Stars in my bag: dezembro 2011

"While the whole world is puzzling over how to stimulate economic growth, something remarkable is happening in Africa.Young women from backgrounds of poverty are graduating from school, assessing their employment prospects - and creating their own jobs.Raised by her widowed father in rural Zimbabwe, Melody Jori showed an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age. She started her first business when she was a 19-year-old university student studying business management. "I noticed at break time that students were often wanting something to chew on, so I began selling chocolates," says Melody.Next, she opened a clothing boutique. Then last year, Melody defied a host of skeptics to pursue her greatest ambition: she launched The Marketer, a business magazine. "No bank would give me a loan because I didn't have collateral. Many people discouraged me. 'Such a complicated enterprise!' they would say. 'Why don't you just do buying and selling?' I persisted because I wanted to show the world that a young rural woman can accomplish something big."In launching the magazine, Melody is creating jobs. She employs a designer, a marketing officer, and a production manager. She trains other women in entrepreneurship. "Because of high unemployment, it's time to start creating jobs," she says. "Jobs which will help us sustain our lives and benefit our communities."In these difficult times, Melody offers us a message of hope and strength from Zimbabwe.This holiday season, join Camfed's movement for change by providing school supplies to children in Ghana.Before long, Africa will be filled with Melodys - young women with the vision, drive and skills to lead their countries out of poverty." Warmest regards,The Camfed Causes Team