Report from BHW Zambia Partnership Facilitators Following Visit

Key People: Anthony and Milly Chitambala

We visited Anthony, Milly and their children at their home in Kabwe to chat about life and the Heart and Hands project. Milly had just had a C-section birth six days before we met up, and Milly junior was born. The surgery went well but was not without complications although thankfully Milly junior was all healthy and Milly was on the mend, when we caught up.

Recent Events

Activities

The Heart and Hands programme started with 12 ladies. They firstly ran a training course in conjunction with OM Zambia called Epic Solutions that is a bible-based business and finance course. The ladies were picked because they were known from the local community to Anthony and Milly as ones who were struggling in life to support their children.

After that they gave small loans to the ladies of around 200ZMW to start up small businesses. The ladies decided which business they would do as some had skills and passions in hairdressing, baking and other small business ideas. Every second week they meet up to discuss the business and also have bible readings and devotions. They made a few mistakes, which was a great learning curve and with only a small amount. For example, one lady who baked fritas used all the funds to bake a large batch, but then could not sell them all, so many were wasted. She then figured out to only bake what she knew the market would buy each day, meaning all the fritas sold.

Once these loans were repaid, the ladies came up with an idea to start not just a loan programme but a savings programme. They were each given 1,000ZMW (US$53) as a loan to carry the small businesses in January 2026.

Every two weeks when the ladies come together, they bring 100ZMW to the meeting, and the funds are put aside; 50ZMW as a loan interest repayment, and 50ZMW as personal savings. So far, this programme has been going well, and no one has missed a payment.

After 6-months they will bring back the original 1000ZMW to the group and will also have 600ZMW of interest paid into the fund and 600ZMW of savings. 

They then want to think about starting a larger business together but are yet to decide on this. 

Personal Stories

Levyness Mizinga

Levyness is one of the ladies who received the Epic Solutions training. She then started her small business and did very well with the 200ZMW loan she received. She paid back the loan and then managed to keep working in her business. She has now even saved up to buy a bicycle to help with her business activities. She is very proud of what she has achieved.

Partnership's Influence within the Community

The outcomes for the ladies have been great. They are able to give their children porridge in the morning before they go to school which is a huge help to the children. They have also managed to use some of the savings’ pool to help with emergencies such as funerals which they usually could not afford.

Milly thinks there are many reasons this is being so successful. Firstly, taking the ladies for training, as they learnt about many things they had never heard of in terms of finances, even the idea of savings was new to them. Secondly, starting with a small amount to make mistakes and learn. Thirdly, the building of community, fellowship and care within the group. They are looking out for each other and encouraging each other.

Ideas for the Future

They are thinking about what to do next, if they might start another group or continue to make this group larger, or split the group and add more on that way. We discussed that when they come up with the next plans, to let us know as we would be interested to put a proposal to the BHW Executive.