When Diaconía asked entrepreneurs in Paraguay what they needed most, the answer was clear: better housing. For Antonia Perez, a new housing loan provided the opportunity to build a storefront at her home, grow her sewing business alongside her daughter, and create lasting impact in her community.
For Speciose Nshimirimana, growing up in extreme poverty in rural Burundi afforded little hope for the future. Life was hard and hope was elusive, but there were glimmers of light peeking through the dark, pointing to a better future.
Before joining a HOPE Malawi savings group, Samson's job as a bricklayer didn't cover his family’s expenses. But now, he says, "I am no longer the same"...
PERU - In 2019, Mery realized the time had finally come: She and her son had to leave their home in Venezuela. The political and economic crisis in her country had become so severe that even finding food was difficult.
PARAGUAY - 2024 Homes for HOPE award honoree Sonia Solis. For mothers all around the world, providing for their children while being present and available is a consistent challenge.
BURUNDI - According to the UNHCR (the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), 99% of the 85,200 refugees and asylum seekers living in Burundi come from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (UNHCR, 2024). This was the story for Saidi Sango living in the Kavumu camp in Burundi. Life was difficult as a refugee, and resources were often scarce.
SOUTH ASIA - For Akash and Anika, the road to a safe home and healthy family has not been easy. They experienced shame and were mocked for their poor living conditions. Living in a small hut, all they had for a roof was a tarp that left them exposed to winds and heavy rains. They had to build fires to prepare meals for their family, and often could only find wet wood for cooking. “We used to live [in] a very filthy hut surrounded by rats and snakes for the past 12 years. We faced many struggles.” Grateful to find work laboring in a rock quarry in South Asia, this couple knows how hard life can be.
RWANDA - Having once struggled to feed his family on an inconsistent income, Faustin is now flourishing. As a welder, he took work as it came but dreamed of expanding his business. His family was known as a poor family in their community when he was introduced to Urwego (HOPE’s microfinance institution in Rwanda) in 2012.
Have you ever been rejected because of something you believe? Or looked down upon because of your faith?
As a Christian woman in South Asia,* that’s Farah’s* daily experience.
At 13, Eric Jeche values going to school with other students in his neighborhood in Zimbabwe. Unlike many of his peers, Eric pays for his own education.
Eric has lived with his grandmother since he lost his parents at a young age. But it’s not easy for his grandmother to pay for his school fees on top of their food, clothing, and other daily expenses, so Eric understands the value of money and work.
