HOPE International

Rejected by family and friends after escaping a drug addiction, Cindy – with her husband Arnaldo and daughter Jenny – lived isolated in a small shack. Desperate to earn an income, they borrowed money from moneylenders whose unreasonable rates plunged them further into debt. Then Cindy sought a loan from CCT, HOPE’s partner in the Philippines, and, touched by what her loan officer shared, accepted Jesus into her heart. A physical and spiritual transformation began, resulting in a profitable business and reconciliation with her estranged family. “[God] saw me, came to me, and upheld me. He really loves me,” Cindy testifies.

Iacob’s first passion is ministry, not business. But in Moldova, his work as a pastor didn’t enable him to provide for his wife and three small children, so Iacob sought a loan to begin raising rabbits. Iacob purchased rabbits, rabbit food, and materials to construct rabbit cages. Selling rabbits enables him to continue his work as a pastor while meeting his family’s financial needs. He uses illustrations from his business to share the Gospel.

The recent articles in The Wall Street Journal, “Backlash in microlending: three agents in India are arrested for harassing borrowers” and “India’s major crisis in microlending: loans involving tiny amounts of money were a good idea, but the explosion of interest backfires,” illustrate that in the microfinance sector it all comes down to priorities: does the organization prioritize shareholders’ return or clients’ success?

Payday lenders, loan sharks, pawn shops and some financial institutions are also in the “microfinance industry,” but they are making their own interests paramount, and in the process, overlooking the clients they serve. This is causing a backlash among government authorities and actually harming some clients.

At HOPE International, we believe these recent articles expose an ugly underside of the microfinance movement. While we actively support creating profitable microfinance institutions, we believe a gulf is growing between a client-focused approach to microfinance and an approach that focuses on shareholder return rather than life change. Continue Reading…

Anita Francisque is a single mother of three children. Just 15 months after receiving her first loan through her community bank—named “God is so good”—Anita has been able to considerably expand her roadside diner and dried fish sales. With the purchase of a larger fish net, she can catch, prepare, and sell a greater number of fish each day. She can provide for her children much more easily now and has also used her success to support other local businesses.

Three and a half years ago, Marie-Chantal and her now-husband were living together outside of wedlock. They wanted to be married, but they had not been able to afford a traditional marriage ceremony and celebration. Community members looked down on them for their unofficial union. Then Marie-Chantal accessed a loan from Turame, HOPE’s partner in Burundi. She was able to buy tomatoes from a wholesaler in Gitega and resell them at a private stand in a convenient location for a slightly higher price. Her income increased, and she was able to afford a legal marriage and the ceremony to accompany it. She has also been able to buy a pig and a goat, which now fertilize the crops she has planted.

From his five gardens, Ericles is able to sell produce to his community in Miragoane, Haiti. His earnings enable to support his family of six and save 25 cents a week. “I feel like God has provided the savings group,” he says. Since joining his first savings group one year ago, Ericles has decided that he would like to save even more money and generate additional connections in his community by joining a second savings group.

HOPE Intl

HOPE Intl

One Changed Life: Cindy’s Story

HOPE Intl

HOPE Intl

One Changed Life: Iacob’s Story

Peter Greer

By Peter Greer

Putting Clients Above Profits

HOPE Intl

HOPE Intl

One Changed Life: Anita’s Story

HOPE Intl

HOPE Intl

One Changed Life: Marie-Chantal’s Story

HOPE Intl

HOPE Intl

One Changed Life: Ericles’ Story

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