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HOPE International’s best ideas often come straight from the men and women we serve around the world. 

Since the beginning of our Dreaming Beyond Our Boundaries initiative in 2021, we’ve surveyed over 17,000 people we serve. When they told us they wanted more flexibility in their repayment schedules, more support in housing, or to access money from their phones, we listened—and found more innovative ways to respond than ever before. As we’ve prioritized innovative problem solving, it has become the new normal at HOPE.   

Here are three program innovations that have made a difference for the entrepreneurs and families we serve:  Continue Reading…

When Vilda Fretel Asencios, a single mom of four, joined Inspiradas por Cristo (“inspired by Christ”) savings group a few years ago, she saw the new opportunities that it would open to her. Supported by Comas CMA Church, HOPE International’s partner in Peru, the group brought together neighbors in Vilda’s community to pray, worship, receive training, and save money together.

As Vilda and the other group members have grown closer to Christ and each other, they’ve shared their dreams for the future, along with their fears. Both often centered around those they care about most: their children.

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It’s been 17 years since HOPE International began partnering with churches in Rwanda to bring savings groups to families living in poverty. Over that time, we’ve partnered with more than 2,900 churches to serve more than 720,000 savings group members!  We thank God for the opportunity to serve so many men and women with our Rwandan church partners.

At the same time, we know the need is still great. Today, of the 13 million people in Rwanda, 40% of the population still lives on less than $2.90 a day (World Bank). 

To better reach more families and ensure we’re serving our current savings group members well, we regularly sit down with people we serve to hear from them. In 2022, we interviewed 312 savings group members served by HOPE Rwanda—and the results were encouraging!   Continue Reading…

By Andriy Kopyl, managing director, HOPE Ukraine

It’s been three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. And life in my country continues to feel more and more fragile with each passing day.

Thousands have been killed. The constant threat of attacks and the sound of sirens have become a part of our daily lives, causing many to experience sleep deprivation and stress.

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Families in Bowe village in Malawi used to have only one option for accessing capital: loan sharks. 

These loans came with high interest rates that were nearly impossible to repay, trapping many unsuspecting people in a cycle of poverty. When borrowers couldn’t make their payments, they’d have to turn over land, a significant asset, to cover their debt. Sadly, this kind of predatory lending is common in communities where banks are too far away or people don’t qualify for traditional loans or savings accounts.

After years of seeing neighbors fall into debt, the community ached for a better way.

“I used to struggle with financial difficulties with my husband. This resulted in us always being stressed, worried, and uncertain about the future,” says one community member named Dorica.

So, she and several brave women (pictured above) took a step of faith.

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By Savannah Jeffery, 2024 Executive Writing Intern (pictured above, top left)

If you look closely in one of Peter Greer’s early books, there’s a picture of me and my sister, proudly holding little glass jars filled with beans and a small shallow candle nestled in the center. When we snapped that photo at our church’s Christmas market, I didn’t know much about what HOPE International did. Little did I know that following my sophomore year at Wheaton, I’d be interning with HOPE, helping Peter write more books! From making bean candles as a child to now interning with HOPE’s executive team, here are some lessons I’ve learned throughout my journey with HOPE.

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