25% is saved at the bank.  25% is deposited in a profit sharing bank.  


Formerly a tavern and brothel, Chikumbuso is now a community filled with classrooms of children, a feeding station, and a safe house for at risk kids.  It is quite a magical place.


They are doing many other entrepreneurial things:  making soy milk, baking bagels for the Blue Moon Cafe in Lusaka, sewing aprons and beading bracelets.


But there is one thing that caught my attention:   Sanitary napkins.


Disposable pads are available, but outrageously expensive.  If you a menstruating girl living in rural Zambia, you'd use (and reuse) a shabby piece of fabric.  That's fine and dandy unless you are in school, and there are no restrooms or a discreet place to clean yourself.  Many girls just stay home during their time of the month.   


But the women at Chikumbuso have a solution:  A kit containing a leakproof bag filled with six reusable sanitary pads (with wings!). 


Mary runs the sewing studio at Chikumbuso.  She teaches single mothers and young men how to sew these pads.  For $6 a kit, she can purchase the fabric, pay her employees, and distribute the products to girls all around Zambia.  They can make 1,000 of these kits a month.  They just need some financial partners.


This is a project that I'd like to get funded, so I'm gathering representatives from Chikumbuso, Special Hope Network, and Mercy Ministries to do a grant writing workshop.   I'm impressed with the transformational work that is already being done in these organizations, and I'd love to see it expand.


By the way, thank you for sending boxes and boxes of Legos and other educational materials.  I was touched by the response I got from so many people.  When they arrive in Zambia (in a couple of months) I'll be sure to post photos.


I recommend you checking out Chikumbuso's Facebook page here.  If you browse through their photos, you may see a bag that catches your eye.  My folks are coming to Zambia July 30th, and I can send home a bag back with them for you.  There are wine bottle bags, sturdy shopping bags, and handbags.  You need to contact me soon, so I can put in the order.  Bags start around $15 each.  Add on about $5 for shipping and you got yourself a deal!