Rural Iringa is one of the poorest places in a poor country. With incomes averaging less than $1 per day, this area is among the poorest in the world. In the rural district of Iringa, where villagers are subsistence farmers, they lack two things that would allow for better crop production - the finances necessary to practice better agricultural techniques and the knowledge and training in the use of these techniques.

Starting as an outreach program in 2007, Iringa Hope has worked diligently to develop the necessary financial resources and knowledge needed in these villages. By
forming Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOS) directly in the villages, we are able to bring resources to the farmers in a low cost, efficient fashion.

The village SACCOS make loans to any qualified borrower in the village - still, the majority of borrowers are women who are the heads of households with 3 or more children. Our "typical" borrowers will be farming 5-10 acres and will
borrow $200 to cover their basic farm costs. Normally this loan will allow them to go from earning $1 per day to $2-3 dollars!

It is difficult to describe the difference between living on $1 per day versus $2 per day. At $2 per day the children can get the uniforms required to go to school. At $2 per day the family can eat protein once a week, moving from malnourishment into good health. At $2 per day the family can afford medicine when the children get dysentery. At $2
per day the world changes!

We would invite you to view the short video posted here. We thank you for taking the time to visit our site!