For years, Tafadzwa and Jocelyne Gutu and their two daughters lived in a half-built house in Harare, Zimbabwe. Tafadzwa, a skilled carpenter, was constructing their home—but he couldn’t get enough business to afford the materials he needed to complete the project.
Both Tafadzwa and his wife are deaf, so his clientele was limited to those who knew sign language. The couple struggled to cover food costs, medical bills, and school fees for their family. Finishing their home seemed like a far-off dream.
In 2023, a local church invited Tafadzwa and other neighbors with speech or hearing disabilities to join a savings group called Miracle.
As they prayed, read Scripture, and saved together, God did wonders in Tafadzwa’s life.
Built up in faith, finances, and relationships
With loans from the group, Tafadzwa purchased electrical tools and bulk materials for his carpentry business. The new assets helped him finish jobs faster, take on more work, and bring in higher profits. Before long, the Gutu family could comfortably afford food and clothing.
Tafadzwa also bought bricks, stones, and cement to finish their house!
The group did more than help him provide for his family, though. By studying Scripture with other members of Miracle, Tafadzwa came to know Christ for the first time. Praise God! Today, he and his family attend a local church.
And as the Holy Spirit changed Tafadzwa’s heart, his relationships began to shift, too.
Before, Tafadzwa didn’t get along with one of his neighbors—but as they saved, prayed, and shared life together each week, they began to put their differences aside. Today, this neighbor helps translate when Tafadzwa is buying construction materials!
Now, built up in his faith and equipped with friendships and capital to support his dreams, Tafadzwa looks to the future with confidence.
The savings group ministry has changed my way of thinking in terms of social interactions. I am now aware that I can work for my family, interact with community, and achieve my goal of finishing building the family house.
Measuring the impact of savings groups across Zimbabwe
Many others like Tafadzwa are seeing their lives change as they grow in their savings groups!
In 2023, we collected data from 294 HOPE Zimbabwe savings group members using the HOPE Quotient survey–a listening tool that assesses the material, spiritual, social, and personal impact of HOPE’s work. We also hired a third-party consultant in 2024 to evaluate a comparison group: 211 members of the broader population who matched specific criteria for alignment of the samples.
After analyzing the data, we are thrilled to share statistically significant findings that confirm the holistic transformation that occurs through savings groups!
We found that 85% of surveyed HOPE savings group members in Zimbabwe have accessed loans through their group—a foundational step toward providing for their families or growing their businesses. In the comparison group, only 21% reported accessing a loan from any source.
90% of surveyed savings group members agree or strongly agree that they have access to support to change their current situation.
85% of surveyed savings group members say that another person is helping them grow in their relationship with God.
And twice as many HOPE savings group members reported that trust has improved between members of their community, compared to those in a comparison group.
Praise God for how savings groups equip and encourage men and women to grow in their relationship with Christ, build relationships with their neighbors, and access resources to provide for their families!
You can help equip more churches to launch savings groups just like Miracle. Give one time or sign up for a monthly gift to help more men and women like Tafadzwa break free from poverty and experience Christ’s love—all year long.
Pictured in header image: Tafadzwa with his two daughters, Zimbabwe
