Mozambique
BY LUÍS LIMBICANE
Building self-reliance
WORLD RENEW works with like-minded partners who believe that equipping communities with the training and tools they need to overcome poverty is far more effective than just providing handouts.
In Mozambique, World Renew and our local partner, the Reformed Church of Mozambique, use the Church and Community Mobilization Process (CCMP) to engage communities and guide them to increase ownership of food security and Village Savings and Loan programs. This approach equips local churches with the tools to collaborate creatively with their communities and use available resources to solve problems. By envisioning churches through a Biblical lens and engaging the community in asset-focused activities, CCMP helps identify opportunities and challenges, leading to joint action by churches and communities. This approach breaks down dependency mindsets and brings holistic change.
Since July 2024, thanks to generosity like yours, 12,578 people in Zambia became members of a Village Savings and Loan group and are saving for the future.
Gervasio, a church elder in the community of Calomue. “We were not aware that we are able to overcome difficulties we face without asking for any kind of external funding.”
“We did not know how to discover and efficiently use our local resources that God blessed us with,” explains Labsone
“It was thanks to World Renew and their partner that we had training on CCMP studies, which made us aware of discovering and better use of the resources we have,” Reverend Isaias Betha says. “Our life in this congregation has changed, and our way of thinking is already different.”
The church worked with community members to purchase a two-ton car through local contributions. “It is possible for a congregation to develop without depending on any external financial support,” Reverend Isaias says. “I would like to thank the Reformed Church of Mozambique and World Renew for the training done on CCMP studies; thanks to this training, we were able to discover our resources and know how to use them properly. We ask that they continue to train us so that we have more knowledge and so we can train more congregations.”
Prayer Requests
BY STEVE SYWULKA
• Following attacks that included looting, burning houses, abductions, and targeted killings, thousands of people were forced to flee northern Mozambique; pray for God’s peace to reign and for his provision for the displaced.
• As countries across the region struggle with cholera outbreaks, pray for health, improved sanitation, and safe water for vulnerable communities.
• World Renew Southern Africa gives praise to God for the generous donors who make it possible for us to continue sharing hope with people struggling with poverty, hunger, and injustice.
Tanzania
BY JOEL MWAMPONDA
The power of resilience
MARY MATIKU, 63, is a resident of Bukabwa Village in Tanzania. In 2009, Mary’s life took a devastating turn when her husband passed away, leaving her overwhelmed with grief and the daunting task of providing for her family. The mother of nine children then endured the heartbreak ing loss of three of her children.
Life became an uphill battle for Mary as she struggled to meet her family’s basic needs. She relied on a small plot of land for farming, which yielded minimal returns. Mary was especially concerned for her youngest son, Lucas, who was only 12 years old when his father passed away. Determined to secure a brighter future for him, Mary faced the daunting challenge of affording school fees with her limited income.
Mary’s unwavering resilience drove her to seek solutions to improve her family’s livelihood, and in 2018, she attended a training session on conservation agriculture through World Renew and our local partner, the Africa Inland Church of Tanzania. She learned about sustainable farming techniques
Thanks to gifts like yours, 2,721 youth and coaches in Uganda participated in running clubs that helped improve their self-esteem last year.
such as crop rotation, minimal soil disturbance, and soil cover. “Inspired by these methods, I decided to adopt them, even though the resources were scarce,” Mary shares.
Within a few seasons, Mary’s efforts paid off. Her crop yields increased, and her small plot of land became healthier. Encouraged, Mary increased her farming area to 2 acres, and in 2022, she ventured into poultry rearing to earn more income.
The combination of conservation agriculture and her poultry business transformed Mary’s financial situation. She saved enough money for a new house and was able to cover the costs for Lucas to complete his studies and earn a Bachelor of Arts.
Lucas’s graduation marked an achievement in Mary’s journey, demonstrating the power of resilience and her commitment to building a better future for her family.
Prayer Requests
BY BARBARA KAYANJA
• Recent heavy floods in East Africa have led to at least 70 deaths and displaced thousands of people; pray for relief and protection for families in the region.
• We thank God for our partners in East Africa and pray that he will continue to strengthen those connections as we share Christ’s hope through our work.
• Please pray that World Renew’s programs in East Africa will continue to help participants thrive and make a meaningful impact on their communities.
Nicaragua
BY XIMENA MEDRANO
Harvesting success
FERMAN ORELVIN VALLE, 23, from the Barranco Alto community in Nicaragua, is an example of how determination and support can transform lives. In 2019, Ferman took a bold step by joining a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) in his community. Though the experience was challenging—requiring him to adapt to new rules, discipline, and responsibilities—his persistence paid off. He took on the roles of accountant and secretary for the VSLA, demonstrating his growing determination.
In Haiti, 482 people were active in a Village Savings & Loan Assocation (VSLA) last year, thanks to generosity like yours.
With training in business planning and life skills, Ferman developed a plan focused on bell pepper production. He decided to use his savings from the first VSLA cycle to launch a business focused on growing and selling bell peppers. Little by little, Ferman was able to expand his business over time, growing various crops and producing bountiful harvests. By 2023, Ferman’s confidence had soared as he consolidated his business and established a loyal customer base within his community.
Ferman acknowledges how the VSLA helped improve his livelihood and equipped him with the tools to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams. But his story doesn’t end there. With his new skills and knowledge, he emerged as a young leader in his community, engaging in risk management initiatives and collaborating on a community action plan.
“My way of thinking today is different," Ferman shares. "I have the necessary resources to farm and participate in community activities. All of this has contributed to my personal development, knowledge, and skills, and I feel very happy."
Thanks to support like yours, World Renew is equipping more people like Ferman to access the right tools and training to lead and succeed in their communities.
Prayer Requests
BY CORSTIAAN VAN AALSBURG
• As the United Nations describes Haiti as being on the verge of “total chaos” due to ongoing violence, please continue to pray for peace and stability.
• After years of navigating various challenges, we praise God that World Renew Latin America is in a growth phase with more partners and partner capacity; pray for strength and coordination as we carry out our work in the region.
• Please pray for good health, safety, and renewed hope for World Renew Latin America staff as they share God’s love and hope in vulnerable communities.
BY GRACE GARNVWA
Little by little, a farmer becomes income secure
TERKAA ITYOKOSU, 45, owns a good-sized piece of farmland in Nigeria, but because of limited resources, he could only cultivate a small area. He could afford only simple tools, like a hoe and cutlass, to clear and till the land, and he didn’t have the money to invest in improved farming methods.
Last year, thanks to gifts like yours, 211 children in Senegal received their birth certificates and can now attend school without the fear that comes from not having proper documentation.
Financially, Terkaa also did not have the ability to hire any workers to help with the work, so he usually worked alone and often found himself physically and emotionally drained. No matter how hard Terkaa worked, season after season, he struggled with the disappointment of harvests that were low in quantity and quality. He was frustrated that, despite all his efforts, he could not meet his family’s basic needs.
Then, through World Renew Nigeria, Terkaa had the opportunity to join a Village and Savings Loan Association (VSLA) in his community and was also able to participate
in a Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (SAFS) program. With determination, Terkaa attended the SAFS training sessions, learned about improved farming techniques, and began implementing all he learned. Through the SAFS program, he also received a supply of cassava stems to plant, and his membership in the VSLA allowed him to access a low-interest loan.
He says, “The VSLA has been an enormous help to everyone, and especially to me because I no longer go through the stress of cultivation and weeding by myself all the time. With the loan from the group, I hire workers to help clear more land, and I bought organic fertilizer to improve my yield. I can proudly say that this year, my harvest was bountiful. I am happily feeding my household, and I had enough produce to sell some at the market. I used the profit to pay back my loan, pay medical bills, and comfortably pay my children’s school fees. I am very grateful for this help. I pray that God blesses you all.”
Prayer Requests
BY HAROUNA ISSAKA
• Pray for God’s protection for the people of Sierra Leone, especially healthcare workers and the vulnerable, as the country faces a growing outbreak of Mpox.
• Due to slowing oil prices and weak fiscal structures, the World Bank anticipates rising poverty across West Africa; pray for God to open minds to implement fresh incomegenerating opportunities that will benefit the most vulnerable.
• As conflict and economic uncertainty create challenges for World Renew West Africa and our partners, pray for our health, safety, and steadfast commitment to sharing God’s hope and love.
BY KOHIMA DARING
From bitterness to a better life
IN BANGLADESH, to address high levels of youth unemployment, World Renew’s local partner has initiated a livelihood project in collaboration with the People’s Institution (PI), a group made up of local community members. The project is focused on providing various skill development trainings and creating livelihood opportunities for young people—especially women.
Meem, 23, lives with her parents in a community struggling with unemployment. Because her family faced extreme poverty and couldn’t afford schooling costs, Meem never completed her education. To address his family’s debt, her father took out several loans with money lenders, but he could not pay these loans back and contemplated fleeing his village. Meem was desperate to do something to help her family. However, a lack of adequate education and skills made it difficult for her to earn a living. And as an unmarried woman, she also faced the added challenge of being regarded as worthless.
In 2024, in Laos, 1,087 people participated in gender awareness sessions and 69 women stepped into community leadership positions, thanks to generous-hearted people like you.
Meem felt bitter about her situation. She had the opportunity to join a youth group facilitated by World Renew’s partner and shared about her family’s financial struggles with a PI leader who advised her to enroll in a skill development training. Meem decided to do the beautician course, and in November 2023, completed a three-month-long training at Palki Beauty Parlor. She also received training in account keeping, business management, and online business marketing. And, to further develop her skills, she continued to work as an apprentice with Palki Beauty Parlor.
PI then helped Meem to prepare a business plan and loaned her 20,000 taka ($167.38 USD). In March 2024, with this money, she bought equipment and materials and set up a parlor in front of her house. PI and her youth group helped her to advertise her parlor using social media, and little by little, her business began to grow. Because of her excellent customer service, Meem’s customer base is growing bigger every day. “I will extend my parlor and help other young girls learn this skill and become self-reliant,” shares Meem.
Prayer Requests
BY WARREN CLIMENHAGA
• As Cambodians leave their homeland in record numbers, seeking work in a challenging job market, pray for their safety; pray too for God to open opportunities so people do not have to leave.
• Pray for God’s provision for the people in Rohingya camps in Bangladesh, where reduced funding and government instability is leading to growing tensions and need.
• Pray for the safety and security of World Renew Asia and our partner staff as they travel, especially in Bangladesh where protests are causing traffic delays and security concerns.
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
— 2 P ET E R 3 :9
Little by little
Little by little, members of a Village Savings and Loan Association add to a savings pool. Little by little, the pool grows until it is big enough for the members to take out low-interest loans. And as members invest those loans in improving their homes, businesses, and farms, little by little, families become food secure, healthier, and more resilient. At World Renew, we are so grateful for your gifts that help families change the story of hunger, poverty, and injustice—little by little and with hope and growing faith in God’s love and abundance.
To learn more about Village Savings and Loan Associations, visit worldrenew.net/vsla
