All it takes is a little spark

Tweet Sometimes all it takes is a spark to ignite hope in the heart of a poor woman. In places like Bangladesh, where 75% of women live in extreme poverty, that spark can come in the form of a small business loan.

Women like Maksuda have what it takes to succeed: skill, motivation and determination. But their families are barely surviving. Maksuda was married at the age of 13 to a man who was 52. She had two children and lived with her in-laws in a household of 11 people. She was physically abused and tortured mentally.

Maksuda was skilled at making hair bands, so with just $29, she started a fledgling business. She needed more materials, but didn’t want to borrow money from lenders at an inflated interest rate.

World Concern loaned Maksuda $286. She bought materials, and eventually sewing machines with future loans. Today, she has three full-time and seven part-time employees. She has paid back all her loans in full, and is now saving money for the future. Dignity and independence can be seen on her face as she works diligently with her hands, knowing she can provide for her children.

In 2010, World Concern helped 5,520 women start or improve small business through microloans.

You can ignite hope in the heart of a woman like Maksuda. Donate now and fund a microloan for a woman in need. Be the spark she needs to change her life.

Success in lending and repayment

• Loans range from less than $100 to more than $2,000
• Repayment rates for microloans and loans through village banks generally range from 95%-98%
• Women have grown businesses to employ as many as 14 other workers, allowing other women to provide for their families
• The primary function of microloans is to develop and expand small businesses by purchasing supplies such as fabric and equipment for fish farms
• African village banks are intended to be a place for savings, though they do provide some loans for seeds and farming
• Source: World Concern

Donate Now

It starts with a small business loan of just $100 and leads to independence from poverty. Women receive small business training and support along with their loan, ensuring their success and ability to repay the loan.

95% of loans are repaid in full! So your gift multiplies, helping more women start businesses and lift themselves out of poverty, permanently. Ignite hope today.

Over 90% of every dollar—cash plus gifts-in-kind—go directly to programs that serve the poor, as we seek to transform lives long-term. We value stewardship and work hard to keep administrative costs low so more people can be helped.

Though its parent organization, CRISTA, World Concern is ranked as a Four Star Charity by Charity Navigator. In addition, we are held accountable through internal audits, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), as well as through the US government.