Dear Friend,

Thanks to your support, Savings Group members have stories of hope, generosity, and resilience to tell even amidst the most difficult circumstances. May, a shop owner from Myanmar who is caring for a young grandchild and other family while her grown children are working abroad, tells her story:

“I opened a shop in my village. Every day I am able to save some of my profits. Before joining the group, my shop was very small and based out of my home. I learned how to plan well for my business and how to expand it through investments. From selling just a few basic food items, I expanded to sell kitchen utensils, hygiene products, fishing poles and accessories, and farming tools.

Bit by bit I built a new house made of brick and wood rather than bamboo, and I built a separate building next door for my shop. I know that good business practice is to not give items on credit, especially to people who may not pay. But I see that people are struggling for survival, so I feel for them and their needs, and I let people buy on credit even if it takes them a long time to repay me. I have been able to hire an employee for my shop, and now I can even contribute part of my profit to support church activities.”

May’s faith and hard work have built a sustainable livelihood and afforded her the ability to care for her family and her community. This is the kind of transformation your generosity makes possible. There is no end in sight for the crises of instability and climate extremes that impact so many of the communities where we work. But your support and prayers are creating pathways to resilience.

Right now, with the compounding crises of conflict, climate extremes, hyperinflation, and reduced international aid programming, entrepreneurs across Myanmar and our nine other program countries need your help more than ever. And until April 30, your gift can go twice as far.

Thanks to a generous match, every dollar given before April 30 will be doubled toward our $40,000 spring goal.

Will you help more entrepreneurs build stable livelihoods for their families?