“What’s next for me?”
That’s the question that countless men and women in savings groups across the HOPE International network have often asked themselves and our team.
With a safe place to save and small loans from their group savings, hundreds of thousands of men and women have launched small businesses, invested in farms, provided for their children, and navigated unexpected challenges together.
And as their success grows, so do their dreams. A vegetable seller may want to expand inventory. A farmer may see an opportunity to cultivate additional land. A shop owner or seamstress may have customers waiting but lack the capital needed to grow.
In Burundi, 96% of savings group members reported needing more funding beyond what they could receive as loans from their savings group. But bigger loans from traditional banks were still out of reach.
One long-term savings group member, a rice farmer in Burundi, proposed a new kind of solution: Could there be a way for savings group members like him to access loans from HOPE microfinance institutions?
HOPE’s friends at VisionFund, the microfinance arm of World Vision, had already developed a model for creating this kind of financial bridge. After they trained our team in Burundi, we could introduce our new group-lending bridge: FAST loans.
Building on what already works
Through FAST (finance accelerating savings group transformation) loans, savings groups can access group loans through Turame Community Finance, HOPE’s microfinance institution in Burundi.
The structure remains familiar. Members continue meeting together, supporting one another, and managing loans through their group. What changes is the amount of opportunity available to them—instead of lending from their joint savings, groups can access larger loans together.
For an entrepreneur who has spent years building a business, that additional capital can open doors that once felt out of reach.
Early signs of promise
The first FAST loan was disbursed in July 2025. The group repaid it successfully and later took out a second loan, demonstrating that the model could work at scale.
Since then, participation has continued to grow. As of August 2026, Turame has disbursed more than $107,000 to 870 clients across 36 groups, while maintaining a repayment rate of 99%.
One participant described their experience this way:
“Before I received the Turame loan, it was impossible to do any business because of my small capital. But after … my capital has increased. My capital grew to such an extent that I could afford what I needed.”
One father’s next step
Pascal, a member of the Twitezimbere (“let’s develop ourselves”) savings group, joined because he wanted to provide a more stable income to feed his family and send his children to school. Like many savings group members, he already had big dreams and ideas. He just needed a way to bring those to fruition.
When his group accessed a FAST loan, Pascal used the funds to rent additional farmland and expand production. The investment led to a larger harvest, increased income, and greater stability for his family.
Pascal’s growth has extended beyond his own household. Inspired by Scripture shared during savings group meetings, he now shares biblical encouragement with the seasonal workers he employs, creating avenues for both financial and spiritual flourishing in his community.
Looking ahead
What encourages us most about FAST linkages isn’t the size of the loans or the number of participants, important as those metrics are. It’s the opportunity to help entrepreneurs continue building on the progress they’ve already made.
Savings groups remain one of HOPE’s most powerful tools for fostering resilience, community, and Christ-centered development.
FAST loans build on that foundation, helping members who are ready for additional capital access opportunities to strengthen businesses, create jobs, and support families for years to come.
At HOPE, we’re fervent believers that prayer is the most important part of our work. Pray with us as we seek to equip more entrepreneurs with the financial and spiritual tools to thrive! Sign up to receive our monthly prayer updates here.
Pictured in header image: the first savings group to access a group loan through Turame Community Finance
