For countless families around the world, financial need has crushed dreams. Over time, poverty can suppress even the ability to dream. Yet, at HOPE International, we believe in a God who rekindles dreams.
In underserved communities around the HOPE network, nearly 900,000 men and women are harboring dreams like launching new businesses, seeing their children graduate, and owning their own homes. These same families are investing their own time, hard work, and funds—and leveraging HOPE’s financial services—to see those dreams come to fruition.
In these photos, members of the Let’s Fight Poverty savings group in Rwanda share their dreams. Meeting by meeting, cent by cent these savings group members faithfully pool their resources and seek the Lord, their eyes fixed on what could be.
Investing in education
In Rwanda, the government provides free public school for children until sixth grade. But large class sizes, undertrained teachers, and long daily commutes can hold students back. That’s why parents like Jeannette dream of putting their kids in higher-quality private schools, knowing their investments in school fees can open doors to opportunities powerful enough to break generational cycles of poverty.
Investing in business
Despite recent progress, 39 percent of Rwandans live below the poverty line, and 16 percent live in extreme poverty, according to research conducted by UNICEF. Serafina was once a part of that 16 percent, struggling to feed her family by working as a day laborer. But after using loans from her savings group to start a market stand and then open a shop, she now has a reliable way to provide for her family’s needs.
Investing in homes
Living in unstable housing leaves families more vulnerable to theft, illness, and property damage. Home and land ownership, conversely, represent safety, comfort, and long-term stability—in Rwanda and in neighborhoods around the world. When families put down roots, they reap emotional, financial, and social benefits.
Investing in health
Millions of people around the world have encountered medical bills so costly they were pushed into extreme poverty, according to the World Health Organization. That was Odette’s story. Years ago, a health emergency left her with no choice but to sell her land—their family’s primary source of income. But when families have a safety net of savings as Odette now does, medical crises don’t have to become financially disastrous as well.
At HOPE International, we’re eager to join God’s work of restoring dreams. That’s why we invest in the dreams of families in the world’s underserved communities. Will you join us?
Join our monthly giving community and commit to investing in these determined men and women as they pursue their dreams.
![Before Eveness Mulungu joined the Walusungu (“mercy”) savings group through our church partner in Malawi, she faced days where she and her family ate animal feed because they couldn’t afford human food. But that changed when she joined the savings group. Eveness used her first group loan of about $1.70 (U.S.) to start a business selling doughnuts and beans.
“By the end of my first cycle I made $140 (U.S.),” Eveness shared. “My life is no longer the same now; [I] was regarded as no one in the community. ... This was the first time in my life that I ever touched and owned big money like this!”
Pictured: Eveness, with her husband in front of their piggery—a third successful business that she operates.](https://blog.hopeinternational.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
Building or otherwise owning one’s own home is great if it isn’t too costly. There is little like homeownership to give a family purpose and family pride. And it’s contagious. It can become an economic engine itself opening different avenues for jobs and self esteem. The possibility of going from a microfinanced business to building a home is staggering. Is it possible? That’s exciting!
Knowledge is power