On May 14th, we had the opportunity to see and hear the Rwandan Youth that FUMC Sponsors:
Meet Claudine and her family. She is a part of FUMC's Unity Group in Rwanda.
ZOE Empowers
Since 2023, First United Methodist Georgetown has partnered with ZOE Empowers, an organization that equips orphaned children and youth-led families with solutions to overcome extreme poverty -for good.
​
Zoe Empowers equips orphaned and vulnerable youth to overcome poverty for good through a three-year, community-based empowerment program. Through mentorship, education, vocational training, and support, youth are equipped to become safe, healthy, and financially independent while building sustainable futures for themselves, their families, and their communities -knowing they are deeply loved by God.
ZOE'S Beginnings
Founded in 2004 in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Zimbabwe, Zoe Empowers began through feeding programs, medical care, and relief efforts for vulnerable children.
In 2007, Zoe was introduced to a radically new way of empowering orphaned kids and youth-led families to become self-sufficient. This approach was designed by Epiphanie Mujawimana with a group of Rwandan social workers responding to the 800,000 orphaned children created over 100 days during the 1994 genocide.
​
Rather than creating long-term dependency on aid, Epiphanie and her team focused on helping youth-led families become self-sufficient through a three-year, community-based program where participants lead their own journey out of poverty.
Today, Zoe Empowers has impacted more than 246,300 vulnerable children across 11 countries, with each program locally led and community-driven.
Meet our ZOE Youths
Stars
Beginning in January 2024, our "Stars" group is comprised of 32 households and 83 orphaned youths in Rwanda. As they enter the last year of the ZOE Program, all the families are eating 2 meals a day, and all the siblings are back in school with health insurance. Many are actively growing food and livestock businesses, and are becoming more self sufficient. They are thankful to God and refer to FUMC Georgetown as 'their parents.'
Unity
Comprised of 26 households (90 youths and children) our Unity group is entering their final year in the ZOE program. These youths are solidifying their income projects, with 85% of their businesses expanding! They are now able to provide for the basic needs of their families (food, housing, medical insurance.) They prepare and eat regular, nutritious meals for their families. Good hygiene is critical, and most have repaired or built latrines to maintain their hard-won health.
Supreme
Beginning in January 2025, this third group is comprised of roughly 93 youths and children from 20 households. They are still quite vulnerable, but have already received training in business, agriculture, and livestock. They can grow their own food and sell any unused food for more income. Their training in health and hygiene aims to reduce waterborne illnesses, prevent teenage pregnancy, and avoid the spread of HIV. Government health insurance covers their needs, and any unsafe housing have been repaired or they have moved into a “new” home.
United
Started in 2026, our newest ZOE group has just begun their ZOE Empowers trainings. We are excited to share their progress soon!
ZOE and FUMC
Learn about our history with the ZOE Empowers Ministry.
2023
Christmas Eve Offering
Starting with our Christmas 2023 offering, we aimed to support a single group of orphaned youth for one year of the ZOE Empowers program. Due to the immense generosity of this church, we were able to raise enough to support our first group for the full three years, plus enough to begin to support a second group into their first year of the ZOE Program.
2024
Christmas Eve Offering
For our 2024 Christmas Eve Offering, we continued to give away our entire Christmas Eve Offering, which finalized our commitment to our second group of Rwandan youth, and gave us the ability to begin a third group.
​
2025
Christmas Eve Offering
For Christmas 2025, we were able to finalize our 3-year commitment to our third group, as well a fully fund a fourth group of Rwandan Youth all through the three years of the Zoe Empowers program.
​
This means that in three years of Christmas Eve Offerings, FUMC Georgetown was able to fully fund four groups of orphaned youth in Rwanda.
​
2026
Trip to Rwanda
In February 2026, we sent 5 members of FUMC Georgetown to Rwanda to witness firsthand the impact of ZOE Empowers and meet some of our youths in person.
2026+
The Future
This Christmas, we hope to once again give our entire Christmas Eve offering to Zoe Empowers. Thank you to all have supported this important mission, and to those who will contribute their support in this year’s Christmas Eve offering.
ZOE Empowers in Rwanda
Rwanda is one of 12 countries where the ZOE Empowers mission works. For decades, the global response to help orphans in Rwanda has been largely relief-based, yielding recipient dependency, donor frustration, and little transformation to support children in their area of need. ZOE Empowers works to identify vulnerable youth outside of the major cities, bicycles and motorcycles provide the bulk of transportation for food, materials, people and water.
Identifying Vulnerable Youth
Vulnerable youths start as outcasts, homeless, and hungry. They are invited into peer groups by local community leaders. The groups help them develop a sense of safety, community, and trust.
Weekly Training Classes
​
Each week, the Heads of Households gather for a training meant to educate and uplift. Zoe Empowers focuses on 8 key areas of education. If an individual in the group stumbles, their peers lift them up, help them correct what went wrong, and they continue on their developmental path. They find their voices, care for each other, and transform their lives and the lives of their communities.​
​
At the end of 3 years, the youths 'graduate' and are able to live , safely and independently. They are regarded as leaders in their communities, and they have the training, knowledge and means to sustainably support themselves and their siblings.
​
​
8 Key Areas of Training
Secure Food & Housing
Youth are immediately taught about nutrition, safe food storage, agriculture, and animal husbandry. Within twelve months, they’re growing and buying food, plus selling or sharing surplus.
Hygiene & Healthcare
Youth learn hygiene and disease prevention, such as hand washing, mosquito net installation, and latrine construction. Many children enter the program suffering from illnesses, so Zoe staff facilitate access to medical care.
Child Rights
Youth are trained about human rights and gender equality. Up until this point, many participants are unaware they have rights and lack the resources to enforce them. With support from Zoe Empowers and their peers, they become advocates for themselves, and in some cases, receive assistance to seek justice.
Access to Education
By year three, many of the program participants already have sufficient funds from their business profits to pay for their own education, and their sibling’s, school fees and supplies. Some even go on to attend college and beyond.
Business Skills & Financial Fluency
Youth receive a small grant at the beginning of the program in conjunction with business training. Children develop a business plan and are provided guidance in executing their vision. Subsequent lessons are given on accounting, investing, and how to leverage their funds for long-term success.
Vocational Training
Youth are encouraged to pursue individualized training in their vocation of choice using resources from their group, this might include writing a business plan, raising livestock, growing crops, tailoring, beauty shops/barber shops, weaving, transportation and more. ​ Zoe graduates often become mentors in their community and/or employ other vulnerable youth, amplifying the ripple effect of empowerment.
Community Reintegration with Agency
Youth experience a sense of comfort and belonging in their Zoe Empowers peer group, and their customers bear witness their talents and transformation. As their businesses succeed, the children grow increasingly independent and confident.
Spiritual Strength
While Zoe Empowers is a religiously non-restrictive program, children experience the gospel in both action and words in ways that are always inviting but never coercive. The majority of participants find joy and meaning in collective prayer and feel confident attending worship.
ZOE Empowers Case Studies
Jean Marie
FUMC first met Jean Marie in 2024 when he was selling 6 live chickens at local markets. By 2026, he had 20 chickens on his bike, ready to sell them to restaurants in a major city (Huye) (who-yee). He was taller and healthier. His business, now thriving, includes 60 chickens, one cow, 2 pigs, 2 goats, and 12 sheep. His family eats 2 meals a day. He owns a bike, and his dream is to own a motorbike to improve his deliveries.​
Ettiene
Ten years after graduating from Zoe Empowers, Ettiene employs over 100 full-time Zoe graduate basket weavers with a fair, living wage weekly, fulfilling large orders and exporting. In 2014, he was exporting through a distributor for Target in the US.
Get Involved with ZOE Empowers
Pledge $4,750/year for 3 years.
(30+ vulnerable youth)​
Pledge $9,500/year for 3 years.
(60+ vulnerable youth)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:24