Before joining a savings group in Malawi, Yamikani dreamed of a better life for his children and family. He imagined always having enough to eat, buying new clothes when needed, and helping neighboring children with their school fees—but these dreams always felt just out of reach.
Although Yamikani worked hard selling potatoes and tutoring primary school students, his income often wasn’t enough to make ends meet. “Sometimes my family could only have breakfast and dinner,” he shares. “I couldn’t even manage to buy fertilizer for my farm.”
And if feeding his family was already a struggle, saving money felt impossible. Yamikani knew that creating more streams of income could be the solution, but a lack of startup capital left him stuck.
In 2023, Yamikani joined the Unity savings group after hearing about it from his pastor.
The group provided a safe place to save—and set attainable goals that Yamikani could achieve. With the added accountability of saving alongside others in the group, Yamikani saved up enough to upgrade his tutoring business and open a school with his wife within a year. They named it Mount Miracle.
“I saw that this community had no nursery schools which were affordable,” he shares. “I thought it would be good to provide education to the kids.”
Yamikani credits the savings group with supporting him in achieving this milestone. A safe place to save and encouragement from fellow group members helped him stay on course to afford rent and school materials. And whenever the couple faced challenges in their business, the group would pray for them.
Participating in and even leading Bible studies in the group helped him grow in other ways, too: “I am also able to stand in front of the church and preach, and this is something I never used to do before.”
Today, having enough to eat is no longer a problem for Yamikani’s household, and he and his wife regularly save. With income from his school and farm, they purchased a motorcycle, refrigerator, and more. Next, they hope to purchase land for their own school building.
“I feel good now and my future is bright,” he says.
Yamikani and his family
Yamikani’s story is just one of many we’re thanking God for as we study the impact of saving groups in Malawi!
In 2024, we collected data from 343 HOPE Malawi 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 to evaluate a comparison group: 322 members of the broader population who were similar in age, income, and other demographics.
After analyzing the data, we are thrilled to share statistically significant findings that confirm what we already believed: savings groups offer a safe space for holistic transformation!
For example, 95% of surveyed savings group members had accessed a loan from their savings group; only 36% had managed to access a loan before joining the group.
92% of surveyed group members also reported having changed something about the way they live because of studying Scripture in savings group meetings.
“My life was lost because I loved money more, but now I put God first in everything.”
HOPE Malawi savings group member
75% of surveyed saving group members said they receive prayer from those around them.
85% shared that the level of trust in their savings group has grown over the last year.
100% agreed they are valuable because they are made in God’s image.
Praise God for how savings groups are equipping and encouraging men and women to grow their faith in Christ, build relationships with their neighbors, and access resources to provide for their families!
You can equip more churches to launch savings groups just like Unity. Give one time or sign up for a monthly gift to help more men and women like Yamikani break free from poverty and experience Christ’s love—all year long.
Pictured in header image: students of the Mount Miracle school with their teacher (left), Yamikani’s wife, Blessings (center), and Yamikani (right).
