Students and staff at Malele Secondary School in Kitwe, Zambia, received much-needed computers through a grant from teh IHM Empowerment Fund.
Maura Lamb
is an intern with the Comboni Missionaries, North American Province.
By: Maura Lamb
The Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) parish in Cincinnati, Ohio, is just down the street from our mission office. One of their charitable initiatives is called the Empowerment Fund, and it has transformed lives in Zambia, Malawi, and Uganda.
John and Barbara Szucsik, co-chairs of the Empowerment Fund, say that it supports organizations with a mission to enhance the lives of others. The Fund has provided of vital technology to communities in Zambia, Malawi, and Uganda. The Daughters of Merciful Love of Jesus and Mary Queen of Apostles in Uganda expressed their gratitude for the purchase of a bakery machine. This acquisition has not only created an alternative source of income but has also improved the livelihoods of the people in the Otumbari Mission, who previously lacked a stable income stream.
The Empowerment Fund began in 1988 when the parish’s Justice and Social Action Commission presented a proposal to the parish council. The goal was clear: to provide support locally, nationally, and globally, guided by the principles of charity and justice. The IHM project embodies the belief that Christians must walk with “two feet” — one of charity to address immediate needs and one of justice to break the cycle of poverty and promote self-reliance.
Recent endeavors supported by the Empowerment Fund include transformative projects at Malela Secondary School in Kitwe, Zambia, and the Catholic Vulnerable Women Club in Lirangwe, Malawi. These initiatives have provided essential technology such as computers and a rice milling machine, helping communities to expand educational opportunities and bolster economic sustainability.
The installation of the rice milling machine in Lirangwe, Malawi, promises to alleviate the burdensome journeys community members must undertake, often traveling long distances to access similar services in the city of Blantyre. Through these investments, the parishioners at the IHM partner with the Comboni Missionaries to sow the seeds of hope and progress, enriching lives and fostering prosperity where it is needed most.
Empowerment Fund grants are directed toward initiatives that help recipients regain control of their lives and raise awareness of poverty’s devastating effects. Moreover, IHM ensures that grants are distributed equitably, prioritizing small groups with demonstrated need and adhering to Catholic principles in fund utilization.
The efforts of the parishioners at IHM demonstrate the profound impact that can be achieved by Christians united to serve a common purpose.
