Zimele Gala 2023
Please join us on Sunday, December 3rd at our annual Zimele Gala! Purchase tickets here!
President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)
Zimele USA is thrilled to announce that we are now an official certifying organization for the President's Volunteer Service Award. Zimele USA student and adult volunteers can now earn credit towards a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Lifetime Achievement Award by volunteering at Zimele events and opportunities or creating their own projects in their local communities while supporting global initiatives that confront root causes of poverty and empower female entrepreneurship.
What is PVSA
In 2003, the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the PVSA to recognize the important role of volunteers in America's strength and national identity and honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too. The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation. This prestigious award is given to incredible leaders who go above and beyond to make the world a better place through volunteerism.
Led by the AmeriCorps and managed in partnership with Points of Light, this program allows Certifying Organizations to recognize their most exceptional volunteers.
Who is Eligible
United States citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e., green card holder)
Must be at least five years old
Completes eligible service within a 12-month period (for annual Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards) and over a lifetime (for Lifetime Achievement Awards
Back to School Supplies Project
We love to see young people taking initiative to learn about and uplift others! Zimele USA was thrilled to be a part of Ashna’s Girl Scouts Silver Award Project. She took time to learn about Zimele’s work and model in rural South Africa, then put together these January back to school kits for orphan & vulnerable children (OVC social service groups). Her goal is that this would be an evergreen project where others can help by fundraising or putting together school supply kits for those in Zimele communities. If you’re inspired by Ashna like we are, and would like to help organize school supplies please reach out to us at angela@zimelecommunity.org
Zimele Gala 2022 - THANK YOU
Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, donated and sent their best wishes last week for the Zimele Gala. We were so thankful to gather in person once again as a community in support of Zimele programs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We treasure you and the global bridges we build each time we come together in unity.
Standing Against Anti Asian Racism
On March 21, South Africa commemorated Human Rights Day, also recognized by the UN as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. As we reflect on the significance of this day, we have also been grieving and reflecting on the current climate in the US, most recently with the rise in violence against the Asian American Pacific Islander community over the past year.
Zimele USA was founded to confront and combat the injustice of South Africa's decades long racist system of apartheid. Our struggle for justice post-Apartheid is a struggle for justice and acceptance for all communities. The attacks against the AAPI community, while not new, are painful reminders of racism that still exist in our country and communities today. We want to acknowledge the deep pain that our brothers and sisters in the Asian American Pacific Islander communities are going through.
The work of community mobilization, development and transformation is an often slow process but Zimele remains committed to do our part with empathy, solidarity, and a willingness to better understand and change existing systems of oppression.
Zimele Mobile Kitchen Campaign
Of the 59 million people in South Africa, 20 million children under the age of 18 make up more than a third of the total population, of which 2.9 million are orphans. KwaZulu-Natal province has the second largest population in South Africa, with 11.3 million people living in 2.9 million households. The province accounts for 4.2 million children of which 17% are orphans who have lost a mother, a father or both parents. The poorest households carry the greatest burden of care for orphans. Close to half (48%) of all orphans are resident in the poorest 20% of households.
The orphaned and vulnerable children in KwaZulu-Natal, who are often left to fend for themselves, go hungry without proper sources of nutrition. While the Zimele women already pool together their own savings to provide weekly hot meals for some orphans and home bound neighbors through a local soup kitchen and occasional food parcels, it can become difficult to do so at times as they often are depleted of income to take care of their own families.
Recognizing that the women of these villages/communities are using their entrepreneur abilities to become the source of care for these children, we are launching a new initiative to empower the women of Zimele in their efforts to sustain their communities by setting up and running their own business. Our mission with this campaign is to raise funds to supply the women with mobile kitchens that will increase their ability to make a sustainable income. This also benefits the farmers and other local sources that provide the produce – making this purpose multifold and beneficial to the entire community. Most importantly, this would create 2 meals per day (weekly) when there is a soup kitchen set up for the orphans, ensuring access to much needed nutrition in keeping them healthy and happy.
Given the current exchange rate, each mobile kitchen will cost approximately $5000 USD, and our goal of $30,000 would provide 6 different villages/communities with a new opportunity to further develop their sustainability. This initiative will impact the rural villages/communities of KwaZulu-Natal in an extraordinary manner, by giving ownership to those that might never have the chance in their lifetime otherwise. We ask you to support this mission through your unique network and influence to help bring transformation across the globe.
Every dollar will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps. Thank you for your support! To donate, please visit this Facebook link here. Facebook pays all the processing fees for you, so 100% of your donation goes directly to the nonprofit.
Zimele Wethu Reflections by Debbie Blue
The below post was written and re-shared with permission by Debbie Blue as she reflects on her December 2-9, 2019 trip to Zimele Wethu during a CWR Visit to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
“Training has taken away the shame of being a beggar… That’s the dignity that we have now.”
“I’m committed for life to the self-help group!”
These were two quotes that profoundly captured the essence of the incredible and empowering work of Zimele Wethu in the rural communities of the Kwa-Zulu Natal province. As this trip was my second visit – the first to Zimele in 2013 and now to Zimele Wethu (launched 4 years ago) – I saw a remarkable difference in what is now happening in both the lives of individuals as well as families and entire communities.
From rural Durban (Zwelibovu) to Swayiane, Msinga and back to rural Durban (Tafelkop), we witnessed women in self-help groups (SHGs – small community groups), cluster level associations (CLAs – cluster of SHGs), and what hopefully will become a Federation (8 or more CLAs). In the SHGs, women who are economically challenged, faithfully brought their 5 Rand (~$.34 USD) weekly; while in the CLAs, each SHG brought their contribution to the larger fund. As a result, we visited sites where these women had launched their own businesses – chickens, crafts, catering, brick-making, organic farming, and more. Through CLAs, they are able to negotiate for discounts for bulk purchasing purposes, have set up computer training (4 computers), built houses for those in the communities in need, provided home-based care as they tend to the needs of the sick, and ensure that the vulnerable and orphaned children of the community who are without parents are provided care. I was especially moved by the desire of the women to expand their already existing burial society through their vision to have a morgue and a hearse. As much as possible, they seek to eliminate the shame of the family in not being able to afford a proper burial.
Almost every story we encountered touched my heart, like
the lone 81-year old man who came to a cluster meeting and heard stories of transformation. At the end of the meeting, he expressed his amazement in seeing something happening in the community that he had not witnessed in all of his 81 years!
Or the story of Nonhlahla, a vulnerable 12-year old child who along with her siblings suffered from abuse, neglect and an alcoholic father. As Nonhlahla came under the care of the Zimele Wethu women, they helped her realize her dignity and worth as they helped as well to provide her needs. End result – Nonhlahla is now, 10 years later, interning at the Zimele Wethu offices. She successfully escaped the traps of a teen pregnancy and is pursuing her education.
Or the daughter of one of the staff members who has returned home and joined the SHG that her mother belongs to. In her words, “I now have a future!”
Or the astounding jubilation of a cluster group as they received a sewing machine!
Dr. Audrey Matimelo, founder and executive director, along with a fully empowered staff (particularly Mazuma and Magida), have done incredible training to empower, equip, mobilize and set women (and some men) free to use their gifts and talents to transform communities – not solely for individual purposes, but based on the philosophy of ubuntu.
I am so grateful for this opportunity to not only see the powerful ministry of Zimele Wethu, but to learn the value of community; the necessity of not only business enterprise and economic development, but the importance and value of social capital – ubuntu! What a privilege to travel with Dave and Ronna, and the President of the ECC and his spouse, Julie. May this experience for John aid in the vision he has for the whole church.
I’ll end with this quote from President Obama as he reflected on the life of Mandela: “There is a word in South Africa — Ubuntu — that describes his greatest gift: his recognition that we are all bound together in ways that can be invisible to the eye; that there is a oneness to humanity; that we achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others, and caring for those around us.”
That is the power [and the women] of Zimele Wethu! How much can be accomplished when we work together for the good of all – economically and socially! We all have much to learn from the “poor.”
Thank you, Dave, for this wonderful experience; thank you, CWR, for the opportunity; and thank you, Irene Hill, for providing the resources to make the trip possible!!
In Solidarity
Dear Friend,
There are no words to properly express the emotions and grief over the events of the past week. The protests and civil unrest in our country are painful reminders of the systemic racism that still exist in our country and communities today as we have so evidently seen in the recent senseless and tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.
We believe that those of us in the nonprofit community cannot remain silent because the issue “doesn’t immediately pertain to our mission.” Zimele USA grieves with and stands with our Black and Brown brothers
and sisters in the fight against unjust violence and oppression and calls for the dismantling of racist policies and practices that have taken too many lives based on skin color.
South Africa’s 46 year history of Apartheid, which ended in 1994, shows us that even when a system of oppression is dismantled, there is still work to do. Zimele’s work has always been to seek justice and to be a part of the movement to right these wrongs that were inflicted upon Black South Africans. We are not anti-racism experts in the United States, however we find a lot of parallels in our two country’s histories that mirror each other in white supremacy and oppression against the Black community - whether it is legislation that redlines districts to receive less funding for communities of color or pushing native South Africans into impoverished rural areas where there are no resources or infrastructure. We must collectively acknowledge and take responsibility for it’s past and the impact it has on the present while actively committing to and creating a just future.
During this time, we acknowledge that support takes many different forms for each individual - from peaceful protest to education and introspection to supporting organizations committed to social justice, equity and inclusion. We know that the work of community development and transformation is a slow process but Zimele remains committed to do our part with empathy, solidarity, and a willingness to better understand and change existing systems of oppression.
In solidarity,
Zimele USA
Zimele + One Day's Wages
UPDATE 12/21/19: Grant Campaign Goal Completed!!!
We are so thankful for the opportunity to partner with One Day's Wages and excited to share that the Orphan & Vulnerable Child (OVC) grant project is FULLY funded! THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to this project! Our partners Zimele Wethu Foundation in KwaZulu-Natal are set to proceed with this Orphan & Vulnerable Child (OVC) project in 2020! #ubuntu
We are excited to share that Zimele USA and Zimele Wethu Foundation are partnering with One Day's Wages on a year long project to empower Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) in KwaZulu Natal.
Over the next three months, our goal is to fully fund a $40,000 ODW matching grant which will allow us to serve 146 orphans & vulnerable children (ages 7-21) in the communities of Msinga, Swayimane and rural Durban. This year long program will cover topics of body awareness, understanding/ prevention/ intervention of abuse, as well as teaching Zulu culture, values and increasing self-esteem. OVCs will also gain work skills assistance, mentorship and integration into savings groups.
This project works alongside the Zimele women who currently care for these OVCs and will empower them to actively participate in ending the cycle of abuse in their communities and contribute to the ultimate outcome of creating sustainable communities where every member, including children, actively participate in social and economic transformation.
Please help us reach our goal of raising $40,000 for this project by making a tax-deductible donation today. For more information on this campaign, how you can get involved or to donate, please visit onedayswages-zimele.funraise.org.
As always, we thank you for your continued support and partnership of Zimele's work in South Africa.
2019 Ride for Zimele Recap
Thank you to everyone who donated to the 2019 Ride for Zimele! With your support, over $8,122 was raised for Zimele programs to confront poverty and empower women in South Africa.
Also, a very special thank you to our riders Dennis, Erica, Mike, Neil and Peter who sacrificed their time from family and work to bike 250 miles for Zimele!
We are already planning for next year so contact us if you’re interested in the 2020 Ride for Zimele!
Zimele 2018 Video
What does it take to transform and inspire a community? Here is just a glimpse at Zimele's work in South Africa. Thank you to everyone who has and continues to support Zimele!
Thank you Tony Yang for this amazing video!
GOING THROUGH HELL ON THE HILL AND BACK WAS A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR -- AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN! 100%!!!
By Christine Lee
Last year, my husband Taylor was invited to an event called Hell on the Hill. It’s an event where people of all different backgrounds including marathon runners, Ironman Triathletes, UFC fighters, and veterans are invited to a challenge -- a challenge that tests you not only physically but your mental fortitude as well. You are tasked to run up and down a steep hill 100 times for a total of 8.4 miles. Why would anyone want to do this? For me, I had no choice. “No” was not an option.
Jesse Itzler and his wife Sarah Blakley, the power couple behind the race started this event for fun. It’s special and unique because it’s in the backyard of their lake house! There is no race fee and THEY personally donate $1000 to each participant’s charity of choice for completing the race. Through this race, they raise awareness about different charities while promoting health, fitness, and wellness.
This year, Taylor was invited again by Jesse and was super excited to participate even though he barely survived last year’s race because of his messed-up knee. You can read more about his experience in his recap here.
One day Taylor joked that he’s going to need me to tag-team with him and take on a few laps on The Hill. I thought why not, a few laps wouldn't be bad at all since I’ve always been into fitness and playing sports. More recently, I started running this year with some friends, so when Taylor suggested taking a few laps for him, I knew I could manage.
But I wasn’t prepared when on Tuesday night I asked Taylor, “What percentage do you think I’m going to run?”
He flatly replied, “Oh all of it.” There was no discussion after this response as I tried to absorb the magnitude of what he just said and count the number of days until race day: 4.
I knew that Taylor is not one to miss out on this chance to participate again. Knowing about his injured knee, his high pain tolerance level, and how badly he wanted to participate, I silently agreed to take his place.
While I have done some 5Ks and 10Ks, I’ve never participated in a physical activity that took more than 1.5 hours, and this event was known to take up to 4 hours.
So, the day after I found out I was doing The Hill I put in a good cram session hour on a stair master while thinking thank God at least I had many Maven workouts under my belt as well as some running on the weekends.
Before the race started on race day, everyone talked about where they’re from and the charities they represented. Two stood out: a young woman, beautiful and super fit, with stage IV lung cancer running for her very own personal charity; and Dan an ex-marine who lost his leg in battle. Their stories touched me so much that my nervousness turned into thankfulness and feeling beyond honored to be doing this with them.
Going through The Hill was truly hell.
But when you have inspiring people running this in order to raise money for their charities and all of the supportive spectators, it pushes you on. These people who overcame so much adversity kept me going even though I wanted to stop and take breaks.
I’m proud to say that I finished 25th out of 70. Wow, I finished and survived the race! Although my legs are still healing days after, I think being consistent with Maven training helped me to survive this type of brutality.
Anyway, I love a good challenge and it was an opportunity to support Zimele USA, an amazing charity which has helped thousands of South African women in rural villages to launch their own businesses and deeply impact their respective communities. I would instantly do this again if I could -- to be surrounded by such incredible human beings and to be inspired by them and their stories.
Reposted with permission from Maven Center:
Young Social Entrepreneurs Giving Back
Young social entrepreneurs Lea (age 13) and Max (age 12) recently started a small business called Sophrosyne. They make and sell home made bath bombs pictured here. For each one sold, they donate $1 to Zimele.
We are inspired by their example of young entrepreneurship and thankful that they have chosen to support Zimele's work! #socialentrepreneurs #givingback#mondaymotivation #spaproduct #bathbombs
Baker Spotlight: Joohee Kim of Joohee Bakes
Get to know the talented and generous bakers that graciously donated their time, effort, and absolutely scrumptious baked goods to our virtual fundraiser, Baked with Love. In our Baker Spotlight, we focus on one of our volunteer bakers and explore what drives them to not just create, but to give.
Mini Macarons by Joohee Bakes. Purchase them here!
The second baker in our Baker Spotlight series is Joohee Kim of Joohee Bakes. She operates locally out of Englewood, NJ. She is also a Zimele Ambassador, having gone to South Africa on the 2015 Ambassador Trip with Zimele USA.
Where does your love of baking come from?
I think it stems from the love for the arts and the creative, tactile art-making process involved. I also love how baking lends itself as a great tool for sharing love and encouragement.
How has baking positively influenced the other aspects of your life and the person you have become?
The discipline of baking has matured me as a person in so many ways. I think kitchen work in general helps one to become meticulous with planning and preparing, attentive to time and safety, and creative and efficient with the use of resources. I had none of the skills in these areas, and especially in multitasking. But as with any discipline, more practice helps, and I'm constantly training as I go. But it's definitely helped me to become more responsible and less reckless as a person, which is helpful well beyond the work setting and in all of my relationships, too.
What are your ideals and how do they come through in your baking?
I would love for the baked goods to be enjoyable and encouraging to people who consume them. In the end, they are just small desserts, but it's still a humble mission accomplished if they helped lift up somebody.
Any reflections on Zimele's mission that you would like to share with us?
When I traveled to SA on the 2015 Amabassador Trip, the Zimele women taught me to live life not our of fear or scarcity, but to the full. Personally, the Zimele community I saw was truthfully living out the faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). They indeed love extravagantly. I think I will always be remembering and learning this from these women. I'm so thankful that Zimele USA is doing this amazing collaborative bake sale also in our local community, in a way just like the Zimele bakers in South Africa do. I'm so grateful and humbled to be a part.
Baker Spotlight: Dana of Dana Yu Creative
Get to know the talented and generous bakers that graciously donated their time, effort, and absolutely scrumptious baked goods to our virtual fundraiser, Baked with Love. In our Baker Spotlight, we focus on one of our volunteer bakers and explore what drives them to not just create, but to give.
Cake Pops by Dana Yu Creative. Purchase them here!
We kick off our Baker Spotlight series with Dana Yu, of Dana Yu Creative. Not only is she a talented baker, she is also a phenomenal professional photographer!
What ignited the spark in you to strike out on your own and start your own business?
Honestly, starting my own business was a most unexpected, unlikely decision. Growing up and even until post-college, I didn't think I had a creative, never mind entrepreneurial, bone in my body - I don't recall ever feeling inclined to craft, bake, take photos, etc. But I entered a season shortly after having kids where I felt like I was wandering in the wilderness. I had my first daughter at 24 - earlier than my husband and I had planned for, I quit teaching to stay at home with my two little ones, I battled discouragement and despair while doing ministry in the small church God had called my husband and me to serve, and I had very little community to process, grow, and do life with. It was in this season of questioning my purpose and new identity as a mother that I felt compelled to create. In hindsight, it was this journey into the wilderness that allowed me to conceive the space to cling to joy and beauty - because you can recognize true goodness that much more distinctly in the wilderness. And in that place, I discovered a desire not just to create beautiful things, but to play a role in cultivating and capturing moments of true joy and meaning. Thus, the birth of Dana Yu Creative!
How has baking positively influenced the other aspects of your life and the person you have become?
Baking has helped me to slow down and enjoy the process of creating something beautiful (and delicious!). Each step requires attention to detail and patience in order to guarantee a beautiful finished product. This meticulous process has definitely helped me develop patience and perspective even in raising kids! I know I can't force my girls to be a certain way over night (although many days, I definitely try to rush this process, ha!). But with constant love and patient guidance, I have utmost hope they will grow to be loving, faithful, and selfless women who live to serve others. Fingers crossed.
Any reflections on Zimele's mission that you would like to share with us?
My biggest role models have been the generations of women in my family: my great grandmother who was the first woman in her family to get an education; my grandmother who was a pillar of faith in her community; my own mother who grew up in rural Korea, got piano lessons from a church member, immigrated to the States and earned a PhD in music while learning a new language. Women have incredible strength and ability to thrive if given even the smallest opportunity. Zimele provides that and more by mentoring and empowering women stuck in cycles of poverty.
Baked with Love Fundraiser Returns!
We're so excited to announce the second annual Baked with Love fundraiser for this upcoming Valentine's Day! Share sweets baked with love with co-workers, friends, teachers, classmates and loved ones while supporting Zimele USA.
How To Order:
You'll be able to place your orders through our website. You'll find a link to the order form on our main Baked with Love page. We'll be accepting orders until Sunday, February 5, 2017.
Pick Up Info:
All orders will be available for pick up from the Happy Hello shop in Englewood Cliffs, NJ on a specified date before Valentine's Day. We will also be offering delivery service for $20 to Manhattan addresses on Monday, February 13th.
Calling All Bakers:
Zimele USA is seeking professional and semi-professional bakers to participate in our Valentine's Day themed Baked with Love virtual bake sale. For more information about this fundraiser and how to participate, contact esther@zimelecommunity.org.
We would also like to extend a big, warm THANK YOU to the bakers for their generous donations that are pictured above from last year:
Angie C Lee
Big City Little Sweets
Joohee Bakes
Jennifer Choi Dessert Catering
Goodie Box Bake Shop
Made by Jennifer
Minty H. Cupcakes
Angi & Co.
Announcing the Release of our 2015 Annual Report
We are delighted to announce the launch of Zimele USA's first annual report. The year of 2015 was a year of changes for Zimele USA. Thank you for sharing in our joys and challenges. We continue to confront the root causes of poverty in rural South Africa by empowering women with financial literacy, small business and life skills to sustain themselves, their families, and their communities. Your support goes a long way in helping us to fulfill our mission.
Please click on the image below to view our 2015 Annual Report. This report and future annual reports will be found in the About Us section.
SoulCycle Charity Ride for Zimele USA
1 coordinator + 2 hosts + 3 conference calls + 170 emails + 61 (sold out) bikes = priceless event
On Saturday, October 24, 61 people came out to Ride for Zimele USA at SoulCycle. The support we received was amazing and inspirational!
Thank you to our hosts Sophia Peppas and Meghan Kay, who tirelessly and selflessly gave their time and energy to ensure the event would be a success!
A special Thank You also to everyone at SoulCycle and all our sponsors - Aquareveal, Big City Little Sweets, MavenShake and New Yorker Bagels and Joohee Bakes.
SoulCycle Charity Ride for Zimele USA
Tickets available at www.rideforzimele.eventbrite.com
Wine101 Event Benefiting Zimele USA
Last month, Zimele USA kicked off a new series of events in partnership with WineO Club. Hosted by Taylor Lee (Board Member) and his wife Christine, a group of 15 guests gathered for Wine101, a fun, informal evening of learning about Zimele, wines, pairings and participating in a scent “quiz” led by WineO Club Founder & certified sommelier Mark Fang. Guests also had an opportunity to sign up for WineO Club services, which would give a portion of proceeds back to Zimele. Now that’s sipping for good!
WineO Club Founder & Certified Sommelier Mark Fang
For anyone interested in hosting a Wine101 Event to benefit Zimele, please email angela@zimelecommunity.org for details.