Kurandza's Impact Report

In a short time, Kurandza has come a long way. If you follow us on Instagram, you have heard a bit about our founder, Elisabetta, and our Country Director, Percina's stories. Just in case you missed it, we will sum it all up by saying that Kurandza hasn't come to fruition overnight. Years of hard work, dreaming, and collaboration has led us to where we are today. 

As 2018 opens its blank, fresh pages, we have big dreams that we can't wait to carry out. And first, before we can move forward, we think it's important to look back. 

This post is all about our Impact thus far. Since our very beginning as a women's sewing cooperative, until this year, sending more than 100 sweet girls to school. Looking back inspires us to keep pushing forward. 

Here's to an inspiring, impactful 2018!

Because of you, we've...

- created a women's sewing cooperative to provide income for HIV+ women:

One of our very first projects as a non-profit in Mozambique came as the result of Elisabetta's time working with the Peace Corps counseling HIV+ women. She created this cooperative to provide the women she had worked with for two years with a means of earning a living. This project has helped these women pay for transportation to reach the hospital every month and stay on their HIV treatment, improve their homes by upgrading from mud to bricks, and straw roofs to tin roofs, even buying their own dishware or bedding for the first time in their lives. They're also able to participate in community savings clubs, and send their children to school! 

- built a convenience store with a family in the community:

In partnership with a family in a neighboring town, we helped fund the construction of a convenience and grocery store. The store encourages local economic growth, creates jobs in the village, and eliminates the need to travel often to the nearest city. Not only does this store provide assistance to the community as a whole, but it provides a source of income to a family. Since it's construction, the family has used their profit to purchase more bottles (everything is recycled in Mozambique and sodas and other beverages are cased in glass bottles that are turned in when you want to purchase more-- no bottles, no beverages!) and build a veranda so that people can sit out and enjoy a drink even when it's raining! Since their start, Percina taught the family about inventory management and bookkeeping so that they could continue to grow their business. 

- developed a Nutrition Program via our #FeedMozambique Campaign:

In 2016, we launched our #FeedMozambique campaign as a response to the hunger crisis in Mozambique. With the help of generous donors from all over the world, we raised more than $7,000 to provide meals to more than 35 families as well as HIV prevention training to nursing mothers in the area. We established a Nutrition Program (which still exists to this day) to educate HIV+ mothers and provide them with safe formula if they decided to stop nursing their babies. Finally, we also helped families plant gardens and distributed seeds, to encourage a sustainable, renewable food source. 

-raised funds to send more than 100 girls to school through our first #IStandForGirls Campaign: 

Most recently, and perhaps most impactful, our #IStandForGirls campaign in September 2017 raised funds to send over 100 girls to school! Their sponsorship includes tuition, uniforms, transportation, meals, after-school care, and school supplies. Our Holistic Education program provides girls with the opportunity to dream about a bright future. 

In a few years, here's what we've accomplished so far: 

• 9 women learned to sew through our Sewing Cooperative. They also learned about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and health.

• 35 families received emergency food aid during the hunger crisis through our #FeedMozambique Campaign.

• An entire family was employed through the convenience store and the village's economy was improved.

• 200+ babies participated in our nutrition program, allowing them to have safe food while their mother continued treatment for HIV.

• 100+ girls received scholarships to attend school through our #IStandForGirls campaign. They also received access to our Holistic Education Program, providing them counseling, after-school care and more.

We're dreaming about an even BIGGER and more IMPACTFUL 2018 - Will you join us? 

Click here to learn about our Education Program and how you can get involved!