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Thanks To You We Opened Doors to Genesis Community Hub, but our work has just begun!
Since our inception, The HML Foundation - as a not-for-profit; we've strived to foster Public-Private Partnerships, focusing on capacity building to align with the 2030 SDGs 4, 8, 9, and 11, working hand in hand with the people of Zambia. While we initially relied on rented spaces for our pop-up libraries, the challenges posed by the pandemic in 2020 made it clear that we needed a sustainable and pandemic-proof solution - our own space.
We're pleased to report that in August 2023, we found the ideal space and established the Genesis Community Hub in Minestone, Lusaka, Zambia, which is now a hive of activities for at-risk youth and local children! Thank you for your generosity and commitment to a brighter future. Together, We're So Much Better!
In the last six-months since we opened; we have been both very excited and humbled at the same time with the costs of running the hub and mammoth task of the work ahead of us to reach the local Youth and Children in and around the area to come and receive the much needed Soft Skills and STEM training they need to thrive. Jennifer Nash
Excited because it means we're now seeing social proof our impact with the turn out of the children (over 48 children attended on Saturday 26 January - making it the highest turn out since we launched); this huge number of Youth and Kids means our financial need is also rising.
Humbled because the Hub is at risk of closing! Admittedly; we underestimated the cost associated to running a Community Hub in an area where the average family earns less than £4,000 per annum; not withstanding that at macro-economic level; the odds are stacked up against the families we serve as the report below states:
Zambia has been listed top 6 among the 10 African countries with the highest cost of living in 2024. Additionally, a high cost of living opens further the inequality gap within a society. While the wealthy might be able to manage, those in a lower class would struggle to keep up, eventually driving more inequality within the community. Addressing the root causes of a high cost of living is crucial for fostering a more equitable and sustainable economic environment. Source: Africa Business Insider
That's where The HML Foundation; through the establishment of projects and spaces like Genesis Community Hub steps in; to close that GAP. However; without your help; we cannot afford to continue to stay open. As things stand; we're unable to accommodate more of the at-risk youth and children we serve to take part in the extra curriculum activities we curate for them. This means; we have had to adjust our plans from localised income generating activities to national events. However, as we're not yet fully established to build capacity with business partners at national level; we will need to 'fly solo' as a Foundation (worth noting that; we have already invested our own personal money) in addition to individual donor support in the first year in order to establish our proof of concept in the first instance.
To give you a snap shot of our growth and impact so far; at launch, and within three months of operations; we spent £5,000 CapEx on our current renovated spaced which was able to accommodate up to 25 children maximum.
However, with this new surge of attendance and the demand of our activities like The Dance Studio and Art & Crafts; we need to ensure we have increased safeguarding capacity in place - which means renovating the outer house (which remains in disrepair and is dilapidated due to missing roof, it leaks, lacks electrical supply, plumbing and WC) to increase the space ratio-per person occupancy. We are therefore, now looking to raise £10,000 (50% to pay for our operating overheads); while the other 50% goes into repairs and furnishings of the building).
We anticipated after the above is achieved and by Aug 2024 (our first year anniversary) we should have become fully self-funded from our own robust national Private-Public Partnership programs which are work-in-progress; which will enable us to finance all of the above mentioned sustainably. As of now May 2025 - this is has not happpend - hence we are extending the fundraiser as we only received £20 in last 12 months sinc start of this campaign.
Ultimately, meaning any additional funding raised from donors will after this particular fundraising campaign ends - will be allocated towards future improvement of our existing services; thus directly increasing impact on the community.
Follow our journey on social media @hmlfoundation https://www.facebook.com/hmlfoundation and check out our videos showcasing our pop community libraries in action. We appreciate your time and welcome your support in making this vision a reality.
