Stories we love Archives | Page 28 of 41

On Sunday, an inferno overtook Bujumbura’s Central Market—the economic heart of Burundi.

In talking to staff and friends in Burundi, we know that although this fire will cause a major economic disruption, it is personally devastating for families who lost everything and had no safety net or insurance to soften their fall.

Over 100 clients of our partner Turame lost their businesses and their livelihoods as market vendors. 85 percent of our clients are women who rely on this business to provide for their families.

While interviewing Ka-Tiwala (“trust-fellows,” or savings group members) clients and spending time with savings staff in the Philippines, these are some of the most encouraging things I’ve heard.

The staff of CCT, HOPE’s partner in the Philippines, value savings and seek holistic transformation for families and communities so enthusiastically that they have pioneered a new twist on the HOPE savings model: savings groups for children. CCT savings facilitators have initiated groups for teens, elementary students, and even preschoolers. The idea took shape when mothers requested that their children join groups so they could learn the discipline of saving from a young age, which, like most habits, becomes easier and more permanent.

Breaking Stereotypes: Working with the Roma

The Romani people, often called gypsies, have long been scorned and marginalized throughout Europe. Historians suggest that they migrated from northern India around A.D. 300-700, finding little acceptance during their centuries of wandering. Still viewed as outsiders, Roma continue to face racial violence, government-forced evictions, school segregation, and employment discrimination in many European countries. For example, 61 percent of the Romani population in Moldova lives on less than $2 per day, compared with 24 percent of the non-Romani population. In this interview, Senior Loan Officer Dan Popa talks about how Invest-Credit, HOPE’s partner in Moldova, is breaking stereotypes and providing the Roma with new economic opportunities.

There’s still time to join the adventure!

You’ve helped us fund over 300 businesses in Rwanda, pushing us more than halfway toward our goal of 500 businesses! Watch the latest video featuring HOPE’s capable, accomplished, joy-filled clients to see the difference you can make when you become an adventure capitalist.

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As we walk through the bustling marketplace, the spiritual integration officer at HOPE Congo, Precy Ndongui, calls out “Hello!” in English to anyone who has been part of the HOPE Congo family, and without fail the clients respond with the expected “Hi.” As an excellent former loan officer, Precy knows this call and response well and energetically greets the clients as friends. As we navigated through the market from one busy client to another, clients’ words of friendship and community through times of joy and difficulty stood out. I invite you to meet a few beautiful women from the HOPE family:

Euridice

“Now I have another family,” says Euridice, a member of a HOPE community bank in Brazzaville. As she smiles and confidently sells us a bag of peanuts, Euridice explains how she has not only benefitted from the business trainings on investing wisely, managing cash flow, and developing savings, but has also grown closer to other women who sell in the same market as they learn together and visit one another.

Archives For Stories we love

Peter Greer

Peter Greer

Losing Everything: The Market Fire in Burundi

Becky Svendsen

Becky Svendsen

Music to My Ears: Good News from Ka-Tiwala

Becky Svendsen

Becky Svendsen

Meet HOPE’s Youngest Savers

HOPE Intl

By HOPE Intl

Breaking Stereotypes: Working with the Roma

HOPE Intl

HOPE Intl

There’s still time to join the adventure!

Become an adventure capitalist!

HOPE Intl

By HOPE Intl

Meet the Family

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