In case you were about as baffled reading this week’s title as I was coming up with it, allow me to explain. In most cases, save a few, education has been the key to people being able to better themselves and to be able to provide for themselves and possibly their families as well. In a country where salaries are low and the standard of living is high, many people find themselves unable to drag themselves out of the generational poverty slump. What I’m trying to say, albeit in a rambling way, is that we pride ourselves in being able to contribute to being able to change someone’s life through the provision of sponsorship, which has of course been made possible by our amazing partners and supporters.

As I’m sure you know by now, RN provides sponsorship for children from first to 12^th Grade. We also run a skills training sponsorship program where the girls are supported to undergo training in a practical skill such as catering, tailoring, power electrical, etc. Today, we meet a product of the skills training program, Mutinta Mwafulirwa. You may have seen her on our social media when we did a quick interview with her not too long ago. Mutinta, who is now 25 years of age, was on the sponsorship program till she completed the 12^th Grade and then went on to pursue tailoring at the Youth Community Training Center (YCTC) and has also completed her degree in Nursing! A truly phenomenal young lady. Tinta as she is fondly referred to, through the empowerment she received in tailoring, started a small business where she sews clothes, etc. for clients. As with all businesses, her business has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a way of supporting her, we ordered some reusable face masks from her for our staff. She has also been contracted to sew uniforms for children under the sponsorship program. Mutinta was able to take the education and skill she was gifted to earn herself a living and a sustainable one at that. The epitome of the saying ‘give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime’. Way to go Mutinta!

So you see, providing someone with education, something so many people take for granted, can lead to unparalled positive effects in someone’s life. Want to be a supporter? Contact mail@responsenetwork.org and find out how. Also to support this young lady and her business, DM us for contact details. #staysafe