While on a trip to the Dominican Republic, Jean and I met a 56 year old lady that was using her profits to put a concrete floor in her 12' x 14' house. She was so thrilled that this would be the first time that she had ever lived in a home with a concrete floor. That will put things in perspective real fast for most Americans!
Glenn and wife Jean in the Dominican Republic.
Both of these pictures show businesses that were started or greatly expanded with loans received from HOPE International. In both of these examples the store is in the front part of their home and they live in the rest of the building. Some have concrete floors and some just dirt.
The sweet lady behind the counter is the store owner and loan recipient. The three people in front our HOPE staff people that took us on a tour to see several loan meetings. About ten people who know each other take out the loans together and are accountable to each other to see that all of the loans are paid back. Consequently 98% of all loans are paid back in full. ...and the funds are re-loaned every six-months.
