What does it look like when a young person who once struggled to survive becomes a business owner, an employer, or even a healthcare professional? Our team visiting Liberia with Zoe Empowers has had the opportunity to meet several young people who have graduated from the Zoe program and hear firsthand how they are building brighter futures for themselves, their siblings, and their communities. Their stories are a powerful.
From day laborers to business owners
Among the graduates our team met were Lee and Isaac, who were part of the Bugieama Group, which, with the support of Edenton Street, began in 2018. Both young men started the program facing significant challenges and working as day laborers for very little pay.
Lee was just 19 and responsible for caring for his younger siblings, ages 8 and 10. Today, he owns a taxi and a motorized three-wheeled taxi (known locally as a keke). He has even moved from Kakata to Monrovia to pursue greater business opportunities. Reflecting on how far he has come, Lee shared, "We came from nowhere." Today, he is in a position to lend money to some of the very people he once worked for.
Isaac also started as a day laborer, cutting grass for animal feed. Today, he owns two motorcycle taxis and employs another young man on commission, helping him get his own start. "I was nothing before, but now I have… I will continue to go farther," he told the team.
Their stories demonstrate how the impact of Zoe Empowers extends beyond individual participants, creating opportunities for others along the way.
Dreams taking shape
The team also met Sekou, who learned to sew from his mother after his father died. His mother sold charcoal to support the family. Today, Sekou teaches at a tailoring school and sews school uniforms. His dream is to have a space of his own for the school.
He reflected on what made the opportunity so meaningful: "NGOs in Liberia bring in people they know, but this one chose me."
Mary, who joined Zoe Empowers at just 14 after her mother died, faced the responsibility of helping her siblings survive. They did day labor and mined charcoal to make ends meet. She began by baking bread and has since grown her business into a kiosk of her own. Her success has allowed her to keep her siblings in school, and she hopes to one day send them to college.
"Zoe is a destiny helper to me," Mary shared. She asked our church to continue sharing what Zoe Empowers is doing in Liberia and helping other young people find the same opportunities.
Another graduate, Moses, was only 16 when he began selling food items to help feed his siblings. After completing the program, he returned to school to study nursing and pharmacy because he wanted "to help people and save lives." Now 25, Moses owns and operates his own pharmacy, Help & Care. He also teaches his brothers about medicine and dreams of becoming a doctor.
And for Leenah, the program helped her discover what she was capable of. "The program made me become someone," she said. She began by buying and selling clothes, carrying them around to find customers. Little by little, her business has grown.
A future filled with possibility
Each of these young people has a different story, but their experiences share a common thread: the opportunity to build a future they once could only dream about. Through Zoe Empowers, they have gained more than business skills and financial resources. They have developed confidence, discovered their potential, and created opportunities for their families and others in their communities.
Their journeys remind us what is possible when young people are equipped and empowered to shape their futures. We are grateful to our mission team for bringing these stories home and to everyone who supports the work of Zoe Empowers through prayer, generosity, and partnership.