A Letter From The Founder
It is the morning of my 26th birthday, and I can’t help but reflect on how fortunate I am. All of my basic needs are fulfilled on a day-to-day basis. I have access to nutritious food, clean water, and health care. Further, I have healthy relationships and the privilege to be able to pursue education. And that's just to start.
In a speech at the 2013 Governors Awards, Angelia Jolie said,
“I have never understood why some people are lucky enough to be born with the chance that I had, to have this path in life. And why across the world there’s a woman just like me, with the same abilities and the same desires, same work ethic and love for her family, who would most likely make better films, and better speeches — only she sits in a refugee camp. She has no voice. She worries about what her children will eat, how to keep them safe, and if they’ll ever be allowed to return home. I don’t know why this is my life and that’s hers. I don’t understand that, but I will do as my mother asked, and I will do the best I can with this life to be of use.”
Like Ms. Jolie, I have never understood this disparity in life and hope to “do the best I can with this life to be of use.” Women's health is something I have been passionate about from a young age. Around the time of maturation, my mom told me about the discrepancy between my upbringing and hers. She told me about how while growing up in Zambia, many women, including herself, did not have access to sanitary products during their time of menstruation. They would use whatever they could find including leaves, an old cloth, and other items that were insufficient to control the bleeding. Consequently, they would stay home until the cycle was over, which had a negative impact on their education. This period poverty still exists today.
Last year in August 2021, my father's church embarked on a project in which they collected assorted goods to share with people of Zambia. When I noticed women's sanitary products were not on the list, I asked my father if I could collect donations for this specific cause. All it took was one simple plea on my Instagram story, and things took off from there. From the comfort of my own couch and with a few clicks on my phone, I was able to reach 26 donors who donated over $600. It was too easy. I realized that people share my desire to help support this cause and starting this initiative gave them a space to make a difference. From there I worked with my parents to register a nonprofit, and that's how All Things was born. The name is derived from 1 Corinthians 13:7, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Over the past year, we have collected hundreds of dollars that have purchased thousands of pads that helped dozens of women in the outskirts of Ndola, Zambia. We have registered as a nonprofit. Our team is growing as the board of directors is expanding.
We are eager to continue this call to help women in Zambia.
We are currently working on getting tax exemption status, growing our team of volunteers, sustaining the products of women helped, and growing the number of women helped. We hope to someday provide other resources as well that will empower them to fully participate in all good things that life has to offer. We look forward to all that is to come and thank all of those who have helped us get to this point.
With a grateful heart,
Heather Mwitanti