Have you ever met someone who completely shifts how you see the world? That happened to me when I met Sarah.
During one of our church planting events, I asked our National Director to take a walk with me. I needed a break, but I was also curious about what lay beyond the church walls where we’d been holding meetings. Following our safety protocol that everyone moves in pairs, I knew I needed a walking partner.
We hadn’t gone far when we came upon Sarah’s home. She appeared to be in her twenties and warmly invited us inside. Her house was beautifully simple—grass roof, mud walls and floor. There wasn’t any furniture to speak of. Her stove was three rocks arranged in a circle, but I didn’t see any food anywhere. Yellow water jugs sat empty in the corner. When I asked about water, I learned the nearest source was several kilometers away and required at least a 30 minute walk.
Sarah had a baby strapped to her back and a houseful of small children around her feet. I couldn’t fathom how she managed to fetch water with all these little ones. As we talked, I learned she had five children total. Looking at their ages, I could tell she’d become a mother as a teenager. Her husband had died of HIV, and now she was trying to survive completely on her own.
I knelt down to play with her children while she spoke quietly with our Director. When he turned to me, his expression was grave: “Her children haven’t eaten in five days.”
It took everything I had not to visibly react.
At Petros Network, we’ve learned that handouts often make problems worse rather than better. Of course, I couldn’t help myself and gave her some money for food, but she needed a long-term solution. We were just launching our Women’s Empowerment program—an initiative that offers friendship, household and business education, microgrants, and most importantly, hope for families exactly like Sarah’s. All the spots were already filled.
Fighting back tears, I looked up at the Director and began, “Can we…”
I didn’t need to finish. “She’s in,” he said immediately.
There are so many more women like Sarah
Women who are courageously fighting to keep their families alive. Women who need more than charity—they need opportunity, education, and a community that believes in their potential.
Our Women’s Empowerment program is changing lives, but we need your help to reach more families. Every dollar you give creates ripple effects of hope that extend far beyond what we can measure.
Would you consider partnering with me to transform more stories like Sarah’s? I have set an ambitious goal of $150,000 goal to impact 100 women….forever!
The Multiplier Effect of Your Impact
Your $1,500 Investment Creates:
- 1 woman completely transformed
- 5-7 family members directly impacted
- 24 women influenced through her leadership in savings groups
- 100+ community members affected by economic improvement
- Next generation breaks poverty cycle through education
Total impact per $1,500 investment = 130+ lives changed
The Sarah Effect: Why Women’s Empowerment Works
When we invest in women like Sarah, the impact multiplies:
Immediate Family Impact
- Children eat daily and attend school consistently
- Family health improves with better nutrition and healthcare access
- Household income increases by an average of 300%
Community Ripple Effect
- 24 other women join Sarah ‘s savings group
- Local economy strengthens through women’s businesses
- Next generation breaks poverty cycle through education
Generational Change
- Sarah’s daughters will have different opportunities
- Cultural shifts toward valuing women’s contributions
- Sustainable development that doesn’t depend on outside aid
You Can Transform the Next Story
Women like Sarah don’t need pity—they need partners.
And when we invest in them, the transformation is breathtaking.
Would you join me in lifting 100 women—and 700+ lives—this year?
Thank you for caring so deeply for women and children who deserve a fighting chance.
With gratitude,
Linda Noah
Executive Director
Choose Your Impact
There are many ways you can make a difference
