The program in Kenya has spread across the border into Tanzania. Open Hands now has so many savings groups in Tanzania that we are planning to hire a Tanzanian field director early in 2017.
Continue ReadingUpdates From the Field – Haiti
Due to the hurricane in Haiti the participants in Open Hands savings groups have not been able to save as much as they had been saving. However, the funds they have saved will be very helpful to them in buying food and rebuilding damaged houses. Through the assistance funds that many groups have, they have…
Continue ReadingUpdates From the Field – Ethiopia
The Open Hands savings group program that was started in Ethiopia in July has been very successful. There are now 30 savings groups with a total of 450 members. These participants are saving on a weekly basis and are very pleased with what they have been able to accomplish. We are hoping to expand this…
Continue ReadingUpdates From the Field – El Salvador
Open Hands has hired a facilitator in El Salvador. He is meeting with interested persons and is helping them to begin forming savings groups. We anticipate that early in 2017 we will have groups that are ready to begin saving.
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Does God Have A Role For Open Hands In Ethiopia
Open Hands is considering a savings group program in the African country of Ethiopia. We have had some conversations with a possible partner organization in Ethiopia. Help Self Help Samaritan Development Association is an organization that works with the Mennonite churches in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a country with great needs and a lack of organizations…
Continue ReadingNew Savings Group Program in El Salvador
Earlier this year Lyndon Swarey and Darin Hershberger conducted a feasibility study for a savings group program in El Salvador. There was a good response from the church leaders and church members in El Salvador for a savings group program there. We have received board approval and will be moving ahead with hiring a national…
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Helping Haitians Help Themselves
Often in mission newsletters and the media, Haitians are portrayed as hungry, hurting, and helpless. This perception of the people of a nation has led to multi-generational dependence on outside aid. This has led to despair and a feeling that without outside aid things cannot change. However, nothing could be further from the truth! Haiti…
Continue ReadingRelationship With Nature Creates Sustainability
In July 2015, I was in Kenya for a staff training. This training was for our new staff as well as a refresher training for the staff that had been with Open Hands for several years. As part of the training, I covered the four key relationships (man with God, others, himself, and creation). As…
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Life As A Savings Group Member
Though I have never been a savings group member, perhaps I will be able to describe what life is like from a member’s perspective in Kenya. Imagine that you would have a low, erratic income and with this income you would struggle to feed, clothe and educate your family. Also throughout your lifetime you would…
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Empower Kenyans to Reach Their Goals
Kenya, as you may have heard, is a beautiful country full of many contrasts. It has a beautiful tropical coastline, a 17,057 ft. tall mountain, lush farmland, dry wasteland, modern cities and primitive villages. For many years, the rich and poor have lived together in this land. Recently there has been an increase in the…
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