September 2025

Thanks to your support, parents and guardians like Joyce from Tanzania have now generated and saved over $8 million through our Village Investors Program (VIP).

Since launching in 2013, more than 43,000 entrepreneurs across Sub-Saharan Africa have grasped the opportunity to build financial independence – for many, the first time in their lives.

By pooling their savings into community-run banking groups, parents can access loans to launch and grow businesses. As they repay with interest, the shared investment pot grows, creating a cycle of resilience and opportunity. This simple but effective system has already transformed the lives of over 134,000 vulnerable children, giving them better access to nutrition, healthcare, education, and brighter futures.

Joyce’s story

Joyce, a 32-year-old mother of four in rural Tanzania, faced the overwhelming challenge of providing for her family alone after her husband left. With no reliable income, she relied on unstable farm work and struggled to even afford rent and food, and her children’s health was beginning to suffer.

Everything changed when Joyce joined a VIP group made up of 22 other parents in her community. She began by saving small amounts each week, eventually taking out a small loan to open her own fruit stand. Alongside the training she received, she steadily grew her income and financial independence.

With ongoing access to loans, Joyce has also invested in her own plot of land to grow fresh produce – feeding her family and supplying her business.

“Before, it was almost impossible for me to provide the basic needs for my family. Now, my children and I are living happily and eating three meals a day. I’m hopeful that this year I will build our own home,” Joyce shared.

Today, her children enjoy three nutritious meals a day (and plenty of fruit!), attend school regularly, and have the books, uniforms and supplies they need to learn – all because their mother was empowered to invest in her future.

Unlocking potential, not handouts

This is grassroots entrepreneurship at its best. Not handouts, but the tools, skills and confidence to thrive.

Thanks to your support, thousands of parents like Joyce are building financial resilience, transforming their families’ futures and proving what’s possible when people are given the chance to succeed.

And it costs just $10 to provide one year of training through the VIP for someone like Joyce. That’s all it takes to equip a parent with the skills, knowledge and confidence to start a business, generate income, and change their children’s futures.

If you would like to make a donation, click here.

Photography: Sam Vox