Dear Friend,

You might have received a letter in the mail from me highlighting the story of John and Sarah. In case you did not get to read it, it’s a story worth your time…

John and Sarah live in a region of Burundi where it is common practice for a man to leave his wife if she is unable to bear children. Tragedy befell the couple when Sarah was pregnant with their child and was shot in the stomach on her way to a neighboring village. The baby did not survive, and the doctor had to remove Sarah's womb in order to save her life.

Instead of being driven apart by local prejudices, John and Sarah stayed focused on their faith and their love for one another. They also found a common goal in building a life together. They attributed their participation in Five Talents’ literacy and business training program to keeping their marriage together through the lowest of times.

At the invitation of someone from their church, John and Sarah joined the Five Talents training program. After their training was complete, they secured a loan through the support of their Five Talents Saving and Loan Group and have been able to launch several new businesses. They now have a diversified revenue stream that includes goats (which have multiplied). They also bought a small plot of land to grow and sell vegetables at the market. Most recently, they were able to purchase a solar panel to launch a charging station business! People from their village pay a small fee to have their phones and devices charged, and they can use the solar panel to provide power for their home.

Friend, thank you for supporting John and Sarah to overcome tragedy to find hope. Because of your partnership, they now have power and light in their home. They have a bicycle to travel. They have food from their garden. They have a Five Talents community of support. Most importantly, they have a committed and flourishing marriage.

Will you continue to empower more families to find a path out of poverty? Thanks to a generous donor, your gift today will be matched up to $50,000 until April 30th!

Your generosity gives women and men a combination of skills (literacy and business), a safe place to save, opportunities to invest in their businesses, and group support and mentorship. All these things create agency, so that they can make a better future for themselves. 

Sarah shared, “Today, I can read and write my messages, do accounts for my business…I can visit my sister in a neighboring village and not be afraid that I’m lost because I can read the road signs.”

Please give a gift that could change a life. Whatever the gift amount, we are grateful to have your partnership. This work would not be possible without you.