Not every small business owner aspires to build a small business empire, but Marcel Sinayobye and his wife, Jeanne Nyirangendahimana, are entrepreneurial to the core. While raising eight children, they have built more than 10 businesses throughout their community of Rusizi, Rwanda, and beyond.
And while we know this transformation won’t happen to every man or woman who receives a $48 loan, we marvel when it does.
In recent months, we’ve been inspired by examples of meaningful involvement. From the men and women who support HOPE to the families we serve, we regularly hear stories of sacrificial generosity. Below are just three of these stories—each one paired with a few actionable ideas.
When it was time for the Haanen family (pictured above) of Littleton, CO, to replace their 8-year-old van, they realized they had grown attached. The van had served their growing family well—and they wanted it to continue serving.
After donating the vehicle, the family of six perused HOPE’s gift catalog and imagined their van funding the purchase of cash registers, seeds, and sewing machines for hardworking entrepreneurs around the world.
Take a look around your house for things you’re no longer using, imagine all the good they could do, and then part with them, donating any funds you raise to an organization you trust. (This can be a great activity to do with kids!) If you have an old vehicle, stocks, or even gift card balances you’re not using, consider donating them to HOPE through our partnership with iDonate. Continue Reading…
The United States is currently experiencing what economists are calling a K-shaped recovery. This occurs when, following a widespread and significant economic dip, certain portions of the economy begin to move toward economic recovery, while others stagnate or fall even further. A K-shaped graph helps explain why recovery following the pandemic seems to be occurring unevenly—while some industries (and people) are returning to normal or even improving, others are experiencing the very opposite.
This phenomenon seems to be occurring globally, as well.
Tetiana Ohyria knows that a haircut is about so much more than looking good. As a professional stylist in Ukraine, she sees her job as a way to dignify others and bring joy to her community. “I make them look nice, and they smile. My calling is to help people!” she says.
As early as 6 years old, Tetiana knew she wanted to be a hairstylist. Her parents weren’t sure of the practicality of her decision and suggested other career paths. But Tetiana was determined to make her dream a reality. After cosmetology school, she began to work in a shared salon space in a nearby city, where she spent 30 years developing her skill set and building a loyal clientele. Continue Reading…
Featured image: A church partner’s building damaged in the earthquake
Our hearts continue to break as we hear about the ongoing challenges in Haiti: the culmination of a global health crisis, heightened political tensions following the assassination of the country’s president in July, escalating gang violence that’s affected 1.5 million people, the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the southern portion of the country in August, and the tropical storm that followed it.
We grieve with our neighbors in Haiti—and we know that out of our ache, we’re called to respond in love, prayer, immediate action, and ongoing support to help shoulder the burden they are carrying. Continue Reading…
When the HOPE Malawi team thought about HOPE’s strategic objective of serving the least served, one population that came to mind was refugees—specifically residents of the Dzaleka refugee camp, located about an hour outside the capital city of Lilongwe.
“We seek to serve the Dzaleka refugee community,” says Timothy Malaidza, HOPE Malawi’s operations manager, “because we see it as being financially underserved due to social and systemic exclusion.”
The Dzaleka refugee camp was established in 1994 to house people fleeing ethnic violence and conflict in Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Taking its name from the Chichewa word meaning “I will never try again,” it currently houses around 50,000 refugees in a space meant for 14,000. Continue Reading…
