Hope International: The Gift of Microfinance (And Hope!)

HOPE International is a network of microfinance institutions operating in 16 countries around the world. Hope empowers men, women, and families to break the cycles of physical and spiritual poverty through the provision of loans, savings services, basic business training, mentoring, and discipleship. By incorporating a strong witness for Jesus Christ and by employing a variety of approaches to microfinance, HOPE is an innovator in the field of microenterprise development.

I might be a little partial to HOPE because my husband works there, but as an observer I have really been impressed with the impact HOPE has around the world and how the organization manages money.  For example, it is HOPE's policy that whenever staff members travel and can stay at someone's home rather than pay for a hotel, they do so.  Furthermore, even more impressive, HOPE purposefully seeks out opportunities to provide loans in countries where other micro-finance organizations will not go due to political instability and corruption.  Among other places, HOPE works directly or through partners in Burundi, the Democratic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Haiti, Moldova, Rwanda, Romania, China, India, Afghanistan, and the Ukraine.  Despite the inherent risk of providing micro-loans, HOPE's loan repayment rate is 96%!

For the Holiday season, please consider giving an end of the year donation to HOPE.  As HOPE states on its website, "an injection of capital [] could change the course of a family’s future." In addition, you can also shop HOPE's Gift Catalog.  Check out the catalog because there are so many wonderful options relating to HOPE's micro-finance ministry, but here is a list of a few of my favorites: an ice chest ($50, Carribean), vegetable seeds ($20, Africa), a bicycle ($100, Africa), a sewing machine ($50, Africa), and plastic sheeting to protect farmers' crops ($200, Eastern Europe).  Another really awesome gift would be to sponsor a Tomorrow Club for 30 orphans for a month ($40, Russia).  In Russia, Tomorrow Clubs work with orphans, ministering to their physical and spiritual brokenness by providing food, Bible lessons, hobby classes, and materials.

I am highlighting HOPE because I have seen first hand how the organization integrates prayer and worship daily into everything it does, including here in the states and with its partners abroad, which results in a holistic approach to microfinance.  There are many wonderful microfinance organizations out there though, including Kiva and World Vision.  The microfinance movement, when built on the motivation to partner with and to ENABLE others to rise above poverty and support themselves, is one of the best ways to address poverty abroad.  Don't you want to be part of this movement?!