My Nonprofit Reviews

With the loss of Beth Bowers, an aquaculture Peace Corps Volunteer in the remote rural village of Lumwana West in NW Zambia, in a bicycle accident in 2002, the Elizabeth Bowers Zambia Education Fund (EBZEF) was born. Beginning with a scholarship for girls, over 300 “Beth’s Girls,” a name they call themselves, have gone to secondary school. Currently, 38 girls on EBZEF scholarships have graduated from or are engaged in college/vocational education programs. EBZEF created a paradigm shift as the community has changed the way it looks at the education of women. More importantly, the women have changed the way they view themselves as leaders and providers for their families, their community, their country, and the world.

With the help of significant partners, EBZEF has built a large, well-stocked Memorial Library, encouraging literacy for the entire community. EBZEF has initiated, built, and continues to support a thriving 3-classroom pre-school, which has become the center for Early Childhood Education in the Province. EBZEF has initiated a secondary school for Lumwana West, building three 3-classroom blocks as well as a girls' ablution block (with a boys' block currently under construction). The success of this project is fulfilling EBZEF’s dream to educate the “whole girl,” from pre-school through secondary school and college! Beth’s vision is being sustained on the other side of the world!