Mbemba Mulongo’s business helps to support her husband and nine children, ages 4-28. She has now taken 16 loans to grow her orange sales business in Kinshasa, DRC, and she hopes to one day diversify her inventory to continue expanding her business. She says that many in her community respect her for the initiative and courage she displayed in taking loans and expanding her business to support her family. In addition to providing for her own family, she has been able to contribute to offerings taken at her church. “I pray for the durability of HOPE because [HOPE’s services are a] true support for the poor,” she says.

A single, Haitian mother of three, Emma Jean saves just 25 cents a week. “I did not save before because I did not have much money, and I didn’t know that I had enough to save,” she says. Emma is saving to have money on hand in case of emergency. She operates a small business in which she purchases and delivers flour to a baker who bakes bread which she then sells. In her savings group, she has learned not only valuable lessons on money but also lessons on family and community. “There have been lessons about how to talk to children and words not to use in front of them.  To correct them, you must be the example, and it is better to correct them when you are not in front of others so that they are not shamed,” she explains.

Margarita lives with her husband and 11 children in a home owned by a sugar cane manufacturing company. Since 1992, she has been working toward her goal of building her own home.  Hurricane damage has thwarted her progress, but Margarita continues to dream of a home to call her own. She sought a loan from Esperanza, HOPE’s partner in the Dominican Republic, a few years ago to begin her business selling chickens. She utilizes her loans to travel to a neighboring town where she can purchase chickens and saves as much of her business income as possible to put toward the continued construction of her home.

When her husband was killed in the Rwandan genocide, Eddisa pressed on. She took in two orphans and has dedicated herself to providing for them. Both are now in school. In 2003 she joined a savings group. Now 77 years old, she operates a business buying and selling charcoal. She is able to provide charcoal for her family free of charge. Through her involvement in her savings group, she has experienced healing and spiritual transformation.

Before Ntumba Marie received her first HOPE loan, she did not have a reliable income.  Her husband processed and sold cornmeal at market, but his mill consistently broke down.  Lacking the savings to repair it, their income was often halted, and Ntumba and her husband were unable to afford their diabetes medication.  With her first loan, Ntumba Marie began selling fruit at the marketplace, making enough money to repair the mill.  As her business grew with subsequent loans, she was able to buy diabetes medication and more nutritious food for their small family.  They began paying for their grandson’s education and have even been able to expand their home. Their physical health has improved, and so have their diets; Ntumba says she now eats her favorite food, chicken, on a regular basis.

When Linda owned a variety store, she often worried about her four children’s future. She and her husband could barely afford to feed the children, let alone plan for their future. Loans from CCT, HOPE’s partner in the Philippines, enabled Linda to open a restaurant.  As the restaurant’s success grew, Linda was able to open additional restaurants – four in total. Linda and her husband now employ 19 others. They dream of sending all four of their children to college.