After years of listening to men and women served by the HOPE network around the world, we're convinced now more than ever: Powerful transformation happens when we combine the hope of the Gospel with Christ-centered financial services. This model works.
In 2021, we surveyed savings group members served by HOPE Zambia and entrepreneurs served by HOPE Congo to learn to what extent our services impacted them across our four domains of impact—spiritual, personal, social, and material. Here’s what we heard:
Through savings groups, we’ve witnessed the life-changing importance of saving small sums of money in Christ-centered community for those struggling with the challenges and isolation of poverty.
We surveyed 299 Zambians saving in groups formed through their local churches. We also surveyed a comparison group of Zambians who are not in savings groups. We learned:
Group members are
2X
more likely
to be prepared to withstand a financial emergency ($57 U.S.) than the comparison group.
1 in 2 (43%) savings group members
only 1 in 5 (20%) community members
4 in 5 (83%) are much more comfortable learning from the Bible since studying it in group meetings.
3 in 4 (73%) changed something about the way they live because of studying Scripture in meetings.
“Because of hearing the Word of God frequently, the Holy Spirit is changing me.”
Savings group member, Zambia
Savings group members show enhanced personal agency, build trusting relationships, and mobilize generosity. Savings group members were asked about member relationships; the comparison group was asked about community relationships.
Group members are 2X more likely to perceive themselves as successful in life.
Group members are 3X more likely to enjoy increasing trust in relationships.
“We cooperate and also have the heart to contribute and save.”
Savings group member, Zambia
Group members are 2X more likely to receive material support.
“There is a lot of help. We give each a lot of things such as shoes.”
Savings group member, Zambia
Group members are 2 times more likely to perceive themselves as successful in life.
Group members are 3 times more likely to enjoy increasing trust in relationships.
“We cooperate and also have the heart to contribute and save.”
Savings group member, Zambia
Group members are 2 times more likely to receive material support.
“There is a lot of help. We give each a lot of things such as shoes.”
Savings group member, Zambia
Learn more about the 2021 HOPE Quotient survey in Zambia here.
Entrepreneurs transform their communities when they have access to capital–and are equipped to use it well. HOPE Congo has been investing in Congolese entrepreneurs through business loans, savings services, training, and discipleship since 2010.
We surveyed 296 business owners served by HOPE Congo. Here’s what we heard:
74% of entrepreneurs report increased business revenue as a result of engagement with HOPE Congo.
In 2021, Milton Ntsangou used a $178 loan from HOPE Congo to expand his inventory of prescription eyeglasses. He successfully repaid his loan and took another for $260 to scale his business. In just a few months, he grew his inventory from 50 glasses to more than 300.
He shares, “Before, I only had a small [table] that a friend had given me. I used it to display a few pairs of glasses that belonged to me. Today, I have two tables where I sell glasses, frames, and stamps. In the future, I want to have an optics house.”
69% of entrepreneurs say studying Scripture with their loan group inspired them to change something about the way they live.
“Before, I found it hard to forgive, but by listening to the Word, I learned to forgive no matter what wrong we have been done.”
HOPE Congo entrepreneur
“God spoke to me to adopt these young people whom everyone treats as lost, to make them my children. And I love these children as if they were my own children. Caring for these children is my ministry; it is a mission that God has entrusted to me.”
We believe an important part of pursuing whole-person transformation is listening to the women and men we serve through inviting their feedback. We listen because it honors their God-given dignity, and their voices are essential to guiding our work.
“At HOPE International, we see listening as a ministry and starting point of our relationship with those that we serve across the globe. We want to learn from them and more clearly understand their situations. With this posture, we develop sustainable and innovative solutions to better meet their needs.”
Christ Kiminou, Listening, Monitoring, and Evaluation Advisor
The transformation that is taking place in Zambia and the Republic of Congo is being multiplied across the network. Since our inception in 1997, the HOPE International network has invested over $1.5 billion in the dreams of entrepreneurs, served 2.6 million families, and equipped over 9,600 local churches with the saving group ministry.