When Tom Rakabopa and Central Baptist Church first reached out to families living in poverty in Harare, Zimbabwe, they distributed food and other items to fill the great needs they saw in their community. But as he saw some of the unintended consequences of this work, Tom began dreaming of ways they could transition to long-term development. That dream came true when a partnership with HOPE International helped Central Baptist Church begin savings and credit associations (SCAs) in their community, training groups of individuals to save their own money as a safety net in emergencies, to start or expand a business, and to pay routine expenses like school fees.
In the Lancaster, PA, area? Join HOPE International and Community Fellowship Church this Wednesday, June 20, at 7 p.m. for “When Helping Hurts,” a free live webinar with Dr. Brian Fikkert, executive director of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development and co-author of When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor … and Yourself.
