Hi, my name is Alina Karimamusama and I am one in a million. This is my cause.

I grew up in a poor community in Zambia that was a single income household controlled by my mother, who was raising three children on her own, while taking care of her mother, sisters and other family relatives. 12 people in a one room home. I saw my mother sacrifice everything to care for us and be able to help other community members in need, at the age of 4.

I realized the impeccable value that a woman has to the community and nation.

Although society looks at women and young people in similar positions as failures, they struggle through no fault of their own. By 15, I got very tired of hearing and seeing this: women going into suburban areas with children on their backs looking for small job opportunities paying less than a dollar a day, waiting for government to do something about it and then I decided to take the brace decision, to change it.

I founded WEEP (Women’s Economic Empowerment Project) a youth led Non Government Organisation that fights to create economic emancipation for young people and women living in poor communities.

We identified that the majority target group we are in service to and work with have lack of access and information to better job and business opportunities, little to no exposure and formal education. We created the first youth hub in Kaunda Square, a periurban community with a population of over 10,000 in-school youth and over 50% of the families live below a monthly income of $100. We train women street vendors in business skills and financial literacy, we teach young people TVET Skills, we create inclusive safe spaces and programs targeting Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights, and support over 3000 adolescent girls each year with sanitary products because we know how important the M in economy is and it stands for Menstruation.

Girls whose confidence and education has been uninterrupted by period poverty grow up to be empowered women who transform economies. Most recently we have partnered with Organicup in Denmark as their first Zambian partner, who brought on board our mission menstrual products to the value of £11,000+ for girls and women in villages and periurban communities, we raised over $5000 for front line workers most affected by COVID19, and worked with LusakaHelps to distribute over $10,000 in care packages for families most affected. We work in the communities that people shy away from because not even the very real horror stories will make us not believe in the ability of educated and empowered youth and women.

We are working with Queens Commonwealth Trust as it’s member to ensure that we continue to share the stories of the amazing women and young people we work with. None of what I have said can truly capture the work we do at WEEP, please visit our Instagram to follow our journey.

Disclaimer: Any views or opinions represented in these articles are personal and belong solely to the author. The content provided by these authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs and viewpoints of 1M2030, or it's affiliates.

1M2030 Story #5: Economically Empowering Women - By Alina Karimamusama

Hi, my name is Alina Karimamusama and I am one in a million. This is my cause.

I realized the impeccable value that a woman has to the community and nation.

I founded WEEP (Women’s Economic Empowerment Project) a youth led Non Government Organisation that fights to create economic emancipation for young people and women living in poor communities.

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