Hope International

Savings-ledthe Hope International (Hope) network of savings group programs (sgs) provide individuals with a safe place to save. Facilitators train groups of 10-30 members to pool their savings on a regular basis, sometimes as little as 20-50 cents a week. Members use their savings or take out loans from the group to use as a buffer against emergencies, make important household purchases, or invest in businesses. As members meet regularly, they fellowship with one another, pray together, and study god's word. Hope-managed and partner sgs currently serve around the globe.

Otherhope's other program services include education, the pathways out of poverty exhibit, the savings group experience, and dsu kigali. Education: Hope staff introduce individuals to the work of Hope, share a biblical perspective on poverty, and speak at churches, conferences, and other community events not sponsored by Hope. Pathways out of poverty exhibit: this multi-sensory exhibit uses stories of individuals around the world to portray people working themselves out of poverty. Savings group experience: Hope runs interactive simulations around the u.s., which are experiential learning opportunities designed to help participants symbolically experience the power of savings groups to lift families out of poverty. Csu kigali: a "central service unit" based in rwanda providing consulting services to programs in Hope's global network.

Credit-ledhope-network microfinance institutions (mfis) provide entrepreneurs with savings accounts and small loans typically ranging from $100-$2,000 to invest in their businesses. When individuals meet regularly to repay their loans, they also worship together, receive business training, study scripture, and encourage each other. Once repaid, loan capital revolves back into the fund to lend to more entrepreneurs. Hope-managed and partner mfis currently serve in burundi, the dominican republic, kenya, moldova, paraguay, the philippines, the republic of congo, paraguay, romania, rwanda and ukraine.