Ruminata lives in a Batwa community in rural Burundi with her husband Gaspard, their teenage daughter, Pascaline (18), and two sons, Cédric (12), and Régis (10). For many years, their family survived by making traditional Batwa clay pots, which sell for only a few cents each. Ruminata shares, “We had to go beg wherever we could to get something. My children did not have even the cheapest shoes. … Our shelter was covered with grass, we could not purchase even a single iron sheet (for the roof). We used to plan for one day because we had no resources to think of many days or weeks ahead. We were hopeless.” Continue Reading…
Archives For savings groups
HOPE Intl
May 27 2026
HOPE Intl
Stories we love
When Marc first joined Fraternite (“fellowship”) savings group through his local church in Les Cayes, Haiti in 2019, he expected it to help him grow his business. But when he joined at the encouragement of his wife, who was already a member, he quickly realized it was far more than a financial tool. Continue Reading…
As Ukraine marks the fourth year since Russia’s full‑scale invasion, the country continues to face incredible pressure. Missile and drone attacks are frequent, including devastating strikes on civilian areas and critical infrastructure. Hits to the country’s power grid trigger blackouts across major cities, threatening heat, water access, and even nuclear plant stability.
Yet, amid these challenges, we praise God for how He is at work through HOPE Ukraine staff and the resilient entrepreneurs we serve! Continue Reading…
HOPE Intl
Feb 3 2026
HOPE Intl
Stories we love
Before joining a savings group in Malawi, Yamikani dreamed of a better life for his children and family. He imagined always having enough to eat, buying new clothes when needed, and helping neighboring children with their school fees—but these dreams always felt just out of reach.
Although Yamikani worked hard selling potatoes and tutoring primary school students, his income often wasn’t enough to make ends meet. “Sometimes my family could only have breakfast and dinner,” he shares. “I couldn’t even manage to buy fertilizer for my farm.”
And if feeding his family was already a struggle, saving money felt impossible. Yamikani knew that creating more streams of income could be the solution, but a lack of startup capital left him stuck.
HOPE Intl
Nov 11 2025
HOPE Intl
News Stories we love
Whether a championship game, a major project, a 5k, or an exam, we all know what it’s like to work toward a goal. Even more memorable is the feeling of joy and accomplishment that comes when we achieve it! Milestones like these demonstrate our proficiency and the fruits of our hard work.
That’s what a share-out is for savings groups in the HOPE International network—and in September 2025, the savings groups we serve in the West African country of Benin had their very first ones!
After saving together and lending to one another for months, multiple groups marked the completion of their first savings cycle with this celebration.
One group that launched in June 2024 saved over $2,000 (U.S.) and chose to use their share-out funds to bless their church, purchasing four bags of cement to install floor tiles!
Read on to learn about more about share-outs and what this milestone means for savings groups in Benin.
HOPE Intl
Nov 10 2025
HOPE Intl
News Spiritual Integration
Around the world, 3.5 billion people live without access to the Good News of Jesus. And 98% of them live in an area of the world known as the 10/40 window—a region stretching across northern Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia.
Sharing the Gospel is at the heart of our mission here at HOPE International and among our partners. That’s why we offer Christ-centered savings groups in nine countries within the 10/40 window and prioritize equipping the local church to share the Good News. Continue Reading…
