Micro-Enterprise Development

A micro-enterprise is essentially a very small scale business, usually with less than five employees, often a single individual. In the developing world micro-enterprises are a way for the world's poorest people to climb out of the poverty trap by being helped to use financial aid not simply to meet immediate need, but to build for the future.

The work of micro enterprise is flourishing, particularly at Wellspring, Uganda where we have seen over 1,700 people go through the program! In 2006 A number of new works were started in India, Colombia and The Philippines. this year we have been able to start new initiatives in Peru, the Middle East and, following a trip that Links facilitated, the Church of Pentecost in Ghana are also looking to develop a project soon.

Download our Micro-Enterprise prospectus

 

Here are just a few examples of how micro-enterprise can change lives:

 

Tarapoto Peru

 

We wish to give our thanks and acknowledgement to Links International for the great work that they are doing in many places around the world through micro-enterprise development, bringing the Kingdom to those in need. Today in Tarapoto Peru we feel this hand of love.

 

Ten individuals have now benefited from this initiative, each receiving the sum of $100 with which they have been able to begin their own micro-businesses, thanks to the capital provided by Links International. People, who were living on literally no income, today are receiving one that is empowering them to meet their basic day to day needs. Our church has also benefited as these individuals are all tithing directly into the church.

 

We have now carried out 4 months of the 1st cycle since beginning the initiative of the micro-enterprise program in the city of Tarapoto. 99.99% of the beneficiaries are working well with their micro-businesses and without exception have been faithful in their repayments.

 

Hilda Mar Alegria Saavedra

Making and selling craftwork

 

 

Hilda Mar is a young enterprising lady with a great ability to make all kinds of art and craft goods made from natural products, like beads, roots, bamboo, seeds etc. With the loan from Links she was able to build her business buying materials and diversify it, buying jewellery. At present her business is mobile, she travels around the city to various markets etc, but she dreams of eventually having her own shop.

 

Jesús Chumbe Ramirez

Making and selling bedcovers

 

 

Jesús Chumbe is a Christian lady with a real desire to get out of poverty. She received the loan from Links to start a business in making and selling bedcovers. With the money she received she was able to buy all her materials necessary to start her business. Every set of bed-covers is sold for $20. She has been very faithful in making her repayments and her dream is to buy a semi-industrial sewing machine as the sewing machine she presently uses is very basic and doesn't meet the requirements of top quality products.

 

 

Mercy Fasabi Torres

Making and selling fresh fruit juices

 

Mercy is a real fighter. Her faith and willingness to work hard is really helping her to move forward. Her husband is an alcoholic and does not help her in any way, least of all in the upbringing of their three children who are all of school age. In the past Mercy has received personal loans at high interests of 20%, which is common in this city. Now with the loan from Links, she is building this new business selling the fresh fruit juices from the front patio of her mother-in-law's house. Her mother-in-law is also helping her in the business. They have also diversified the business selling lunchtime meals, as they were finding that they would finish selling all of the juice throughout the morning.

 

Daysi Cordova Soria

Making and selling plantain chips

 

 

Being on the core leadership of the church my wife and I are dedicated to working in various ways to make us self sustainable and to be an example to motivate the members of our church to start their own businesses. At present with the loan that we received we bought everything necessary to start a business making and selling plantain chips. In our limited free time we make and sell the chips to kiosks and stores and from our own front patio. We are really enjoying our business and our example is motivating many more to take responsibility for their prosperity. Our dream would be to have our own larger business making a variety of food stuffs to the point that we could employ others.

 

Iquitos, Peru

 

 

I would like to express our gratitude for this past year that we have had the LINKS loans going. We have seen a lot of people blessed and helped in many ways. We know that there are many people who have given and thus been a blessing to the needy here in Peru. We wish to give our thanks and acknowledgement to each one who has given for this project here in Iquitos.

 

Twenty-four individuals are now benefitting from this initiative, each receiving the sum of either slightly more then $100 to closer to $170 with which they have been able to begin their own micro-businesses or have been able to increase the products for sale, thanks to the capital provided by Links International. People, who were living on literally no income, today are receiving one that is empowering them to meet their basic day to day needs.

 

Greissi Navarro

Selling Cokes and Ice

 

 

Greissi is a young wife and mother of four children. She is also the daughter-in-law to the LINKS adminstrator. She was unable to help her husband much in business because of her four small children needing her care, but desired to help provide income for the growing family. She sells cokes and ice from her livingroom.

 

Greissi shares her appreciation, “Well, this business is going well for me. Thanks to God I have many clients which help me cover the needs of the house and my daughters. I also want to thank those brothers who have made these loans possible and pray that God would continue to bless them so that they can continue blessing others.”

 

Nelson Yarhuarcani A.

Barbershop

 

 

Nelson has been seperated from his wife for years but lives with his mother and sisters helping provide for the whole family together with his brother. He accepted the Lord two years ago, worked out on the rivers for awhile but decided to come back to town to help his elderly mother.

 

He shares his thanks for Links, “I have, thanks to the loans from LINKS, a barbershop where I can also sell candies and goodies. I give thanks to God and to the brothers because this has been a blessing to me and has opened doors for me to evangelize. Up to now I have seen many people interested in the Word of God. Thank you very much!”

 

Nilda Cabrera Guitierrez

Making ‘Aguaje' drink paste to sell to a popcicle company

Nilda is a single mom with three children and little education or chance for job placement. Links has helped her to provide a roof over their heads and food in their tummies. She gratefully shares her story.

 

“Since I received the loan from LINKS I have been able to increase (multiply) my business. I bought more tubs and equipment. What I do is buy sacks of Aguaje (palm tree fruit) and let it mature. I then use it to make a paste and sell it to the Shambo company that makes and sells national popcicles. I am very gratefull to God and the church for the help that they give us. For all of us who have humble means, this is a great blessing and we are seeing the results.”

 

Liliana Duran Arbildo

Making and selling food

 

 

Liliana has several small children and her husband works away from the city. He goes out for 20 days at a time and then he is home for 7 days. This business gives her something to live on while her husband is working else where. She has a small store in her livingroom where neighbors come to buy needed items.

 

She shares, “I give thanks to God and the brothers that have given this help because they have helped me in my home and in helping my husband pay the bills. Also now I can give a tithe and I give thanks to God for that.”

Lilia Arirama Yarhuarcani

Making and selling food

 

 

 

Lilia is a cell group leader in the central church in Iquitos who used to have difficulty coming to church because she didn't have money for the bus. Now with the Links loan she makes breakfast and sells it to clients in her neighbourhood on the sidewalk with success. She is able to attend all of her meetings and is also studying in the video Bible School twice a week. Her marriage daughter lives with her, and uses her Links purchased supplies to make supper for neighbours, therefore receiving double benefit.

 

Lilia says, “My business is going well. Since I received the help from LINKS I have seen the blessing of God on my finances. I give thanks to God and those who have given toward Links, this business has given us the opportunidad to evangelize my clients and to bless the church with my tithes. ”

 

Agra, India

 

 

Greetings to you in Jesus name. We are doing well by His grace and we pray the same with you. MED is functioning smoothly.

 

Thanking you.

God Bless you.

Ramesh Chand

Petty Shop

 

 

Two years back I was running a small petty shop in which I earned about Rs.30 per day. Last year I got a loan and bought a fridge to sell cold water and soft drinks. By this my profit was raised. I returned the first loan and this year I took a second loan. This year I added some provisions like rice, dal. Etc. Now my business is increasing and running smoothly. I am able to earn about Rs.100/- per day. I and my family are thankful to our Lord Jesus Christ for helping us through MED.

 

Ashok

Milkman

I am a milk man selling a small quantity of milk house to house. With this business I was running my family and also able to save Rs.10, 000/-. I wanted to buy a buffalo for my own which would cost about Rs.20, 000/-. During this time God brought MED on my way. From MED project I got a loan of Rs.10, 000/-. I purchased a buffalo with the baby calf. Now I am earning a profit of Rs.150/- per day. My wife heaps me in taking care of the buffalo. We thank God for the timely help God gave us through MED project. We are very happy. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

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