IOD Announces $10,000 Contribution to Mercy House Through Community Support
In Zambia, the education system can be incredibly unforgiving. One failed exam can close the door to further schooling and the opportunities that come with it. For young women without those academic milestones to lean on, the road ahead can feel heartbreakingly narrow.
This is where Mercy House was born.
Mercy House is dedicated to equipping women with the gospel, entrepreneurial skills, job training, health education, and wellness checks, helping them bridge the gap from hopelessness to empowerment.
Last Summer, IOD partnered with Mercy House to create a gorgeous stamp that represents the opportunity to be a small part of another woman's story.
Here’s the story of the incredible women called to build the Mercy House.
And the $10,000 you raised with your purchase of the Mercy House Chitenge Stamp.
$10,000 that turned into meals, into classes, into opportunities, into hope.
Where Mercy House Began
Sally Griswold sat down with Doreen Zimba, the founder of Mercy House in Zambia, to discuss the God-led purpose of Mercy House.
Years ago, when Doreen and her husband returned to Zambia to found North Rise University, Doreen quickly noticed that women were hungry for community, for scripture, for a safe space to gather.
These women, many of whom were running micro-businesses to support their families, were struggling not because they lacked talent or work ethic, but because they lacked tools.
Basic skills like record keeping, inventory tracking, and budgeting stood between them and stability for their families.
What began as a Bible study with friends became the seed that grew into Mercy House. In this sanctuary, young women who’ve been overlooked, underestimated, or left behind academically can rediscover hope, gain practical skills, and step into the fullness of who God created them to be.
Mercy House: A Place Where Women Rise
Mercy House lovingly calls their students “life learners” who spend their days gathered in the chapel, learning business skills, exploring their identity, practicing emotional resilience, and supporting one another in a nurturing community rooted in dignity and grace.
It's not just job training.
It’s life training.
It’s soul training.
Little by little, these women become confident, capable, faith-rooted leaders, many of whom return to bless their communities in the most impactful ways.
A Community That Moves Mountains
This Giving Tuesday, we want to pause and acknowledge something beautiful:
The IOD community helped Mercy House raise $10,000 this past year with the purchase of the Mercy House Chitenge Stamp.
Ten thousand dollars that turned into meals, into classes, into opportunities, into hope.
You did that. Your generosity and creativity helped fuel a ministry that is rewriting stories for young women in Zambia. It is no small thing, and we are so grateful.
We Graciously Thank You
On this Giving Tuesday, we want to take a moment to honor you, our incredible IOD community.
Your generosity, creativity, and encouragement remind us every day why it’s such a privilege to be on this creative journey with you. You inspire us. You challenge us. And you show us, again and again, that beauty isn’t just something we make with our hands, but something we live out with our hearts.
Thank you for being part of a story that stretches far beyond our own communities.
If you feel led to support Mercy House further this Giving Tuesday, you can do so through the purchase of the Mercy House Chitenge Stamp or by giving directly through the Mercy House website.
From our IOD family to you, thank you for giving today and every day.
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