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It has been a very exciting time for Living Way over the last month. In April's newsletter, I described some of the ways in which Living Way and Evangeline Ministries had partnered to bring sustainable income to men and women from Masiphumelele, Cape Town. This is an update about a new chapter in this story of hope. Sewing Businesses Launched 12 micro-businesses were kick started on 27th June 2008. The 2006 graduates of Evangeline Ministries who have been making African cloth bags were given loans as seed capital for their businesses. By doing this, the structure has changed from being a cottage industry to being businesses that are owned entirely by residents of Masiphumelele. The model is quite simple: A distributor, ten micro-sewing businesses, a book keeper and a sales person work interdependently to create and manage high quality products. These products are sold in South Africa and to the USA. This model allows for these micro-enterprises to seek other opportunities to use their sewing skills to create an income for themselves and their family. By diversifying their customers, there is a greater chance of longer-term sustainability of each of these micro-businesses. The loans were administered by Act of Grace, a Christian organization that is registered as a micro-finance provider. Through this partnership, the loans are managed effectively and each recipient is eligible for another loan once the first loan is paid off. This allows for many future opportunities of expanding their businesses.
Over the next few months, Living Way is taking a more active role in supporting these businesses and accessing markets. Our involvement will decrease as the businesses become self-sustaining. Our goal is that each business does not rely on Living Way's intervention and grows in its profitability and independence. This is the beginning of a very exciting journey. How you can be involved - Pray Pray for the bag businesses - that doors would open for new markets. As we expand the range and styles of products, we can access new avenues for continued purchases.- Distribute wherever you are in the world, if you could sell bags on behalf of these businesses, you will be taking part in creating sustainable livelihoods for these men and women. Contact Richard as to the best way of doing this.Points of prayer
To help the poor to a capacity for action and liberty is something essential for one's own health as well as theirs: there is a needful gift they have to offer which cannot be offered so long as they are confined by poverty. Rowan D. Williams - Archbishop of Canterbury |
Therefore: we pledge to implement community development principles and respond out of a desire to bring God's hope to communities and individuals.
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