10 years ago, I was finishing up my senior year of college at University of South Carolina. While I was sitting in classes about supply chain management and accounting to complete my Fashion Merchandising degree, my mind was elsewhere. Clothed in Hope became an official nonprofit organization in February of 2011, so I was deep into fundraising, planning, and preparing for the move to Zambia after graduation.

I think about those days sometimes, especially now at our 10 year mark. I had no idea what was to come. I knew that I wanted Clothed in Hope to be an organization that affirmed the worth of women living in poverty, that lifted them up in practical, sustainable ways. But I never knew that CiH would become what it is today. Back in those days I was emailing back and forth with the woman who has made it all possible, Elina.

Elina and I first met during my 2010 trip to Zambia. She was working at a community orphanage at the time. Our serendipitous encounter only came about because she was the only one who had an email address out of all of the women I met that day. I am so glad she had that email.

I asked Elina what women in her community really want and need. Do they need us to bring suitcases of clothes? Shoes? Toys for their kids? Do they need a feeding program?

She told me what they really want is to be empowered.

Back in 2011, in a little rental house in Columbia, SC, I chatted with Elina about the framework of what would launch in 2012. Long emails back and forth from here to Zambia. Our dreams, our thoughts. But even we didn’t know what could be.

We thought that if even one or maybe a few women could experience empowerment through life-skills education, that would be a success. And it absolutely would’ve been.

Never in our wildest dreams would we have thought that 316 women would walk through the doors at our Chikondi Community Centers, receiving training in sewing and entrepreneurship.

If I could talk to myself 10 years ago today, I’d tell her to dare to dream bigger. And hang on for the ride of a lifetime.

So much has happened since those days of emailing, dreaming, and planning. Products, new locations, pilot programs, losses, failures, and so many lessons learned. But one thing has stayed constant: our mission to empower women in Zambia through education and economic opportunity.

Thank you for walking with us every step of the way. Cheers to 10 years!

With Chikondi (Love),
Amy