Being a parent is hard work. Being a parent while living in extreme poverty? Even harder.
Mothers like Constasie in Rwanda desperately want what every parent wants — a good life for their children — but every day is a struggle.
Constasie is the mother of two girls, Emerance and Yvette, and grandmother of Emerance’s little boy. They live in a single, small room. The roof leaks when it rains. But Constasie won’t let extreme poverty stop her dreams. “I don’t want my children to be like me and survive on casual labor but have tangible work to do and have a place to call home,” she says.
Constasie’s daughter and grandson, Emerance and Die Merci, stand at the doorway of the rented single room where they live in Rwanda. |
How do families begin this work? World Vision’s proven THRIVE approach (which stands for Transforming Household Resilience in Vulnerable Environments) empowers families with access to the tools and training they need to lift themselves out of extreme poverty.
One of the tools is our Biblical Empowered Worldview training (see step #1 below), which recently began in Constasie’s community. It teaches that all people are created in the image of a loving and redeeming God who has made each of us accountable to love, respect, and care for ourselves, our families, our neighbors, people in need, and God’s creation.
After starting the program, Constasie feels one step closer to achieving her dreams. “One of the greatest lessons was to learn how to use money when I get it — and the importance of savings,” she says. “For me, I learned that before God’s eyes, I am of great value.”
Constasie (left) and her daughter Emerance, make less than a dollar a day working as day |
Four tools proven to lift families out of extreme poverty
Millions of people worldwide like Constasie live in extreme poverty — surviving on less than $2.15 per day per person. But our THRIVE approach uses four sequential, evidence-based tools that lead to improved incomes and resilient families.
Strengthening marriages AND incomes
Constasie isn’t alone in her striving. To the south in Zambia, Persia has taken her chicken business from 10 animals … to 85 today. But how’d she get here?
Years ago, her family faced crushing poverty. Her marriage was in turmoil because of the constant stress of not being able to provide for their children. Her husband eventually abandoned her for another woman, and she was forced to work odd jobs to try and feed her children.
Persia’s business has been so successful that she’s even paid school fees for an orphaned child right alongside her own children's school fees. |
Then in 2015, World Vision began a savings group in her village (see step #2 above). At first, she could barely save the minimum amount, but she kept at it. She had big goals in mind for her family.
Today, she’s raising chickens alongside her returned husband. “Through World Vision’s savings, our marriages have now been strengthened because of financial stability,” says Persia. “There is more love because money is available.”
“I never thought my life would change that much,” she says. But it has. In 2021, her savings were 10 times what she’d saved in 2017. Now she has 35,000 kwacha ($2,200) in savings.
What one child says about his mother
In Uganda, Stella no longer has to worry about food and school fees for her children since she joined her Village Savings and Loans Association. She invested in a milling business, and that venture was so successful that she was able to buy a small farm and two goats.
John, her 9-year-old son, says it best, “There were days when our mother would ask us to play at the neighbor's house in the hopes of being invited to share a meal. Some days, we'd go without food. But ever since our mother joined the savings group, we've never worried about food at home or school fees.”
"I want my children to relish their childhood without the fear of going hungry or witnessing violence in our home," Stella says. "I now ensure that my children attend school to become responsible adults."
My children are my primary motivation; they are the sole reason I tirelessly strive to provide them with a brighter future," says Stella, a 35-year-old mother of four. Here, she joyfully holds her Village Savings and Loan Association workbook. |
Constasie, Persia, and Stella: Titans of motherhood
These parents are doing everything in their power so their children can have a better life. You can come alongside them with your gift to the Economic Empowerment Global Fund — helping empower even more vulnerable families— and more!
Better yet, thanks to a generous donor, your gift is matched*! 
What’s our ultimate goal? Together, with your help and God’s grace, we’re committed by 2030 to equip everyone, everywhere we work in 11 countries — at least 10 million† people — with access to the tools they need to lift themselves out of extreme poverty. Please prayerfully consider giving today to join us in this audacious but achievable goal!
*Gifts to the Economic Empowerment Global Fund will be matched up to $750,000.
†Reach will require additional support from other sources such as public grants, gifts-in-kind, field offices, and other funding sources.
